Leonard Hoffmeister - Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle

I Am Pinocchio. Or Am I? – Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle

Marionettes and puppets have traditionally served in political iconography as symbols of the loss of autonomy. Yet there is one figure that defies this logic: Pinocchio. While he is often used today to mock liars, his true essence lies in radical independence. Pinocchio’s story is that of a being
who consistently resists being “carved into shape” by social and state institutions such as the family, school, or the world of work. He refuses to function. He refuses to be useful. This existential stubbornness finds its historical counterpart in the youth cultures of the 1980s. In the
spirit of punk and other subcultural movements, the collection “I Am Pinocchio. Or Am I?” explores the preservation of autonomy in the face of rising authoritarian tendencies. Within a climate of conformity and surveillance, Pinocchio—combined with the instinctive idealism of
contemporary youth culture—becomes a model for existential resistance. The collection is built upon vintage military and workwear garments: clothing that originally stood for discipline, hierarchy, and functionality, but which was gradually appropriated and reinterpreted by various subcultures. Through six characters, the project demonstrates how these systems can be infiltrated and sabotaged. Construction techniques, deconstruction, and modifications to the uniforms give rise to new markers of identification: the codes of a movement defined not by obedience, but by solidarity and radical resistance. Here, DIY functions as a political tool against external control and as an accessible means of signaling belonging to the movement. Many of the
techniques and details are intentionally simple to replicate by hand. Employing a theatrical approach, the work argues that human beings are not mere puppets on strings, but complex individuals who, with the support of others, can organize themselves and resist oppression imposed by abstract systems and structures.

Leonard Hoffmeister completed his Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle in summer 2025. Alongside his work as a fashion designer, he also works as an illustrator. Influences from art, film, music, philosophy, and illustration, combined with a deeply rooted anti-authoritarian stance, form the foundation of his creative practice. His work engages with contemporary philosophical, political, and sociological questions. Through a narrative, story-driven design approach, garments are developed into characters that serve as projection surfaces for societal themes and individual interpretation. In his practice, he combines traditional craft techniques and natural materials with experimental pattern cutting and the deliberate use of historical references. His stated aim is to create independent clothing and art objects that invite reflection and encourage dreaming.