It was getting nearer to deciding on a final piece of work to create for the end of year show. I had gone into this foundation telling myself that I was going to make something to raise awareness about HIV and how it can affect so many people from so many different walks of life. I came up with the idea of a Dress made using the Red Ribbon(the symbol of HIV/AIDS) I also wanted the Dress to have impact so decided that the design was very Mae West (with lots of attitude) I made the frame of the skirt with chicken wire and this was to be covered in over 1000 Red Ribbons. I made a plaster cast for the torso and designed a tshirt with the words 'Gay,Straight,Doesnt Discriminate'....The many Ribbons were representing the many lost to HIV/AIDS and the ones I was meeting at different support groups.
The final piece took a lot of time and patience and many burns from the hot glue gun but I felt so proud to display it in its glory and hoped that while I was working on it one of my friends at college would ask me about it and then I could disclose. This never happened! It was shown a few times around the South of England and got pretty damaged over the years. I disclosed a little later on the Fine Art Degree course.
Last year 2010 I really wanted to Re-create it, but make it bigger and better. I wanted to make it so I could actually wear it to show how far I had come from being first told my diagnosis and the shame I felt to the now outspoken and proud Woman that I had become.
I was too busy in 2010 on other projects, one being my 2nd solo HIV Art Exhibition that took a lot of my time. I moved house this year 2011 and am also now represented by DEBUT Contemporary Gallery in the West End of London so have been kept pretty busy. I kept going back to my Ribbon Dress and thinking about how it could be created by many representing the many by the Ribbons so told people about my intentions and have now also joined up with The London AIDS Memorial Group in which I will be curating Pop Up shows in London next year all raising awareness. The call out now is for Ribbons and Dedications so I can start assembling the Dress. There is no deadline as of yet as want as many people to know about this project so they can all get a chance to contribute. I hope to be able to wear it next Year?
