This is another venetian blind piece as part of my Major Project that explored the subject of shyness. The blind represents the defence mechanisms shy people use when they feel uncomfortable.  The idea was inspired by a porcupine, which sticks out its sharp spines when it feels threatened by a predator. Although you can’t always see a shy person react this way, it is often how they feel inside. They put up imaginary barriers to protect themselves.

 

I created around 300 paper spikes, each one machine stitched with various different decorative stitches to add texture and to give a delicate appearance when the feathers are down. This was a very time consuming process. They were then positioned on the blind in an overlaying pattern. As the user interacts with the blind the spikes are raised to stick out at the user in a threatening way.

 

Behind the blind is a quote using the hand drawn ‘shy’ typeface I created, to explain the meaning of the piece.