In contemporary design, fashion is increasingly becoming a space for dialogue about social values, identity, and belonging. This work, Ecce Homo, shows just that — turning a simple fashion accessory into an activist artifact.
From religious symbol to modern sign of resistance
Name Ecce Homo (“Behold the man”) comes from the Christian tradition and refers to the moment when Pontius Pilate presents Jesus to the people. Throughout history, this expression has become a symbol of suffering, sacrifice and moral introspection. However, in this project Ecce Homo takes on a new, progressive meaning.
Political correctness
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are hidden behind the acronym LGBT, but in its use it also denotes intersex, queer, non-binary, asexual and in fact all sexual and gender minorities who fight together for legal recognition and positive social evaluation and non-discrimination based on sexual and gender biological assignments. All the mentioned names, including the acronym itself, indicate a politically correct, neutral position.
On the other side of the linguistic spectrum, we have terms like faggot, lesbian, homo, homie, trannie, and the like, which serve gender-based disparagement.
By using the words “homosexual” or “gay” to refer to “faggots,” as Pope Benedict XVI does in his document on homosexuals in the Church, a homophobic attitude can seem acceptable.
As an effective weapon to fight against the appropriation of politically neutral terms that legitimize homophobic attitudes, the use of politically incorrect terms to communicate positive or neutral traits is imposed. The key is to change the meaning of words charged with negative meaning. "Fag", therefore, is no longer a characterless immoral anti-person, but a synonym for a human being.
Here comes the faggot
At the level of associations that bring the parties together in this painful relationship of the Catholic Church towards the LGBT community, the first is Pontius Pilate and the crowd shouting “crucify!”, a riotous, bloodthirsty mob in search of its victim, judge and executioner. The LGBT community is thrown to the mob without a crime to suffer its punishment. Between LGBT people and the expression “Ecce Homo”, we place the sign of equality that God put between himself and his humanised self. LGBT people are people.
The word, the expression “homo” in the colloquial language of most European languages denotes a homosexual person, a faggot. If we replace the meaning of the Latin word “homo” with the meaning of that word in most colloquial languages, we arrive at the subversion that is key to this work, which is established by a simple logical principle (if a=bic=b, then a=c) as follows:
Jesus Christ = Ecce Homo = Here Comes the Faggot
Fashion as a tool for social change
Bags Ecce Homo are not just a fashion accessory; they are manifesto. Every bag becomes wearable sign of support for the LGBTQ+ community, and the act of wearing it turns into performance of solidarity. The project thus combines ethics, performance art, design and social engagement.
While religious symbols are used to exclude, the idea Ecce Homo opens up space for dialogue, acceptance and togetherness. By combination cultural significance, contemporary design and queer aesthetics, these bags become through provocation a bold statement about love, sex and freedom.