The year the world stood still

Nora De La Quintana

United Kingdom

• Metallic Headband Project by Elena Shvab

Frustration. Panic. Anxiety. Sadness. Loss. What do all these words have in common? The year 2020. What has happened since early 2020, no one could have ever imagined. It is as if time has stood still yet continued on propelling us forward. With each eternal loud tick, one more second was lost with loved ones, friends, and family. In addition, the opportunity to experience vast cultures and make lasting memories seemed to be swiftly ripped away from all of us in only a matter of minutes. We were all left to feel isolated in our own bubbles, suffering in silence, forced to make sense of seclusion. However, we were never alone, the whole world stood still; all experiencing the same set of emotions all at once. Together, we learned the importance time plays in all of our lives. We learned the veracious significance of togetherness, human contact, and human interaction. Essentially, the words “live life to the fullest” has a new heaviness. A newfound appreciation of being present has blossomed from the darkness. This hat serves as a reminder of the tragic past, the uneasy present, and the hopeful future. Inspired by Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, the gravity of time is represented through an intricate clock design. The contrast of pain and hope is shown through the use of metallic foiling which was inspired by the Metallic Foil Headband Tutorial: by Elena Shvab (September 2020 issue). The use of the metallic foiling provided a much-needed bronze finish often found on pocket watches. Time is both past and present, everlasting and immortal. It is constantly ticking. Be present before the moment is gone.

• Black acrylic paint
• Black fur Felt
• Black thread
• Bondaweb
• Chemical stiffener
• Elastic
• Elastic Velvet ribbon
• Foil
• White fur Felt
• 1.4 hardwire

• Hand Sculpturing
• Hand Stitching
• Metallic Foiling
• Wiring