Fortified

“Fortified” is a sculptural sconce installation that explores the defense mechanisms we, as humans, build to protect ourselves from emotional harm. Each lighting fixture features hand-crafted chainmail, a material traditionally used for physical protection in battle. Here, it acts as a metaphor for the tedious, repetitive labor of emotional self-preservation — often draining, yet unnoticed.
The weight and rigidity of the chainmail represents the burden of avoidant behaviors: protective, but isolating. While armor shields us, it can also create distance from others, and from our own sense of self. This separation is symbolized by the mirror placed behind the light, suggesting an obscured reflection. A single chair between the two sconces invites viewers to reflect on their own patterns of avoidance, encouraging them to confront the quiet space between protection and vulnerability.