assemblage box art - bound to family

Description

this piece is about how i felt that i had to be loyal to my family which translates to: do not have fun and enjoy yourself. because my parents were very unhappy people, i felt i had to be the same way. and when i did have fun or felt happy, i was quickly taught this was not a good thing.

the doll is wrapped in a vintage "obi" which is a japanese sash. it was brought over from japan by my mother and i wore it several times as a child, when she would dress me up in the traditional japanese kimono.

the bottles contain small nails, steel wool and white glitter. the nails and steel wool represent how i felt ugly and angry and the glitter represents the hope i always had that i could be "normal" some day.

the lock represents how i felt locked to, or bound to my family and while the key is in there too, it's nailed down and far enough away from the lock so i can't open it.

one of a kind, original piece of art.

the front of the box has a clear acrylic panel attached with 4 screws.

size: 10"x14"x4"

signed on the back by artist (miriam west)

Added on Sep 24, 2009