Metallischen Fest / Glocken-Schellen-Klingel-Fest" am Bauhaus Dessau, 1929
The way we dress often says more about us than we think. Without saying a word, we can show others how we see ourselves or which values we represent. Clothing can be a form of expression, a reflection of one's personality. In this workshop, Alissa Christian invites participants to explore exactly that, opening a space in which one might even discover themselves anew. Using materials such as buttons, studs, and safety pins, participants can design their own clothing or accessory. There is no right or wrong. The goal is not to create something perfect, but to experiment together: What does clothing do to a person's self-perception? What happens when someone wears something they would otherwise never dare to try?
The workshop is an invitation to playfully step outside one's comfort zone and to observe where habit or the influence of current trends may shape one's own aesthetics and perception. No prior experience is needed — only the willingness to discover something new about oneself.
The idea for the workshop emerged from the research work of the "Amongst Ghosts: Queerying Bauhaus" seminar. The seminar searched for traces of queer identities at the Bauhaus, which led Alissa Christian to wonder whether there were spaces at the time where queer people could feel safe. This thought led her to the Bauhaus festivals and costume parties. Did they perhaps offer a space in which queer individuals could express themselves — a space where they could playfully experiment with their (gender) identity or self-expression? The workshop is a continuation of this exploration: a space in which clothing becomes a tool for self-discovery.