Fashion & Textiles: Paper manipulation (1)

To begin the day, I was required to choose one element to focus on out of the following: Font, structure and texture. I chose structure as I felt font/texture would be too limiting. In addition to this I thought structure would be more challenging. As part of the brief I had to create 5 samples.

1. I found this piece too simplistic as I was aiming for something a lot more complex however I think it still looks interesting aesthetically.
2. This was my favourite sample, (hence why I chose it as my final sample) The inspiration behind this was for it to be complex yet simple at the same time.
3. I dislike this sample because compared to the others it's quite rough and isn't at a standard I aspired for it to be at.
4. This sample stands out from the others as I used two techniques in the making of it rather than one. Nevertheless, I don't think its a strong piece as it lacks the element of complexity.
5. This piece could definitely have been constructed better as I could have measures each strip and made them all the same lengths for example before gluing it together. This would look better if I had put a lot more effort into it.

Making multiple samples

                                                           

I felt a lot of pressure to produce a range of different sized samples as my chosen sample is complex in terms of construction. Whilst making, I got quite frustrated because I kept making my samples the same sizes. 

Styling with structures (others)

For this task I had to work in a pair. My partner (Rosie) and I were given only a few minutes to piece outfits together using the structures others had made on the mannequins. 

Freestyle

For the first one initially i was hesitant as I didn't really have a lot of time to think however, as I focused on making instead of over thinking I found that ideas came to me a lot quicker which I would share with Rosie and vice versa. I think this piece came together particularly well as we managed to incorporate all the constructions without it being over bearing. In addition to this we also considered the back of the outfit which makes it more of a finished piece. 

'Minimal'

       

As Rosie and I made preparations for our next mannequin we were bouncing ideas of each other. To our surprise we were given a theme rather than just left to do whatever we wanted to do. I found the theme 'Minimal' limiting initially as I was quite thrown by it. Nevertheless, I think we achieved the brief on this piece as both the structures we chose to use and the way we styled it can be described as 'minimal'.

'Avant Garde'

This theme was in complete contrast to the last one, I found it fun going from one extreme to the other. I think this piece embodies 'Avant Garde' because it is very extravagant. If I had the opportunity to rework it I think I would want to be more selective with what I choose to feature in this piece as it looks slightly too busy. 

Focusing on one part of the body

For this piece we choose to focus on the spinal cord as we wanted to highlight an usual aspect of the body. If I had the opportunity to rework this piece I would pay better attention to detail by aligning the pieces all the way down in order to give it a more refines aesthetic altogether.

'Volume'

I personally found this theme a bit tricky as I didn't know how  to interpret it but as I got a better description ( creating a piece that moves away from the body) I got a better grasp on the task. For this piece, we decided to exaggerate existing qualities of the structure as it resembles paper planes. I think this was highly effective/edgy.

Styling with mine and Rosie's structure.

Freestyle

We decided to just 'go with the flow' for this  piece. The outcome was very good as both structures compliment each other really well.

'Electricity' (strobe)

                                                             

Finally, we decided to make up  a theme for the  piece. Rosie suggested that it should be within the the theme of memories and in reference to Blade runner. This led her to think of the words 'strobe' and electricity . In light of this we designed with this concept embodied into the garment. 

Exhibition visits: 18/9/13

The Saatchi Gallery

Whilst at the Saatchi Gallery i came across this room which sparked an interest in as it made me curious to find out what materials were used to make the different pieces. Upon discovering both artists:Lagos and Teruya used paper (through recycling) to create their pieces, I was greatly inspired. The collection of work that  I feel had a stronger visual impact nevertheless was Teruya's because it features the use of something as simple/uninteresting  as shopping bags which the majority of people use daily.

In relation to the Fashion & Textiles pathway, experiencing these collections opened my eyes to how endless the possibilities are as initially, when I discovered we were working with paper I thought it would be too restricting/ limiting. Nevertheless, I think the point of the task would be to have limits in terms of the media (paper) but to be limitless in terms of ideas. I'd have to manipulate the paper to work how I want it to. 

Miler Lagos, Fragments del Tempo

Miler Lagos, Fragments del Tempo

 Yuken Teruya, LVMH- Le Bon Marche, 2005

Yuken Teruya, LVMH- Le Bon Marche, 2005

             

         

        Yuken Teruya, LVMH- Marc Jacobs, 2005

Yuken Teruya, LVMH- Marc Jacobs, 2005

           

Yuken Teruya, LVMH- Pucci, 2005

                         

                          Yuken Teruya, Golden Arch Parkway McDonald's ( Red Yellow) 2005                                    

Exhibition visit:18/09/13

                       The Photographers gallery

                                             Mass Observation: This is your photo

• Mass Observation (MO) was founded in 1937.
• A radical experiment in social science, art and documentary.
• The Archive consists of extensive written accounts of daily life, ephemera and photographs.
• The leading figures in MO's formation included: Tom Harrisson and Charles Madge.

