Tribal influence

I again looked at the neck rings worn by mayan women and men in some african tribes where the rings are added from the age of 5 and are thought by many to stretch the neck but they actually slowly deform the shoulders, making the neck appear longer. I want to try and create a neck piece based upon this tradition that will keep the neck extended to its full extent.

Tutorial 13-03-12

Things that were brought up were that I need to produce more experiments and be less prescious about them, if they end up being more successful I can go back to them after and it was also suggested I look at braces,deformity and the body and how it changes with age.
I am trying to prohibit normal body function but at the same time make it look beautiful/ decorative so i need to deal with the function first and then move onto the beautifying of the object.

I looked at braces used for medical purposes but also found alot of images where braces were used for fashion shows and photoshoots.

I also looked at ageing and the body the main things that stood our for me were that the body get weaker less able more fragile and less agile it also needed much more support like walking sticks etc.

Restriction cont...

 

I experimented a little with jersey to try and create something restrictive from an otherwise comfortable and un-restrictive fabric but don't really feel it was very successful. 

expressive jewellery

I have been looking at expressive jewellery as I feel it will help me to find alternative approaches to my own work.

Elena Salmistraro

I like the angular but delicate look of these origami inspired pieces.

Elizabeth Delfs

I came across her work whilst doing some research I like the delicate materials she uses to produce quite architectural and sculptural pieces.

Tutorial 21.2.12

In my tutorial we talked about me trying to do more experimentation both subtle and more expressive. Another thing that came up was that I needed to constantly redefine what I am aiming to achieve, at the moment I feel that I want to produce a piece of body adornment that prevents normal function and restricts the wearer through weight, scale or construction but that is aesthetically pleasing.

Iris Van Herpen

Iris Van Herpen is a dutch designer that it was suggested I look at because of her sculptural work and also because of the processes she uses. On her website she comments;
'In all my work I try to make clear that fashion is an artistic expression, showing and wearing art, and not just a functional and devoid of content or commercial tool. With my work I intend to show that fashion can certainly have an added value to the world'
I think her work is beautiful and feel that she straddles the boundaries between art and fashion well.

I looked at a video where she talks about her processes and new technologies she uses to help produce her work.