I Don't Want to Climb This Ladder, I Want to Sleep

Installation

Metal, tulle, lace, cotton pillow

6'10" x 2' 3"

2026

Wake up early, exercise, make breakfast, eat breakfast. What about lunch? Do you have leftovers? Oh well, guess you’ll pick up some instant noodles or a Frikandelbroodje. It’s only 99 cents. Now shower, put on your clothes, do you have everything in your bag? What about skincare? No time. Rush rush rush. 

Always keep moving, keep working, stay in your studio till 9PM. If you feel tired already at 12PM, there’s something really wrong with you. Keep pushing. Just push through it, soon you can go home and rest. Oh no, what about dinner?

“Upwards and onwards” all the Linkedin comments say. I am tired, so tired, I cannot move. No more upwards, I cannot. I want to sleep. 

I don't want to climb this ladder, I want to sleep is a symbol for not wanting the things we are told to want. For not wanting to climb the corporate ladder, for not wanting to network. For not wanting to be successful, not wanting to hustle.For wanting to escape the chokehold of capitalism, for wanting the thing it demonises the most: rest. 

In this installation, I dress the harsh, cold metal ladder with fragile textiles, woven together, slowly. I create a bed of softness to lie on and rest, to close my eyes and escape from the realities of capitalism. At least I try, because the ladder still pokes through, my back hurts, and the alarm will go off again.