One of the more widely known cultural practices of body modification is the neck-lengthening brass coils used by the Kayan women of northern Thailand. Young girls are given their first set of 4.5 pound coils at just a mere five years of age. While common knowledge states that the necks are elongated, the truth is that the weight of the coils compresses a woman’s rib cage until her shoulders collapse under. Neck rings are a symbol of social status and economic standing within certain tribes. Less isn’t always more.
In the Thailand room, I want real and different sized coils that visitors will have the opportunity to try on (with the help of experts). That way, they can feel the weight of the coils and connect with the modifiers on a more physical level rather than an abstract one. This will help create an environment in which these coils can be normalized rather than stigmatized.
