A "Feminine" Chair

What does "femininity" mean to you?

This installation stems from Maria Bravo's research project Living Systems at the Royal College of Art. The work explores design as a means of critique, social connection, and material storytelling.

Lace, often seen as delicate and ornamental, carries cultural associations with “femininity” shaped by society’s gender stereotypes. Beneath this surface, however, it holds a story of labor, skill, and endurance. By applying the fabric to a non-gendered subject, Maria embodies the paradox of gender perception.

The installation reflects on how gendered associations are formed and critiques the role of product marketing in their perpetuation.

The piece was exhibited at the annual Swanfall Art exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London, where it received the Audience Choice Award.