Anca Butnaru – Romania

Laissez lire, laissez danser

Category: Traditional

Description

“Laissez lire et laissez danser, ces deux amusements ne feront de mal au monde”, said Voltaire. Books and music are windows towards a free spirit. The hat brings together these two themes telling the story of simple things that bring light and joy. The several cuts in the hat allow the light in, while the choice of colours brings the joyful green dancing shoes into attention. The shape of the hat is reinterpreted, as the cone is drawn down under the eyes, covering parts of the face, while the eyes remain visible. This choice was meant to integrate the eyes of the person wearing this hat in the construction. Thus, the eyes become part of the hat story, a fusion process making the whole construction dynamic.

Materials

• fur felt
• silk for the pages inside the books
• veil with dots

Techniques

• hat blocking
• cutting
• hand sewing