terrorist fashion institute
This project explores themes of stigma, fear, and societal violence through a feminist lens, drawing parallels between medieval werewolf hysteria and contemporary terrorist paranoia. Fascinated by the cyclical nature of violent outbursts and scapegoating, Yelena critiques the mechanisms of control and fear that disproportionately target the "other," particularly those marginalized or perceived as threatening by dominant societal structures. These patterns, often gendered in their application, reflect the enduring intersections of power, identity, and systemic oppression. Her work culminated in a collection of garments that serve as both artifacts and provocations, embodying the raw and volatile aesthetic of the fears they critique. Presented through performances and pop-up shops, her installations transformed each location—ranging from alternative art spaces to a prestigious fashion fair—into immersive universes. These universes were not merely backdrops but active critiques of the cultural frameworks that perpetuate exclusion and violence. From a feminist theoretical perspective, Yelena’s project interrogates how fear operates as a tool to police bodies and identities, echoing feminist critiques of the witch hunts and other gendered forms of social control. Her rough aesthetic challenges traditional notions of beauty and order in fashion, aligning with feminist art practices that reject commodified femininity and instead embrace the subversive and disruptive. Through her garments and their contexts, Yelena invites viewers to question the systems that produce both fear and desire, presenting a vision of resistance that is as visceral as it is intellectual. Her work thus transcends fashion, becoming a medium for political and social critique rooted in feminist thought.
