Exhibition Text:What I Would Wear Now
23 x 15 cm Block Print October 8, 2015 Why these outfits? Why that specific title? Why does the dress in the middle look like a wedding dress? All these questions, because of confusion. That's how I was when I was younger full of questions about myself, with no answer at that time, but now I do. I made this art piece to have myself reflect on how I used to be, fashion wise. The procedure and everything was very interesting, that I would do it all over again and again. I used a few tools and my imagination to get this. |
Story and Meaning Behind it:
This art piece basically emphasizes my growth in fashion, and the inner me. I’m not going to deny that my block print, is pretty basic and not considered interesting, but it holds a story of mine. It all started when I was younger, around the age of 11 and 12, when I caught this obsession with fashion, and I’m still obsessed with it. However I’m not the only person that’s into fashion, there are plenty of other people and which some are more into fashion. I decided my block print to have mannequins consisting of outfits that I would wear, to show the impact of fashion on me.
Back to my story, I used to be a tomboy, I didn’t have a clue on how to fit in, or what was considered “cool”. So just imagine me, not knowing what to wear to school, not owning a Nintendo DS. I remember wearing anything to school, I would just pick a shirt and pants, and not care. “Does this match?” “Is this cute?” none of those questions would ever cross my mind. My closet consisted of big plain t shirts, long boot styled pants, and sneakers. I’m not trying to imply that dressing like that is not “cool” or anything. As I started growing up, I met people, they were usually older than me. I would notice how they dressed differently, would do their hair and have some sort of lip gloss. The first thing I did was reflect and look at myself. I started judging myself, and questioning myself; why I would dress like that. For some reason my first instinct was to copy my friends, what brand they would wear and what type of clothes they would wear. Which was a huge mistake. Months after or should I say years, I started to find my own taste. I started searching up on Google and Youtube for lookbooks, basically trying to find motivation and something that can influence me.
However my journey with fashion never ends, it keeps going and will get going. Last year I did my personal project on Arts, I focused on photography and fashion, therefore I did a lookbook, due to the fact that I already enjoyed watching lookbooks. I did an outfit for all four seasons, I explained what I was wearing, and what inspired me to do this outfit. This experience taught me a lot.
Fashion isn’t just about looking cute but it’s a hint or a quick look to yourself. Your culture, your beliefs, how you are, lastly your personality. I’ve tried out new things, and figuring it out myself if I like this style or not. I’m actually still trying out new things, because there are so many to switch it up.
Back to my story, I used to be a tomboy, I didn’t have a clue on how to fit in, or what was considered “cool”. So just imagine me, not knowing what to wear to school, not owning a Nintendo DS. I remember wearing anything to school, I would just pick a shirt and pants, and not care. “Does this match?” “Is this cute?” none of those questions would ever cross my mind. My closet consisted of big plain t shirts, long boot styled pants, and sneakers. I’m not trying to imply that dressing like that is not “cool” or anything. As I started growing up, I met people, they were usually older than me. I would notice how they dressed differently, would do their hair and have some sort of lip gloss. The first thing I did was reflect and look at myself. I started judging myself, and questioning myself; why I would dress like that. For some reason my first instinct was to copy my friends, what brand they would wear and what type of clothes they would wear. Which was a huge mistake. Months after or should I say years, I started to find my own taste. I started searching up on Google and Youtube for lookbooks, basically trying to find motivation and something that can influence me.
However my journey with fashion never ends, it keeps going and will get going. Last year I did my personal project on Arts, I focused on photography and fashion, therefore I did a lookbook, due to the fact that I already enjoyed watching lookbooks. I did an outfit for all four seasons, I explained what I was wearing, and what inspired me to do this outfit. This experience taught me a lot.
Fashion isn’t just about looking cute but it’s a hint or a quick look to yourself. Your culture, your beliefs, how you are, lastly your personality. I’ve tried out new things, and figuring it out myself if I like this style or not. I’m actually still trying out new things, because there are so many to switch it up.
Process:
Steps I took; typical ones...
1. Sketched as many as I could, combined all my good ideas into one drawing. I didn't know if to add more to it, or leave it with blank spaces. 2. I traced my drawing onto the block, by coloring the back of my drawing with pencil . Then putting the drawing on top of my block and tracing the lines. 3. After that I carved out the lines by using the carving tools, always being careful to not cut myself. 4. I put a bit of black carbon on a plate and used a roller to spread the carbon all over the roller. Then rolled it on my block. 5. Lastly I pressed the block on a paper to create my block print. Repeated these steps until my result was at its best. Inspiration:I was inspired by Matisse's thinking and the German Expression. Matisse believed that paintings should not only be beauty but with pleasure. At first I was going to draw people with outfits; somewhat like Matisse's painting " Blue Nude 2" and "Jasz" then I changed my mind to mannequins . One of his quotes that I really like and I feel related to would be " I have worked for years in order that people might say "It seems easy to do". German Expressionism is my favorite art movement. Always using forms and colors for emotional impact. Just like Kichner and Kollwitz. They used stark forms and harsh lines to express the tragic loss in wars aftermath. Just like my purpose, to convey the feeling and story behind it.
"My goal was always to express emotion and experience with large and simple forms and clear color" - Kichner ReflectionAfter seeing my result, I got this flashback of me when I was younger. That's how I got my tile. Anyways I like my block print and still do, but I could have done better. Maybe for next time I could add more details and take advantage of the free space. Apart from how it looked, the meaning of it to me was huge, that's what mainly mattered to me. I would even want to make more of it relating more, even make it a story.
|
"HOURS: 10 Am–5 Pm." La Musique Collection Highlights Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
"Kathe Kollwitz and German Expressionism." Jwris Blog. 11 June 2010. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
|