Catch as Catch Can
Embroidery on Loofah
2.75x11 in. (7x28 cm) ea.
2014

Catch as Catch Can refers to a specific style of wrestling that was originally developed as a game in Britain that allowed the contestants to trip, tackle, and use holds below the waist. The work’s embroidered designs suggest actions that aim to hold and submit one’s opponent. Stitched on Iranian traditional loofah, referred to as kisseh, the designs attempt to map out the game through designs consisting of a repetition of decorative and geometric patterns. Original instructions have been removed, leaving only wordless designs embedded on an object made to remove any residue. This superimposition reinforces the struggle to retain and build knowledge.

Photography:
(3) Toni Hafkenscheid