Concept Overview

 

Rachel Rosa’s latest work challenges the boundaries between function and fashion by sculpting high-end designer handbags from clay—transforming them into vases. These pieces are not what they seem; they mimic luxury accessories but serve a different purpose, inviting the viewer to reconsider value, materiality, and the fleeting nature of status symbols. Floral arrangements within each piece, reinforce the dual identity of the object.

 

Artistic Rationale

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Function vs. Illusion: The handbags appear practical but are inherently fragile, questioning the relationship between aesthetics and usability.

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• Consumer Culture & Transience: Luxury fashion is often a symbol of status but quickly becomes obsolete. Clay, by contrast, is ancient and enduring. The contrast between the ephemeral and the timeless highlights the superficiality of trends.

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• Femininity & Power: The handbag is an iconic emblem of womanhood, independence, and social standing. By transforming it into a vase—a traditional symbol of domesticity—Rachel Rosa provokes a conversation about shifting roles and expectations of women.

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• Material Transformation: Clay, usually associated with raw earth and functional pottery, is shaped into something synonymous with wealth and exclusivity. This tension between humble material and luxury aesthetics subverts notions of value.

 

Visual & Textural Details

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• Textural finishes mimic leather and textiles

• Delicate stitching, and the incorporation of leather details post-firing build depth and realism to the pieces