chuck taylor interventions
2025
a material investigation into the lifecycle of iconic forms. through deconstruction, reconstruction, and recontextualization, the ubiquitous sneaker becomes a vessel for memory, utility, and narrative.
concept
the chuck taylor is everywhere and invisible at the same time. its ubiquity is what makes it powerful. this project examines how familiar forms can be taken apart and reassembled, not to make them prettier, but to reveal the stories embedded inside them.
methodology
the practice follows the lifecycle of material forms through three moves: deconstruction, reconstruction, and recontextualization. each stage reveals different aspects of the object’s narrative and cultural significance.
process
deconstruction breaks the sneaker apart to expose its anatomy. reconstruction rebuilds it to be honest rather than clean, with visible repairs and interventions. recontextualization places the altered shoe back into circulation, changing how it’s read and understood.
deconstruction
removing eyelets, splitting seams, sanding rubber to expose anatomy
reconstruction
rebuilding with x-stitches, rerouted laces, intentional repairs
recontextualization
placing altered shoes back into circulation in various contexts
themes
the interventions push the sneaker past fashion, staging it as an object that speaks about labor, wear, and adaptation. utility is made unstable but not erased. every scuff, stitch, and tear becomes evidence of a timeline; a diary that can’t be rewritten.
inquiry
for project inquiries, commissioning, or collaborative research, please contact via email.
about
jason guillard’s practice examines the lifecycle of material forms. through deconstruction, replication, and recontextualization, spanning garments, footwear, accessories, publications, and public spaces. his work explores themes of utility, memory, and the embedded narratives of objects.