Collage

"The Pursuit of Happiness" is a poke at some women's fervor for shoes and the popular culture that glorifies the role of the "designer shoe" as an icon of status, wealth and the power class. It was inspired by seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an China last year. Quin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, ordered his artisans to create 10,000 brightly painted terra cotta warriors. He had them positioned so they could defend against enemy invasion. His idea was to have them help him rule forever in the afterlife, thereby assuring his eternal happiness. That was in 210 BC.

Fast forward to America, 2008.  For your review--600 hand-folded, brightly painted, high heeled shoes lined up like Terra Cotta Warriors--some people's ideal of true 21st century happiness. Aspiring to status, wealth and the power class still seem to be the subject - gender, historic and cultural differences notwithstanding.
The Pursuit of Happiness is touring 2009-2011 as part of The Perfect Fit: Shoes Tell Stories.
Origami folding is a meditative process. This project's scope required sustained mental focus for several hours every day over a ten week period. The accompanying video by Sara Fernandez, made during the creation of "The Pursuit of Happiness", documents my joy in turning paper into miniature works of art. I presented the work as a triptych to reflect its spiritual element. Please enjoy my "shoeuvre" d'art.