CAREN GARFEN

TWEETS (NOT SWEETS), 2016

Twitter as been researched to examine how it is used as a tool by those suffering from eating disorders to create a dialogue around their illness. One Twitter account had more than 31.5K Followers with some posts attracting over 600 Likes and over 700 Retweets.

144 tweets have been hand stitched and placed inside clear, empty medicine capsules. These are displayed within an old-fashioned candy jar. The paper circular lid cover has been replaced by cotton fabric hand stitched with candy-coloured stripes and researched text. The second jar contains related hashtags.

Social media exposure can have a significant influence on body image, dieting habits, self-esteem, body comparison and body dissatisfaction.

Measurement: 8cm x 9cm (x2 jars)

Process: Hand stitch

Materials: Textile, silk threads, medicine capsules, sweet jars

Exhibited in:

Wit of the Stitch, Ruthin Craft Centre, North Wales (2016)

13th International London Eating Disorder Conference, University College London (2017)

Desperate Artwives, Feminism in London Conference, University of London (2017)

BEAT Eating Disorder International Conference, Imperial College London (2018)

What’s Going On Upstairs, Solo Gallery, The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London (2018)

What’s Going On Upstairs, Solo Gallery, The Knitting & Stitching Show, The RDS, Simmonscourt, Dublin (2018)

What’s Going On Upstairs, Solo Gallery, The Knitting & Stitching Show, Convention Centre, Harrogate (2018)

Image and Narrative: Illness, Recovery, Change, The University of Nottingham (2019)

Art in Script: A Fine Art Collective, Envision Arts Show, International Online Gallery (2019)

First Steps, East Midlands Mental Health Service Innovators Conference, University of Derby (2019)