About this event
This workshop has as its starting point the bilingual universe (English and Portuguese) around the deconstruction of fairies as mythological characters. From fairies that now accompany several literary classics (Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Shakespeare, Tolkien), and the Portuguese Oriana Fairy, passing through the Tooth Fairy and a whole Disney universe (Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, among others), from Harry Potter, to many video games and recent and well-known children’s series (The Little Kingdom of Ben and Holly, Disney Fairies, Winx, etc.).
Fairies occupy our imagination as small and docile white women with butterfly wings, fragile and magical, that populate forests and fly in floating and beautiful dresses, usually hold a magic wand with a bright star on the tip, being invoked by adults as protective beings, who appear and disappear unexpectedly in case of imminent danger, which calms and lulls children.
What other narratives do we associate with fairies? What impact have these meanings had on our communication, language, experience since we were children? What if we deconstruct these characters? What if the Oriana Fairy was Queer? What if Tinkerbell had non-Western heritage? What if the Tooth Fairy was transfeminine? How can we express this heritage, identity and concepts within the clothes we wear?
We will discuss various examples of how fashion has been used as a form of resistance. Bring some old clothes you no longer wear and ones that you’re happy to cut up and use as base fabric. We will create our own complex characters and construct garments using sustainable fabrics.
About the organiser - Vijay Patel (he/them)
My evolving interdisciplinary arts-based research practice explores migration, diaspora, displacement, memory and identity while centring the lived experiences of marginalised and intersectional political subjectivities. This focus grounds my professional and community-based work as I navigate various roles: mixed-media artist, workshop facilitator, teacher, producer and curator. Founding member of InterStruct Collective and co-author of various projects, among others: Unearthing Memories (exhibition and curatorship, Rampa, Porto, 2019) and Ruptures in Cement: Decolonial tour from Palacio de Cristal to Cordoaria (TransEuropa Festival, 2022). Fine Art graduate with a Masters in Multimedia. Non-binary (grew up cis-male), queer and British Indian living in Portugal.
Accessibility:
The Centre's accessibility statement is here.
During the workshop we will use potentially harmful equipment (i.e., scissors, needles and a sewing machine) and conduct activities with fabrics. Let us know if you think additional assistance will be necessary.
Covid-19 safety:
To keep our community safe, we ask that all visitors take a Covid test before coming to the Centre and to not come if you’re feeling unwell. Please wear a mask unless exempt.
Please note that we are unable to refund donations.