Black sheep

2022

Is a project and reflection on what has been excluded — both in nature and in culture. Historically, most sheep were black or brown. Over time, humans began favoring white wool for its practicality — easier to dye and process. Through selective breeding, darker-coated sheep were gradually pushed out.

A black coat in sheep is the result of a recessive gene, which must be inherited from both parents to appear. From a commercial standpoint, it's seen as an undesirable trait — and for generations, it was systematically bred out. As a result, "black sheep" became rare — literally and symbolically.

This project gives that lost identity back. By dressing a white sheep in a black woolen sweater, I restore what has been covered, softened, or erased. It's a quiet act of resistance against systems of normalization and uniformity.

In everyday language, a “black sheep” is someone who deviates — sometimes with unease, sometimes with pride. This project suggests that deviation can be a value. It can also be a way back to the beginning.​​​

At first, the idea was to put a black sweater on the sheep, but to respect the animal, the project changed to a cloak — which was too small. In the end, the project became a model of a sheep wearing a sweater.

Dimensions: 
Length: 50 cm  
Height: 42 cm