Set of 500 handmade miniature books inside matchboxes, with one match.Designed specifically for a Chilean audience as part of Denison seniorhonors thesis, “Bricolage: Chilean Girls’ Use of Media & MaterialCulture in Constructing Gender Identity.” To be displayed by“guerilla” means, in fishbowls at local Chilean bars and other publicplaces where matches are free to public. In gallery, to be taken awayfor free by patrons.

The Copihue flower pictured on the front of the matchbox is thenational flower of Chile, and the name of the most popular nationalbrand of matches. Identical layout meant to be a trompe de l’oeil.
Orangecover of books refers to branding of Abastible, national leader in gastanks for use in heating water for the home. Matches themselves becomea symbol of domesticity in Chile because of need to light water heaterwhenever it is used.

Fine art piece employing languages of marketing and design to provoke questioning. Images reflect localized symbolism related to youth culture, gender & the historical Chilean women’s rights movement.   

Running text is an excerpt from Chilean Poet-Laureate GabrielaMistral’s poem, “Copihues.” Appearing on their money and a parallelfigure to fellow Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda, Mistral is a matriarchal figure in the nationalimagination. Comments section      

Match serves as a symbol of personal volition and power, but also of protest from the time of Chilean dictatorship.    Comments section      

At this point in reading, match falls out, and unconventional binding of book becomes apparent.      

Landscape panoramic spreads reveal surprise secondary text. "¿Yaesta­í feliz? Are you [already] happy? (with slang.) Text referencespopular Abastible commercial from 2005.

Singed matches float down the Mapocho River, which flows through the center of Santiago and stands as a symbol for the divisions of social class.