Patterns of Identity
People interpret and categorize visual cues not only to create a concept of an identity. We assume who a person is, and what their personality is like, based on these visual cues that are in turn plagued with established norms and biases that can connect or divide. Cultural norms, such as gender, sexuality, race, or political standing can be further expressed visually through textile patterns, motifs, and color. Even so, the many cultural signifiers serve only as clues to a person's identity that encompasses many different cultural aspects, despite common practice to relate to only one. Through my textile statues, which mix different patterns, colors and motifs found in fabrics, I convey the multicultural nature all people share. In this paper I explain my concepts of textiles as representing identity as being multicultural, creation of the textile statues, artistic influences, and a reflection on the final thesis exhibit.