Fictional Artefacts
Category: Accessories
Competitions: International
This project imagines the lost treasures of a fictional Time Goddess, where fragments of the past meet the future. It was inspired by the historical case of the Piltdown Man hoax, a fabricated fossil assembled from a human skull and an ape’s jawbone that misled scientists for decades. This incident made me question how easily historical narratives can be shaped through fabricated objects, and whether fictional artefacts could be used to reconstruct personal histories. In response, I created the character of the Time Goddess, a fictional figure who playfully rewrites history by combining contemporary objects with references to ancient artefacts. Rather than reproducing historical objects, she creates imaginary relics that blur the boundaries between fact and fiction, archaeology and fantasy. Although each piece draws inspiration from historical forms, I deliberately avoided placing the collection within any specific period. Instead, I wanted the objects to exist outside linear time, appearing simultaneously ancient and contemporary. The visual language of the collection was influenced by the black monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey, which symbolises mystery, timelessness and the unknown. This became the starting point for the project’s material palette. Black was chosen as the dominant colour, while black and white stones, leather and metal were used to create objects that feel ceremonial, unfamiliar and detached from any fixed historical era. One piece combines the form of the ancient Greek boxing glove with the modern wristwatch. Greek boxers protected their hands by wrapping them in leather, whereas today people constantly protect and monitor their time through watches. By merging these two objects, I imagine time itself becoming a form of protection. The piece transforms the watch into symbolic armour, suggesting that in contemporary life, safeguarding time has become as important as safeguarding the body.
