necessity and desire
still life project 2026
This project explores the relationship between necessity and desire through still life. Using food as a starting point, it draws a parallel with fashion, questioning how accessories can become perceived necessities.
A pair of black high heels replaces the oil and vinegar in a cruet stand, while the grape and olive reference their origins. By removing the shoes from their practical function, the image transforms them into symbols, reflecting on symbolic consumption and the cultural value we assign to objects.
necessity and desire
still life project 2026
This project explores the line between necessity and desire through still life. Using food as a starting point — where need, pleasure, and ritual coexist — the work draws a parallel with fashion, which, although not essential for survival, has become culturally indispensable.
A pair of black high heels is placed inside a cruet stand, replacing oil and vinegar. Like condiments, the shoes are not the main element, but complete the whole. The grape and the olive reference their origins, reinforcing the idea of essential yet often overlooked components.
By removing the object from its function, the image turns the shoe into a symbol rather than a tool, reflecting on symbolic consumption and on how accessories can become perceived necessities.
CREDITScreative direction and styling: catarina lima and adriana bárbara
shoes photography: mário principe
post-production and other images: catarina lima
shoes: fashion designer, dino alves