Describe the IDEAS behind your work short-listed for Top Arts.
The creation of fashion designs through the use of only natural materials, such as flowers, leaves etc. Inspiration gathered from nature and what is around us to design fantasy like creations and to express the natural beauty of what is Mother Nature. To celebrate the difference of the female shape and form and to appreciate the beauty of the environment through couture inspired designs.
What were your starting points? Where did your inspiration come from?
My inspiration came largely from the eccentric designs of John Galliano’s Dior collection. A photography book called ‘The Forest Fey’ by Vanessa Gave, which has incorporated both human visuals with digital extensions such as wings and natural garments was also an inspiration. I started firstly by experimenting with different materials and understanding them and their shape such as the curve of a feather and the lines of a leaf.
What media/materials did you select and why?
As nature was a main element of my theme, I decided to use natural materials such as flowers, leaves and feathers. Collage allowed me to create realistic miniature designs that I could not capture by painting or drawing. I also used photography to photograph the designs creating digital images that I could then retouch on the computer and print to create the book.
How did new technologies influence your ideas or working methods?
After initially creating the designs by hand, digital photography was used to photograph each design with a white background highly lit, creating each dress as its own media file. I was then able to edit each file using FireWorks, cutting away the backgrounds and cleaning the edges, allowing for each dress to be printed for the book.
What challenges/difficulties/discoveries did you encounter in producing your work?
Originally I was going to photocopy the original designs and then use the photocopied images as the pages for my book. The photocopying however showed shadowing and was not of a high enough quality to use. To overcome this difficulty I tried to email the photocopy from the copier to my computer so I could edit out the shadowing, however this proved ineffective as the quality of the email was distorted. I therefore photographed the images separately and then edited each one individually to remove any unwanted shadowing of distortion on the dresses so they where then of a high enough quality to print.
What influences from other sources were significant in the production of your work? For example: other artists, literature, media, historical or political events. How did this impact on the development of your work?
Influences such as designer John Galliano and French couture really influenced the detail and precision of the making of the dresses. Although miniature, each dress took over 2 hours to make as the placement and design of each piece was as though I was creating a piece of couture clothing, the detail and proportion of all the dresses are accurate and scaled. Also the issues surrounding the damage to our planet and the destruction of our earth were another factor in the making of these designs. They are a way of expressing the beauty of the environment around us and how precious it is.
What resources did you access? For example: libraries, galleries, newspapers, magazines, art programs, websites, films, events and performances? Please list the most important ones.
Magazines and books were huge influences, while the style and shapes of designer wear helped me to create realistic designs. The creativeness of designers such as John Galliano influenced me to be creative in design with the shapes and styles of the dresses. I also accessed many books such as ‘The Forest Fey’ and ‘Fairie –Ality’ from the House of Elwood which inspired me to create various designs and styles. I also closely researched artist David Downton and his representations of figures and flowing designs.
What exhibitions did you see in 2007? Was there a specific exhibition that influenced the development of your ideas and working methods?
I saw the Guggenheim exhibition, but this did not really have any influence over my designs, visiting the various large flower wholesalers and seeing the colours of the flowers on mass was more inspirational in terms of my use of different colours and shapes. My main inspiration came from what was around me in nature more so than anything else.
Discuss any ethical or moral issues or concerns evident in your work.
One issue that is underlying in my work is the image of the female body which is being relayed through the media. Women are being pressured and forced to try and attain unrealistic shapes. My designs do not use a template figure but instead allows the design of the dress to shape the body itself, expressing the female form in all different shapes and sizes.
Did you consider presentation and conservation issues in the process and production of your work?
Yes, the presentation of my work was a major consideration for both the book and the box I hand made. The presentation of the designs had to connect the original designs and the printed images together as they both create one piece. Each individual design has an individually sized mount cut to fit and express the dress itself. The presentation of the book also displays the designs in order of season and the flowers and activities that would occur at these particular times throughout the year, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving.
What advice would you give to students undertaking Art or Studio Arts?
Make sure that you select a theme that is something you enjoy. If you enjoy what you are doing you are able to express yourself creatively through your work and not be suppressed by the limitations of your theme.
What were the highlights of your art studies in 2007?
The highlight of 2007 Studio Arts for me was the entire process, the planning and the trialling which lead to the final pieces at the end of the year. There are not many subjects that allow you to watch the process of your creativeness and documentation as you go. Looking back on it now it is something that you can be proud of. I was able to see where all my trails and mistakes had led me and my thinking process along the way.
Are you planning to pursue a career in the arts? What will you be doing in 2008?
I am planning to pursue a career in design, I have just completed the design task for the Bachelor of Fashion at RMIT and hopefully will eventually end up in an area very similar.
