Our Daily Play and Bread
Master Visual Arts - Costume design
Karl Joonas Alamaa (AP Hogeschool)
Bread, a universal symbol, evokes memories and a sense of home, reinforcing the project’s focus on social sustainability and cohesion.
What is your final project about?
My project, Our Daily Play and Bread, explores themes of hope, individuality, rebellion, and finding purpose in a restrictive world. The title combines the idea of bread as a symbol of daily well-being with the Dutch version of Juvenal’s aphorism, “Give them bread and circuses, and they will never revolt.”
I delve into forgotten pasts and overlooked presents, primarily through oral heritage and memories of people in exile. Inspired by stories from my elderly relatives, I reflect on Estonia’s history post-World War II, marked by occupation and cultural destruction. A poignant story from my great-aunt, who scratched her name into a tree in Siberia, symbolizes hope and resilience.
How does your final project contribute to sustainability?
My work addresses how small acts of hope can challenge power structures and lead to social change. I emphasize social sustainability by promoting intergenerational knowledge exchange, integration, and shared experiences. The project highlights the importance of human values, mutual respect, and attentiveness in a globalized society.
Through interviews with exiled individuals, I capture personal stories of escape and coping. Collaborations with organizations like Globe Aroma in Brussels and minority culture centers in Estonia enrich the project.
The installation engages viewers with textile figures they can interact with, read interviews, and play a memory game using bread figurines. Bread, a universal symbol, evokes memories and a sense of home, reinforcing the project’s focus on social sustainability and cohesion.
Additionally, I contribute to environmental sustainability by reusing materials. The textile figures are made from second-hand fabrics, and other elements of the installation incorporate recycled materials. This approach not only reduces waste but also underscores the importance of sustainability in artistic practices.