This series consists of three wearable pieces that interact with the spaces between the wearer’s toes. The space between one’s toes is sometimes utilized by slaves working in the river beds sifting for diamonds. Their only hope for freedom from their oppression is to escape somehow and they will sometimes hide found rough diamonds between their toes in an attempt to thwart the searches made by their captors. If they are caught trying to smuggle diamonds they are surely put to death, but the diamonds offer their only means of currency during an escape attempt. Facing fear of death, the slaves attempt to smuggle out these rough diamonds as their only means of freedom. Each of my pieces utilizes this location as a commentary on the fear and pain of this desperate attempt at freedom.
The first piece depicts a large crystalline growth coming from between the wearer’s toes of their right foot. It is weighty, uncomfortable, and very evident, as I imagine the slaves experience the tiny smuggled rough diamond between their toes. This model speaks to the experience of the slave.
The second model mimics the same crystalline growth, but on a much smaller scale. This piece is sculpted to fit perfectly under the toes of the wearer’s left foot and is completely invisible from the top of the foot. This piece is secret to the wearer and represents the precious aspect of the diamond and is secret to the wearer.
The third piece utilizes form and texture to reference the rivers these stones are found in. It fits the wearer’s right foot and only the cubic zirconia is visible from the top of the foot. The CZ is meant to represent the western view of a diamond, pristine and bright. This is all that the public sees from the top of the foot, but the wearer is aware of the underside and its connection to the origin of the diamond. This model pairs conflicting imagery and employs such a meaningful location to culminate the series.
