Soft Power

For my graduation project at the Willem de Kooning Academy, I conducted research on femininity. I asked participants to complete a survey, asking them for a word they associate with femininity, as well as their definition of femininity in general. I crocheted the words, and incorporated some of the definitions into a zine. The illustrations were inspired by the participants' stories and relate to the female cycle, fertility, and a sense of connection between women and others. The crocheted words and the zine are therefore inseparable.
I also illustrated an at-home guide, allowing other crocheters to be part of this project as well: the idea is that they can use the guide to create their own one-word mini tapestry, and if they wish, they can send it to me and take part in the project.

This project is built on people and their experiences, definitions, and stories of femininity. This is also what I want to emphasize with my project—talking to each other and engaging in dialogue about social issues like feminism is how we continue to understand each other, which remains relevant in these tumultuous political and social times.