Product Description

For my brother s fourteenth birthday, he got a special gift from my father – a small folding knife. My
father believed our neighbourhood was too dangerous for his son, that he should carry the knife
with him as a way to defend himself. A knife is a representation of strength – even without the
intention of using it, the knife carrier is fortified. It is a tool that makes you appear strong. It is a
shield that protects you from everything and everyone. It is a threat to those around you. Carrying
the knife instils a heightened sense of confidence and superiority.
Especially for individuals socialised in this manner, there’s a certain expectation to demonstrate a
specific social attitude – one that leaves no room for perceived weakness and builds a defensive
shield. In my father’s case, his act of gifting the knife is rooted in love; it’s a gesture aimed at
providing protection. The knife somehow symbolises the protection we construct around
ourselves for safety, but when that protection shatters, it often leads to vulnerability on a
significant scale, often resulting in aggressive behaviour.
Year: 2023