'Making the Link' brief

Today we have started another new brief called 'making the link.' We have been given the option of four fashion related topics, these include Social and Cultural, Communication, Globalisation and Technology and fashion. 

This is a quick mood board i have created to show my chosen topic and the different types of fashion that has been made possible by technology.

Context of Practice

For this new brief, Context of Practice, we are to look at "the relationship between the theory and practical aspects of creative practice". Our blog should include at least 5 entries for research and 5 for development, there should also be evidence of  'make' via photography. In response to this and reflecting on our ideas we are to produce a 'well crafted' final fashion piece which should be photographed in a way that clearly conveys our idea or concept. 


For my context of practice i have chosen to look at the advances in human technology focusing on body parts/bones and repair. Then using this concept and visual imagery i will produce a fashion piece.

I have started off by looking at metal plates and pins that are used for helping repair broken bones and helping with arthritis. I have been researching medical imagery to find different types and methods. Different metal plates an screws are used for all sorts of places and for all kinds of joints. I have also been looking at Marry Shellys 'Frankenstein' as a narrative component to my project. I may choose to use some quotes from the film as the title or maybe to support my images. 

Context of Practise - Paul made a Poem

For our first task we completed it as a group, paul introduced us to alternative learning style. He created a poem using the important words in the brief and got each person to write a line or two. I thought it was a really unique way of emphasising the key points and i really enjoyed it.

Surgical bone plates and screws

I am looking at how human technology has managed to create human body parts and has also become a cure for some degenerative conditions. The rapidly evolving world of technology is getting better each day as we can produce, prosthetic limbs and do more to stop people suffering. I think the quotes from Marry Shelly's Frankenstein, "this being you must create" and "the bolt has entered my soul" are beautiful captions that i could use in my project.

"This being you must create."

" the bolt has entered my soul; and I felt then that I should survive to exhibit what I shall soon cease to be".

These are just a few images of different bone repairs, metal structures that have been created to strengthen or repair bones. 

Research for Fashion and technology

John Paul Gaultier

                                                 

                                                  These next three images are by Julia Krantz

                                                                     Lucy and Bart

                                                                 

                                                             

                                                         
                                                                      Visbol De Arce

Vertebrae Images

These are just a couple of images to help explain my thought process as i make the transition from just 'metal plates and screws' to focusing on the spine. 

vertebrae correction methods

I have chosen to focus on the spinal area and from intensive research i have discovered there are quite a few unfortunate diseases that have needed the help of technology to correct them. For example Lumbar degenerative disc disease, Ankylosing spondylitis, spinal deformities and arthritis. These are all unfortunate diseases but that have had the help of technology, i have been looking at the different surgical and medical ways that these are corrected. Most are done using surgical bolts and screws but one i have come across uses large staples. I find the different methods very interesting and i think i will investigate further before making my artifact. 

These first 3 images are different ways and 'methods for the correction' of vertebrae. 

  I found these two images particularly interesting as they are alternative options and the last one is experimental.

 This image below is named a pedicle-screw internal fixation.

Fashion Magazines

For COP i will produce an image that can be used as a magazine cover. I will create a piece based on the spinal column that can be photographed and transformed. I have begun researching magazines to find one suited to my style of work and i have found that each magazine has a different trademark style; for example Bazaar usually uses an image of a face that covers the whole page.

Vogue magazine is kept very elegant and images are taken from above the waist. 

ID magazine has a very prominent identity as for each cover the model is asked to wink giving it its own trade mark look. 

I have decided that for my magazine cover i will use Dazed and confused as my muse. I think their link to alternative fashion fits in well with my project as my work is more Avant-Garde than high street fashion.

This image above is a hand drawn replica of a dazed magazine that i found on the internet, i think that a hand illustrated magazine cover would be quite an alternative twist for magazine covers like a step back in time to when vogue magazines were all hand rendered. 

I could not believe my luck when i found this cover! FRANKEN-FASHION fits perfectly with my Marry Shelly Frankinstine quotes! 

COP Development - mood board

This is just a small mood board connecting my ideas and thought process together.

My thought process

The progression from research to idea to product.

I have done this board below to show the link between my artist research and my ideas, i like the idea of the spine being made 3D like Gaultiers structure.  

Spine structure ideas

After looking at vertebra correction i have drawn a few options of how i could make a 3D spine, i could maybe use mod rock or papermache .

Making my spinal structure

 For my spinal structure i have used mod rock to make each individual piece of vertebrae. I have used leather for the segments in between and wire to fix the structure together. I have also used the wire to show how surgical staples are used within bone.

This was the starting point for my idea, i focused on the cortical rim and the cancellous for the shape of each segment. I used mod rock and tissue to make the 3D shapes more rounded, unfortunately as it dried they became flatter. They also became very heavy so if i was to do it again i would try using different material and maybe even making them out of fabric.

 

  

Progression ...

 My inspiration

My interpretation

I have decided to photograph the spine on a naked woman, i think it will help keep the focus on the spine as a feature instead of having the clothes taking away the attention. 

The designer Charlie Le Mindu had a similar idea by sending two models down the catwalk in the nude with only hat, bag and shoes.

I think it was a cleaver idea as he is making a point that the bag etc is what he wants you to be looking at and not a whole outfit.

Magazine inspiration

I have been looking at different types of magazine covers while doing this project and paying more attention to the covers. I have noticed a few with nude models and this reassured me that by photographing my spine artifact on a naked model would be appropriate if the models modesty was covered. 

These are a few i have found on the internet.