Displaced Shoe

These shoes were made as part of the work I did about chinese foot binding. In the same way that foot binding is a restrictive practice emphasising submission and vulnerability, the high heeled shoe shares some similarities with these characteristics. The fitting of the foot into an unnatural shape echoes the bending of the foot to compress the arch in chinese foot binding.

The structure of the shoe forces the wearer to walk in a restrained manner and this draws a direct parallel with the bound foot designed to restrict mobility and therefore aid faithfulness. There is within this the sexual undertone of passivity. The shoe reflects a dualistic position one of sexual power that is off set by the crushed red glass inside, although very erotic in shape implies something painful and vulnerable. The outside has a protective quality as well a animal implications. something wolf like. Many fetish objects use the juxtaposition of materials to evoke a mixture of both revulsion and excitement.

Find out more about the Chinese Bound Feet Project