"do not wash at (silence)ºC" is a textile project highlighting the ongoing Asian hate crimes, by putting the wearer in the position of the silencer – symbolising the invisibility and the hidden struggles that aren’t being acknowledged. Rendering the invisible, visible, through a consumable form – a t-shirt, and a tote bag – affordable and easy to wear, like a culture that keeps getting consumed without second thoughts.
Both items have an inside-out effect – meaning the clothing appears a certain way, but when reversed, it reveals another side of the story. The front side represents a monolith culture that is used for props, while the inside reveals poetry fuelled by personal ruminations around identity and racism. The label also features a QR code leading to an Instagram filter, with another text to discover.
The fact that these are worn objects, is drawing a parallel on how people might avoid discussing racism, because it is also a call-out on their own behaviours – which is also the reason why important conversations get silenced. However, while the silencer might feel uncomfortable wearing a piece of clothing, they can simply take it off, while the silenced simply can’t remove the struggles they are facing off their skin.