Life in Adornment

Historically, our lives have been governed by our ways of adornment. The way we dress speaks about our culture, identity, self-perception, and resistance. At Ayaskala, we are interested in exploring how material objects of adornment (clothing, clothing fasteners, jewellery, literature, metaphors, etc.) become part of our memory and an act of preserving lineage. What is the social and symbolic significance of the material objects of memory in our culture? How do you view your grandmother’s jewellery and fabrics of adornment — Ikat, cotton, muslin? What is the relationship between the patterns on your rugs and their influence on your life today? We want experiences from around the world: Mexico, India, Nigeria, etc. How does your idea of self intersect with the visual symbols you see in your home, city, and culture? Design is an integral part of our visual ethnography. We view adornment as a way of life arising from design that continues to construct our individual and collective identities. Adornments are not only symbols of our personal culture but also shared visuals. We’re interested in exploring the design and architecture of your home town. How do you adorn your written and spoken language? How does modernity exist within the ruins of the past?