Aimee Thannhauser

Domesticated

Hub cap, wool

Whilst in today’s society the two sexes are, for the most part, seen as equals, the question of domestic duties and work seemingly continues to resurface in many households. Throughout history, activities performed by men and women have become so gender specific that even the objects people use to perform certain tasks have become symbols of gender identity. Tools and construction were superficially identified as masculine, whilst sewing and knitting came to embody femininity.

In this body of work, I have attempted to combine the traditional notions of “women’s” or “domestic work” with “man’s work,” to challenge this contrast between the masculine and feminine connotations placed upon us by society. Whilst the act of embroidery and the object such as car parts are normatively considered feminine and masculine respectively, united they portray subverted ideas of gender. The very act of embroidering a metal object in itself is not of “feministic” nature as it requires the use of power tools; however the result is decidedly aesthetically feminine.