Gabriel Castro

Featuring a slow-rotating swivel chair draped in everyday clothes worn during a routine walk, this piece delves into the auditory dimension of clothing within the context of daily life. Contact microphones embedded in the garments capture the subtle, intimate sounds of wearing clothes, blended with the ambient noises of the surrounding city environment. In doing so, it invites us to pause and engage in the practice of deep listening.

Can deep listening transform our relationship with clothing? By attuning ourselves to the barely audible sounds of fabric—the rustle of layers, the whisper of movement—this installation encourages "slow noticing." It heightens our awareness of a garment's materiality and possibilities. This mindful engagement nurtures a sensory appreciation of our clothing, fostering a more thoughtful and intentional relationship with what we wear.

This piece presents garments from the wardrobe of a trans gay man, alongside a soundscape that captures the intimate dialogue between the individual and their clothing. The auditory experience originates from two object interviews, where the participant shared personal connections to these garments, revealing stories of self-identity, trauma, and belonging. Through the recorded sounds of these objects in motion—walking, dancing, dressing, and undressing—the installation brings these clothes to life, emphasizing the deeply personal relationships that people form with their belongings.

“What Fashion Feels Like for Him" challenges mainstream fashion narratives by showcasing how "ordinary" clothes can dismantle myths about trans identities. By amplifying these voices, the project validates and preserves stories often excluded from cultural discourse. The sensitivity with which these narratives are gathered and exhibited normalizes and familiarizes trans experiences, breaking down barriers of alienation and building empathy through the universal language of dress.

This piece features a messy chair draped with an assortment of clothing, accompanied by a soundscape that gives voice to the chair’s reflections. From its perspective, the chair meditates on the emotional resonance of the garments casually tossed over it, transforming this everyday object into a profound metaphor for the rhythm of our lives and our daily interactions with clothing.

It invites us to pay closer attention to the sensations, emotions, and intentions tied to the act of wearing clothes, while also highlighting our ambiguous relationship with fashion—a space where love and hate, critique and praise coexist. The installation encourages individuals to engage with fashion reflectively, rather than passively surrendering to its whims, suggesting that this mindful engagement can lead to deeper understanding and authenticity. By questioning the authority of fashion’s language, it inspires a fuller, more intentional way of living.