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What Was I Made For? (2023) is a homemade American flag that has been constructed from sourced materials and then almost entirely seam ripped apart in order to question where the American flag, as a symbol and as an object, exists. After being inspired by the lyrics in Billie Eilish’s song “What Was I Made For?” I imagined the American flag expressing similar questions and woes: “I used to float, now I just fall down… thought I was happy but I’m not sure now… [I’m] just something you paid for… what was I made for?”
While creating this work, I documented the process with my camera, focusing on the care embedded in its construction. I took time to correct any misplaced stitches, hand-stitched before using a machine to ensure the lines were as precise as possible, and carefully pressed the fabric to give it a polished, finished appearance.
This meticulous approach to crafting the object was deliberate—a facade of perfection meant to underscore the significance of its eventual destruction.