2025. Azione #63. “Training Bra no. 3”, Roma (IT).

Mixed media on paper, 3 p.d.a, 21 x 29,7 cm. Adolescere, curated by Associazione Wind Mill, for the WAD project, Roma (IT).

2026. Adolescere: Sincresis, Empoli (IT); SEMINIAMO ARTE VI Edizione – MuBAQ – Museo dei Bambini – L’Aquila capitale della cultura 2026; Aquila (IT).  https://laquila2026.it/; Spazio Culturale La Vaccheria; Patrocinio del lX° Municipio, Roma (IT).

ACTIONS PER in/FINITE FORMS 2 (2016-2030) 

 For adolescĕre:

On my 12th birthday my mother’s best friend, Shirley, came to my birthday party and gave me a package to open. There were maybe 10 other people there between my mother, brother, and sister and some friends and neighbours. When I opened the package I found what they called a “training bra”. It was virtually a cut off t-shirt with straps and a fastener in the back, a fake bra, in other words. I was absolutely shocked and embarrassed that everyone saw me open the gift. Then I was angry at Shirley for giving me a private item in public without any warning; just saying “maybe you don’t need it yet”. 

I am and have always been pretty “flat chested” — I guess this “training” was actually to get me to learn how to be humiliated, since this was the first of multiple occasions. Breast size is often a topic of conversation between adolescents and adults in general. It is surprising how young-girl-becoming-woman bodies are a point of discussion and voiced control by society, adults, and parents. What is the “training” involved in? Learning to wear an uncomfortable piece of clothing? Training one’s future breasts to stay a layer away from other clothing? Training them to stay controlled tightly against our bodies without wiggle room?

This mixed media print of a bra of mine, which I worked on with my partner/husband, is a reflection on my painful adolescence (which was very different from his). It is a product of our ongoing collaboration as an artistic duo SANDFORD&GOSTI.