Cinderella Complex

Framewerk Gallery

Feb/Mar 2018

Tread carefully. Don’t put your foot in it. If the shoe fits, wear it.Cinderella is a story of a girl controlled and exploited by her new family after the death of her mother. The Grimm version involves mutilation, denial and control. The need to fit in ruins some and independence is lost for others. Not a shoe and not a foot, these are the in-between traces left after many footsteps. As interactions and relationships mould how we develop over time, their presence leaves an indelible mark in our lives. There is plenty of advice to be had, encouraged or not.  We will find ourselves in unexpected circumstances. Trying to fit in, (or not,) we are affected by external forces. Perceiving ourselves through these reflections of others can influence our behaviour and make it difficult to have confidence sticking to our own convictions. Life is no fairytale…

Cinderella Complex started with a 3 hour performance.

A white ceramic dish with the phrase 'You can't polish a turd' written inside, placed on a black surface.
A dress form with a gold satin dress in a room with a brick wall and whiteboard. Scattered fabric pieces on the floor.
close up of a cast foot, with a brick wall in the background.
Close-up of a piece of white textile with gold thread embroidery in a delicate, abstract pattern.
Cast stiletto woman's boot
A piece of white fabric with gold embroidery outlines of various shapes inside a glass display case.
A golden-colored fabric drapes on the floor surrounded by white paper cutouts with handwritten text on a dark surface.
A small box labeled "Bridal Shoes" contains two white shoes and is placed on a glass shelf supported by white bricks, against a background of wooden wall panels.
Close-up photo of a white fabric with a gold thread embroidery outlining the shape of the state of Alaska.
Three white, cast shoe interiors placed on a black glass shelf against a red brick wall.
a footprint mounted on a small board
A woman dressed in a yellow sari, sitting on the floor, barefoot, with her legs crossed. She is bowing her head and appears to be performing a ritual or prayer. Various items such as a glass of water, a decorative bowl, candles, and other ceremonial
White plaster cast of a foot and ankle on a glass shelf against a red brick wall.
Three white inside shoe cast sculptures placed on a glass shelf with a red brick wall background.
A woman dressed in a gold wedding dresse and long, dark braided hair performing a ritual or ceremony outdoors, with a cloth-covered altar, glass bowls, and other items around her.
cast ceramic stiletto boot standing upright on a dark floor
Close-up of an art display with a white canvas and thin gold outlines of abstract shapes, with a shadow cast on the backdrop of a metallic frame, and a small piece of white fabric or paper on the gray surface below.
A white ceramic footprint with the engraved words 'Who is looking at you anyway?' on the bowl, resting on a gray surface.
A woman dressed in a golden outfit with a braid in her hair is sitting on a small chair, reading a book, among torn paper and objects on the floor. In front of her, there are bowls of water, a colorful cup, and other items on a white sheet. Behind he
A person wearing black strappy sandals with rings on toes, sitting on an orange stool with legs crossed, on a concrete floor.
A white ceramic footprintwith black handwritten text that reads, "I wouldn't say she was pretty, but she is unusual," placed on a black surface.
A person sitting on a small chair, is putting on a gold-colored boot. The person is seated on a white sheet spread on the ground, with various objects around, including a tambourine, a decorated ceramic pitcher, a glass pitcher of water, a small bowl
A white ceramic footprint with the phrase 'Now there's a case for support stockings' written on it, placed on a dark textured surface.
Close-up of an art or craft project on a table, including a decorative plate, a piece of cloth with a gold and black design, and a surface covered with a thick white substance, possibly glue or paint, with some splatters.
A table covered with a white tablecloth and a gold satin cloth, holding various items including a box of Disney Princess cookies, large white powdery rocks, a glass of water, a ceramic mug, and a box of baking soda. Part of a person's hands are visib
A woman in a regal gold satin dress with a side bow is standing with her hand on her back, amid a collection of dishes, cups, and shoes on the ground, in a space with white shelves displaying books and artwork, and bright sunlight casting shadows.
A woman standing in a room holding a metal and wood half-harp, surrounded by scattered paper and plastic cups, with a display of books and artwork on the wall behind her, illuminated by sunlight.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a black top and white shorts, is standing inside a room with a window, adjusting her hair. The room has various books and items on shelves and tables, with sunlight streaming in through the windows. Outside, parked car
Photograph of the lower half of a person wearing a white top and black shorts. The person is standing on a surface with items including a glass pitcher, a glass bowl, and a book with a character illustration. Shadows cast across the scene.
Broken ceramic cups and plates with colorful patterns, some containing white powder, placed on aluminum foil, possibly in a kitchen or workshop setting.

Framewerk Gallery, Belfast Mar 2018 Cinderella Complex evolved from a performance made for the Belfast International Festival of Performance Art in 2017. Like the traces of a footprint, these daily interactions leave a print on us. The story of Cinderella has been retold with variations through generations of story telling. It is a tale of cruelty, neglect, deception and overcoming adversity, as well as shoes. The slippers in the story vary from gold to glass, but the ending is the same, a happy ever after with the prince. Cinderella emerges like a butterfly from a chrysalis, leaving behind her unhappy childhood to start a new life. The happy ever after, for the purposes of the fairytale.