For the plush night light project, I’d like to explore the idea around femininity and sex positivity. Read on for some current work practices and project ideas.
Current Work
I made a plush toy roughly in the H shape with an old t-shirt, cutting out the main pattern on the t-shirt to be the front and back patterns on the toy.
The toy prototype is sized larger than my hand, with full cotton filling. I made it this way so it’s easy to be held in hand – the concave in the shape actually has a nice feel/fit to the hand and feels like it could help me reduce some stress.
This got me thinking a lot about touch – both physical and mental.
The circuit I built was a simple circuit with a battery pack, 1 red LED light and a resistor, build together with soldering and shrinking of tubes to make the connection more secure.
Proposal 1 – Vagina Lamp
The first idea I want to explore is a Vagina Lamp. This is for young female adults to view their feminine body with positivity. People often don’t view human genitals the same way like other body parts. But I find that certain elements in nature shapes similarly to vaginas – flowers with pebbles, the cut of a strawberry and many other fruits are often used to be compared with the look of female genital. The layered structures of these natural elements could help it become easier to view our own body part.
I want to make a vagina lamp that looks like a vagina from the front view, but in shape of a flower or strawberry from the side. This could sit on the bed table of young female adults to encourage them to embrace their body, and be more confidence and sex positive.
I plan to use cloth in different shades of red with fluffy surface, layer them, and stuff them with the cotton filling. The soft touch of the lamp can also encourage the users to freely explore their sexualities.
Proposal 2 – Lip Lamp
My second idea is a lip lamp. People usually express their emotions through various facial expressions and that often involved their mouth/lips. How make-up artists in the recent years start to explore making art on the lips also inspired me to this idea.
I want to make a lip lamp for people to put on their desk or by their bed to remind them to express themselves, be communicative, and most importantly – be happy.
I’m still debating whether to make this lamp with a silky smooth surfaced cloth or one that’s fluffy. But I envision light coming in-between the lips.
Proposal 3 – Teru Teru Bōzu
Dialing away from the human body parts a little bit, my third idea is a Teru teru bōzu doll. This references the Japanese doll, the name “Teru teru bōzu” means “shine, shine monk”, but in Chinese, people often refers to the doll as a “sunny day doll”.
Teru teru bōzu is usually placed hanging outside of the house, singular or in groups. I’d like disrupt this pattern and make a Teru teru bōzu lamp either in a vertical chain or with a BIG head and short body.
This lamp will be for parents with kid(s) or adults who like simplicity and cuteness in their house. It will be made with white minky cloth, stuffed with cotton fillings and lit with LED lights.