︎︎︎ Lobby boy ︎︎︎  

This textile installation takes the form of a lobby boy uniform, hand-sewn to scale 1, made from mops. The uniform was chosen as a symbol of the world of labor and wage employment. The lower one’s social position, the stricter and more codified the rules surrounding the work uniform become. This choice reflects a personal experience, as it is a job that I once performed.

A key element of this piece is the left sleeve, which has been deliberately extended to a length of 140 meters. This extension symbolizes the accumulation of a worker's gestures and becomes a mental map, a kind of reminder of the daily repetition of tasks. Through this sleeve, the idea is to preserve a physical trace of the imprint left by these repeated movements, day after day.

On this sleeve, a past employment contract has been printed, highlighting clauses related to physical appearance: the color of socks, hairstyle, clothing choices, and shoes. The print was done using an alphabet carved into sponges, with each letter applied individually. This process emphasizes the materiality of the contract and its alienating nature.

The uniform here acts as a corporeal envelope that shapes and constrains the body. It symbolizes the alienation of the worker, their submission to the rules, and their inscription into a rigid system. Through this piece, the reflection extends to how labor transcends individual identities. By erasing distinctions of gender, race, or sexuality, the uniform opens the way for a reflection on universal solidarity among workers, beyond traditional social categorizations.

This piece was exhibited at BPS22 in Charleroi, Belgium, in June 2022.

View of exhibition at Galerie Ravenstein 2022