BODIES OF SOULS DRESS
"When we die, we leave the body. So do the mussels."
This phrase can evoke a profound reflection on the transience of life, the cycle of nature and the relationship between the human and the organic. Mussels, like other living things, leave behind their shells when they die, something that at the same time serves as a symbol of protection, shelter and memory. In a way, this small gesture can be interpreted as a metaphor for how, although our bodies fade away, what we have been and what we have created remains with us in one form or another.
If we connect it with Pat Strenc's concept, where nature and craft merge in each piece, this reflection can also be seen as a tribute to the ephemeral and lasting beauty of the natural. Just as the mussel shell is preserved and remains a vestige of its existence, the creations we leave behind, made from natural materials and fabrics with history, also endure in some way, carrying with them the soul and essence of what we were.
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RECYCLING
MUSSEL SHELLS
This elaborate dress is a unique sculptural piece, created from 1,818 recycled mussel shells collected from a restaurant and 5,454 knots of hemp rope, which together form a work full of fragility and strength. Each meticulously placed shell is not only a decorative element, but has a deep symbolism: they represent travelling female bodies, wandering souls who have travelled the world in search of their essence, and who, at the end of their journey, leave their bodies on earth as a vestige of their passage.
This dress is a story told through recycled and natural materials, a celebration of the union of travelling souls from all over the world. The shells, as bodies that have lived and travelled, and the hemp knots, as connections that bind everything together, speak to us of the interconnectedness between nature, the human being and the journey of life. The fragility of the shells and the strength of the hemp combine to create a piece that, while delicate, conveys a powerful sense of resilience and transcendence.
Like souls traversing the world, this dress is a manifestation of memories, stories and intertwined destinies that, once their journey is complete, leave a lasting mark on the earth.
