SUPERHERO

Superhero explores the tension between protection and vulnerability. The familiar gesture of framing the eyes recalls the imaginary masks of childhood—moments when fantasy offered both empowerment and refuge. While superhero masks conceal identity, they also establish a threshold between the self and the outside world. For the artist, this gesture evokes a childhood memory of pretending to confront imaginary villains, only later recognizing it as an instinctive attempt to create distance from an uncertain reality. Constructed from reclaimed calfskin fragments discarded during the footwear design and prototyping process, the work transforms materials once intended for function into a new visual language. Each piece of leather carries traces of labor, craft, and the resources invested in its making. Through stitching and reassembly, these fragments are given a renewed presence, mirroring the ways personal histories can be reconstructed rather than erased. By bringing together memory, gesture, and reclaimed material, Superhero considers how the protective rituals we develop in childhood continue to shape our understanding of identity, resilience, and belonging.