Fleur B. – Hand on Heart
Having looked at studies of the heart in science and symbols in society I chose to make my heart resemble the shape of my actual heart with the main arteries forming the top that could be suspended demonstrating life force power and strength. The scale had to be large to demonstrate the overall strength and importance of my heart in my life both physically and in terms of how much my heart rules my life, choices and interactions. I had to consider scale and weight. I wanted the sculpture to command presence but to be light to enable it to work in terms of the idea I had for my hands, the hands of both myself and others that have helped and protected needed to be submerged and integral to the sculpture as a whole. The hands hold a position of both protection and strength, they appear to be holding the heart up and at the same time internal. The hands are for and therefore warm and add comfort and love, they offer reassurance, presence and connection to myself and people.
The exterior of the heart is made of differing red fabrics and stitched to show my heart has been broken but remains solid, powerful and held together. I have had damage but I am whole and the wounds whilst present add to my story. The mannequin is climbing up from below it shows my journey is on the up that I am still climbing but in a positive forward movement that whilst challenges continue I am stronger and now connected through my support systems of friends and my own self belief that I can achieve and conquer anything after surviving the worst time of my life. The cord attached to me and my forward journey links the stitches that have helped mend me and still act as the string that holds me together. My heart is strong, internally warm and stitched together with a fabric that is stronger than ever.
