For christmas I want to be a gymnast
Eva Camper
Kingston School of Art
My final major project marks a textile-led exploration of identity, memory, and materiality. Growing up half Russian, I was surrounded by traditions, language, and regular visits to Russia. My Mother’s photo archive serving as a key source of inspiration. I focused on her New Year’s school photos taken during Yolka, a Russian Christmas concert. Also looking at the Soviet film Morozko (1964), which influenced the festive mood and use of folk dress which is supported by the V&A archive, which I examined traditional Eastern European garments closely. To create contrast I explored Russian gymnastics, inspired by a 1980s Moscow Olympic Games greeting card. This led to the collection title, ‘For Christmas I Want to Be a Gymnast’, combining festive imagery with a sport inspired element. As a former gymnast, the project became a personal exploration of childhood aspirations