Between Skins and Power
Category: Apparel
Competitions: Brazil
As soon as I decided to participate in the project, my first idea was to associate leather with fetishism and BDSM, something everyone does instantly. We understand that fetishism is the intense sexual attraction to specific objects, body parts, or situations, while BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadism, Masochism) refers to erotic practices focused on power games. Both use leather as a strong symbol, whether in the objects used or even in the clothing/accessories that those involved share during the act. To help me ground this work, I based it on the notion of performativity brought by Judith Butler in "Gender Trouble," where she discusses identity and social roles linked to performance, whether in acts, gestures, discourses, or symbols—in this case, clothing, for example—making it clear how visual codes convey meanings about the physical and social body. Thus, these symbols historically linked to fetishism and BDSM, such as leather and metalwork, do not possess a fixed meaning, but rather meanings transmitted over the years, which have led to these elements being uniquely associated with sexuality. I use Vivienne Westwood herself as an example; in the 70s/80s, she explored punk, bondage, and fetish aesthetics for street style, shifting these elements from the "marginal" realm to the mainstream. Therefore, the "Between Skin and Power" project seeks to re-signify these ideals, making it possible to connect these codes as expressions of aesthetics and identity in everyday life.
