Decomposition Costume

In a class about Art & Magic, I did a research project about ritual costume. I was fascinated by the costumes I studied from various folk traditions, each one created to embody a particular energy or entity. I was inspired to create my own costume that could help me honor the process of decomposition.

Some unexpected materials came into play in the development of this costume. There was a sofa chair I had snagged from the giveaway pile at the end of a neighbor's driveway, that after years of sitting on my porch had fallen into disrepair and had become uninviting. Rather than haul it to the dump, I decided I'd take it apart to learn about how it was made. While doing so I unearthed several layers of adhesive-laden gauze that intrigued me.

After thoroughly washing them, I began assembling the gauze into pieces of the costume — a shirt, mask, and wrap. While helping a friend organize an assortment of animal bones that she uses for sculpture, I found a shape in a pelvic bone that inspired the design of the mask, which I sewed together and stuffed with milkweed fluff and supplemented with found polyster batting. I had also saved several lemon and lime peels, which I drilled holes into and made into bells that could adorn my waist. Several accoutrements later, and voilá — I was ready to tend to the cosmic compost pile.