Artist Statement

The practice of foot binding, a process of purposefully breaking and binding the feet of young girls (typically between ages 5 to 7) to create tiny, “aesthetically pleasing”  feet originated during China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279) with final eradication not until the 1940s under Mao Zedong. Originally, only for society’s elite, the practice spread to commoners as a status symbol and increased prospects of a good marriage. In some rural parts of China, foot binding continued into the 1950s. In 1999, Zhiqian Shoe Factory, the last factory to make shoes for bound feet (called “lotus shoes”), closed. (See the pair in the assemblage.)

My great-grandmothers both had bound feet. They were unable to walk or stand for normal periods of time. The deformed feet needed to be carefully cleaned regularly to prevent infection and the cloth strips needed to be retied afterwards. Despite the inconvenience, both women lived into their 80s. Collage and assemblage speak to me because they are such freeing mediums. I can express anything, with anything—paper, metal, found objects, and different types of paints.