HOW FAR CAN WE PUSH OUR BODIES

What is the human body caple of? According to the Cleveland Clinic, only professional football is more physically demanding than ballet.

SUREN MANVELYAN

I think this photograph is beautiful. You are able to see more detail than you would be able to with the human eye.

AMERICAN VOGUE JUNE 2012

American Vogue 2012

LONDON OLYMPICS

After going to see the London Olympics I was inspired by the physical demands that athletes put on their bodies. I remembered an image I found in a previous project of a mans chest and was inspired to look further into contortions of the body and adaptions of humans.

UP CLOSE AND TWISTED

Inspired by contortion and the human body I took some photographs of a part of my body to see what shapes I was able to make. I think for inital research they could be useful and it could be interesting to see what shapes could be formed in a similar photoshoot but with more bodies.

ALEXANDER STRAULINO

Zoomed in, cut up, or heavily dripping in paint,a face turns into a bold, almost abstract statement.

HO - RYON LEE

Ho - Ryon Lee uses photography and overlaying to suggest something as simple as a skirt flirt to be highly erotic. Through seduction and voyeurism, revealing and hiding, the object of desire is shown.

Overlaying could be a very useful tool in my experimentation stage of this project because it is very suggestive but does not completely manipulate the image.

PEEPING TOM

Images I have found that I feel demonstrate voyeurism 

SUPER LINDA

Shot by Steven Klein, Linda Evangelista half dominatrix half superhero. 

Portraying both good and bad.
This shoot encapsulates voyeurism, the model is masked but you are still encountering something you may feel you shouldn't be?
Th

DO I LOOK?

I am interested in seeing how fashion and the burka can in corporate, however i find myself feeling like I shouldn't look and that I am demeaning the tradition and belief in this particular garment. 

In Hussein Chalayans image of a varity of models wearing a different piece of clothing but in each you are unable to identify them I feel like a "peeping tom." This reminds me of when I researched Helmut Newton for my last essay. 

Helmut Newton was a photographer, many debate whether he demeaned women or empowered them in his photography. In many cases when you look at his images you feel as though you have walked in on something you shouldn't have or you are spying. 

Voyeurism - the practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other actions usually considered to be of a private nature.

PRINCESS HIJAB

Investigating further into other artists or designers who have addressed such controversial topics.

Princess Hijab, a graffiti artist, draws hijabs on sexualised fashion advertisements in the Paris metro. We will never know if this is someone rebelling to make others aware of the quantity of public sexualised images or it is simply someone individual form of art.  

HIDDEN IDENTITY IN SRI LANKA

I have just about adjusted back to the cold weather at home and getting back to work. I've started to think about getting back to uni and how to develop and pull important imagery and information I learnt in Sri Lanka.
The belief and positive attitude Sri Lankan's have, is an attitude I have tried to adopt since being home. They were very encouraging of eachother and there faith brought them together. As a textile design for fashion student I was always looking out at what the women were wearing and the fashions I saw advertised. As we travelled across the island we went through Buddhist, Muslim and Christian towns. The fashions changed as the religions changed. Indian Brides wore beautiful bright coloured saris whereas Sri Lanka brides wore western dresses in neutral colours. Everyday dress was either very western or very traditional and home made. However in some areas where the community were Muslim the majority of women wore Burqas.

The Burqa is an extremely traditional piece of clothing that is highly respected in the Muslim faith. Initially I felt it would be a 'taboo' subject that I should avoid but after searching for Burqa's in fashion I found my own feelings towards the subject to increase my interest in provoking an emotion and look into this further for research that maybe others have avoided.

This is an image from designer Hussein Chalayan's 'Burka' show in 1996. This image challenges ideas such as modesty, identity and femininity, all of which I think the burqa covers. 

Each image is shocking, whether it is because how we are used to seeing the Burqa has been turned on it's head by Hussain Chalayan showing that a face mask can do the same job as a burqa by  challenging how one piece of clothing can hide a persons identity, or because a very symbolic traditional piece of clothing is being styled in western culture and photographed.

My initial feelings are that I am being disrespectful sharing the images, the burqa is a religious piece of clothing and therefore should be accepted as it is and without change. A naked woman stands close to a women dressed in a Burka, this is a scene that you will probably never see.But therefore should it not be treated as special and memorable rather than frowned upon. Hussain Chalayan is a Muslim, therefore the controversy caused by this image was that much greater.

SRI LANKA

Over the summer I traveled to Sri Lanka and was able to experience a culture like no other.

Whilst there I was inspired by the traditions that live on in there communities but also how there faiths have slowly evolved with society.

We spent a day at the Cave Temples of Dambulla. 

150 statues of Lord Buddha fill these 5 caves and each has been identically hand built and painted. 

The colours today are still bright and vivid.

I found the respect for each statue from those visiting and those worshiping inspirational. The statues are a symbols of a faith that brings together a great number of people and shows the power of faith and religion. Walking into a cool dark cave and seeing a statue of Lord Buddha built over 2200 years ago dominate such a small space became an emotional experience. This feeling I think is hard to capture but leaves a person with more than just a memory, this is something I am interested in investigating over the next year. Provoking a feeling, even if you are unaware you are even doing this.

We then travelled to Kandy to see the Temple of the Tooth. Within the inner chambers they conduct worship 3 times a day. The temple of the tooth holds the sacred tooth relic which is worshiped in the Buddhist faith, they believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.Hundred of people cram in to get a glimpse of the relic and pray to Lord Buddha and give an offering.

We travelled by train to the Tea Country where the climate changed dramatically, we were no longer in hot dry heat but very cool wet conditions. 

We were sat in the observation carriage, but every Sunday they have a party in the gaps between the carriages, this is where people get to meet each other and celebrate the end of the weekend. This happy, praising mentaility is one I wish we had in England. People sulk about the end of there weekend, when we should celebrate what has happened over the weekend and be thankful for everything we have been able to achieve and enjoy.

MMU DEGREE SHOW - JENNIFER MACKIE

Jennifer's work has been inspired by her travels to Mexico.  At the show her work stood out because of it's bright colours and symmetrical shapes and symbolism.

The collection of prints reflect history and each design looks like it has been careful thought through. Her work is professional and by using the laser cutter you are able to see glimpses of colour and pattern  as a teaser before you see the final prints.

My hesitation about the work is that I feel the black jacket should have been a more delicate material. The shapes and variety of colour looked exciting and fun. The jacket allowed you a glimpse of the print, this is something I am interested and I like the idea of people having to move the garments to see the print or as they move around the garment the print chages slightly. But further invetigatino into suitable fabrics should have been made.
Her print design is on trend for S/S 13 where we will see bright colour blocking and neons, the negetive aspects I feel from her work have made me aware of the importance of swatching and trail and error in my own work when selecting for the final pieces.