The installation evokes a relationship between two women, Ayame (Iris in Japanese) and Rose. The walls of the room were covered with willow-patterned wallpaper. Nailed to the walls were thousands of paper dolls, cut from silk tissue, with tiny burn hols in them. In the center wall was a peephole, through which can be seen a photograph of the two women, one blonde and the other having black hair, their faces slightly blurred. To the right there was a tète-a-tète chair, with seats covered in velvet, and a light sprinking of hair (blonde on the magenta, black on the purple). There was also a Japanese tea box and a display case of objects.

Room size: 24’ x 24’ x 17’h
Wallpaper, silk tissue, brass nails, tète-a-tète chair, tea box, glass case, small objects.

Assistance with the paper dolls: Voices of Women of the High School of Art and Design, and Lucretia Knapp.

Photo credit: George Hirose