dry society
'dry society' is an 8" x 10" book, sporting over 150 pages that contemplate how laundry links back to class, feminism, and sustainability.
There is currently only one, hand-bound copy in existence, however I am looking into creating a less complex version of the book that can be reproduced in small quantities and sold.
Comprised of 68 images taken on 35mm film, this project views the washing line as an analogue medium through which to dry clothes, and utilises creative analogue technologies to mirror this. The hanging of film negatives or prints parallels the hanging of laundry, and the chemical processes involved in film photography allowed for me to step back from digital technology long enough to nurture an affinity for the domestic and mundane.
The research surrounding this project lead me down many interesting avenues, broadening my understanding of how the textile industry was instrumental to women's suffrage and worker's rights, how victims of domestic violence were able to find community and healing through The Global Clothesline Project, and the overwhelming presence of childhood nostalgia in the public perception of laundry.
This fascination with domesticity further lead me to contemplate how the act of laundry could be viewed as a performance, rather than a routine. I became interested in how 'chores' can provide a time for focus, rebalancing, and mindfulness, as an escape from a fast-paced and demanding lifestyle. Whilst this kind of task can seem like an inconvenience, I wondered what difference it would make to both individuals and the world if we used these tasks as a medium for slowness.
To do laundry could then be to reflect, evaluate, understand, breathe, rationalise, or whatever else is needed. Infused with a different kind of productivity, I am now a firm advocate for mindful chores, without the stigma of a buzzword.
The project is entirely greyscale, to embolden the historical context behind the work. Some of the images give the illusion of timelessness, reinforced by their analogue format, and with good reason. Despite the positive social change that is discussed in the book, it also acknowledges current problems such as poverty, the cost of living, and housing inequalities.
This book was printed with large format text to optimise accessibility for those with visual impairments.
A digital version of the book is available, and can be accessed here.
(It looks even better in print!)
