Blog post 2: Themes & Changes in Work process

As per reflected as a summary point from my previous reflection post, I am seeing to explore the realism in diversity with empathy. This focus underpins many factors of socio-politics which needs to be attended and discussed through acts of creative direction.

A brief background of myself; I am previously schooled in the faculty of Fine Arts, which later transitioned to Fashion as a study subject at present. In this domain of practice, self, aesthetic, technical and historical contextualisations are principles to curate a body of work. Collective or personal, an artist’s work created derives its authenticity through first hand life experiences in their time of several overlapping social conditions, i.e. identity diasporas, spiritual structures, gender exclusivity, etc. This approach of “the medium as the message” (McLuhan, M, 1964) is open for relative appreciation and engagement. Art serves a conceptual function of a message. In essence, empathy is key.

Are all voices heard, considered and documented? Are spaces open for all persons to be themselves? Are we aware and in adjacent with our diversity?

Currently, Creative Direction for Fashion is my major of study. The course emphasises on the collaborative spirit of communicating and transcending ideas into products and services. Fashion as a subject, has allowed an artist like me to apply the idea of a “medium” onto an everyday readymade, clothing, to reveal and examine underlying the socio-political “messages”. “I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman.” —Vera Wang. Indeed, the personality of style and form may be designed by the creator (technical), but it also is dependent on the wearer (self). Every clothing piece has a history and life- an intellectual property of trends and preference. Fashion serves a perceptible function of a message. Hence, representation is necessary.

Are we all for #effyourbeautystandards, #fortheculture, #whomadeyourclothes and #fastfashionrebellion?

Conceptual and/or perceptible, I will feed-forward a converging approach in my future creative process, to democratise exclusive spaces and voices for more collaborative avenues of conversation, participation and respect.

In my chosen Better Lives unit, Navigating through Clothing, the objective is to create a costume for one chosen character from the given text, Hansel and Gretel, written by Brothers Grimm. This narrative originated from Germany in 1812, with historical remnants of the early 1300s when severe famine conditions have led many civilians committing immoral deeds of greed out of desperation. Class structures and wealth privileges are the preface of the moral.

What if Hansel and Gretel is a narrative which could be adapted into a culture different from the original? How would the appreciation be developed such that cultural and conceptual authenticities are effectively achieved? Would there be a compromise or a celebration of cultures?

From this point on, I would assess the given project’s objectives with a keen interest to promote the landscape of cultural diversity by visually retelling a well-known fairy tale.

DeLassandro, A (2015) 11 Empowering Body Positive Hashtags That Inspire us to Love Our Bodies and Everyone Else’s Too Available at: https://www.bustle.com/articles/79764-11-empowering-body-positive-hashtags-that-inspire-us-to-love-our-bodies-and-everyone-elses-too (Accessed: 25 April 2020)

Kandola, S (2018) 5 Empowering Hashtags That Embraces Diversity Available at: https://medium.com/@simritkandola/5-empowering-hashtags-all-people-of-colour-need-to-see-26d831066f3f (Accessed: 26 April 2020)

Fashion Revolution (2020) IMadeYourClothes Available at: https://www.fashionrevolution.org/tag/imadeyourclothes/ (Accessed: 20 March 2020)

Beecham, A (2019) Is Ethical Influencing the Answer to both Our Environmental and Social Media Concerns Available at: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/best-thrift-influencers (Accessed: 27 April 2020)