 

 

                                   

I was curious about the exhibition initially, the title 'Mass Observation' led me to think it was going to be about privacy and the amount of CCTV etc. When I discovered it wasn't, I was still interested however as I progressed through the gallery I quickly lost interest. I understand that the work looks at people however it seems to be looking at taken for granted things that no one seems to care about. It felt quite tiring looking at this work because I failed to understand the relevance to society today. Overall, I liked the approach taken in recording some documents such as the Observations from Blackpool where the dialogue/action was written.

Lens based media: Future memories (3)

Redrafting/reworking

In order to address the biggest critique of my storyboard- the lack of tension, I decided to also explore and experiment more with the protagonist as a character in its own rights. The general feedback I received from the group was that instead of taking photographs my story could be illustrated instead with particular influence place don the emotions of the utensils features. In addition to this, it was also suggested that I could explore emotion by manipulating the spoon in different ways to create different effects emotionally.

Revised story

1. State of equilibrium: 

The audience is introduced to a teaspoon called Tabby who lives in the cupboard alongside the other pieces of cutlery. Tabby resides in the first drawer. The drawers below contain items foreign to Tabby such as a bib and dummy.

2. Incident:

Tabby's owners, newlyweds are having dinner. From Tabby's perspective it is unclear what they are having but one thing is clear; she isn't of use during this meal time. Only a knife and fork are at use. Tabby sulks from the cupboard as she feels very neglected. The knife and fork react to Tabby's sadness by mocking and teasing her which has the effect of making her feel even more inferior.

3.Struggle:

The mocking of Tabby continues, at this point all the other utensils have joined in which takes the teasing to serious bullying as they tear Tabby apart. In an attempt to flee and protect herself Tabby finds her way to the dining table but unfortunately, as she arrives the couple leave which means Tabby is left to be tormented to the extent that she is pushed off the table and unto the floor helplessly.

4. Struggle:

Later in the day, the lady finds poor Tabby on the floor whilst doing the washing up. However, due to being distracted by the conversation she's having with her husband she tosses Tabby in the drawer and misses the tray which means Tabby is left in the gap by the wayside to the amusement of the other utensils.

5.Struggle:

The next day, The lady rapidly looks through the drawer in search of something. The other utensils wait eagerly to discover what she is searching for as it wasn't breakfast, lunch or dinner. At this point Tabby was at her lowest and was even considering ways to end her pain...The lady's hand emerged out of the drawer holding Tabby who she them swiftly chucked into her bag. This sparked curiosity in all the pieces of cutlery except form Tabby who was too busy wallowing in her sorrow to notice she was removed from the drawer.

6. Resolution:

*flash forward* A few months later the lady can be seen holding Tabby in her hand and using her to feed a newborn baby, the lady's daughter to the shock and horror of all the other utensils. The day she put Tabby in her handbag, she went to get her engraved specially for the baby because she wanted to keep Tabby forever. 

Lens based media: Future memories (2)

Group story board

As a group, we started this task by each of us drawing a range of things from: fictional/non/fictional characters, places, objects. We then began making connections between different things in order to create links which made the basis of our story. 

After choosing the best 3 stories with the most potential, we created storyboards for each. This was rather difficult as each one had a limit of 6 frames in which there must be a protagonist, a problem, several obstacles which gets bigger each time and a resolution at the end. The main issue we had was following this structure whilst keeping the story original and exciting.  

The storyboard we chose to present to the rest of the group was that of a soldier, Sgt Danny Jasper Jones who fought in an intergalactic war. He appeared to have been injured however as it story progresses it comes to light that he wasn't injured he was actually pretending to be. He was caught sleep walking. He was then put on trial where he was later found guilty of treason and sent to prison on Mars.

The general feedback from the group was that there weren't enough obstacles and the resolution wasn't satisfactory as the protagonist didn't really have a resolution to his problem on the end. It was suggested that maybe the soldier should've have escaped in the end. I understood the points raised nevertheless I thought that his escaping wouldn't be a resolution nor would it be realistic. Therefore, I opted to change the meaning behind the ending, his being imprisoned is a resolution because his experience at war was so traumatic that he'd rather be imprisoned than to be sent back to fight. 

My storyboard

I decided to do a completely different story to the previous one that was chosen as a group because I no longer felt connected to it.

First Draft:

1. Variations of cutlery, each in a section.
2. All of the sections are empty apart from the one where the teaspoons are kept
3. The teaspoon consults the high council. (serving spoons)
4. Example of dinner time- Fork, spoon and knife where taking out but only a fork is being used to eat the spaghetti.
5. 2nd example of dinner time- Spoon, fork and knife where taking out but only the spoon is being used to eat the rice.
6. In the end, the teaspoon learns to be content as a piece of cutlery that is used occasionally with food/snacks such as yoghurt, tea, cereal. 

                         

                           

                              

            

                      

'The life and times of a teaspoon'