WEEK 1
This week i have planned intensive research for images , content and historical context as well as library advice.
Concept
A cocoon is a warm and protected environment for a caterpillar to develop in privacy. It’s not an overnight process, it’s a precious time for them to become the beautiful Butterfly with lovely colours . Some butterflies come out, with still some development needed, where some come out fully transformed and strong.
In this case, the pandemic , making use self isolate , had taken a long time , months have passed. Some of us came out the lockdown weak, with a lot of things to catch up on. And some of us made the most of the time spent indoors and came out stronger creativity. Ones productivity is different from another- and this is where I’ll be looking into an introverts mindset. But let’s remind our selves there are extroverts and ambiverts ( between an extrovert and introvert lifestyle) . Personally , staying in bed everyday, missing out on breakfast almost everyday coz all I done was snack and eat ready made meals was extremely draining. Some days, I would image myself back in college /work place and beating my procrastination problem. Switching my phone off, doing work non stop until I’m satisfied with the work I’m done. When this happens, I realise that if I done this at least 3 times a week, I could have produced something that my teachers may have never seen before - leave gobsmacked. Procrastinating , plus introverted behaviours are the worst. Everyday I still battle with this as we are still in lockdown for this term. I’m having ideas of creating a cocoon coat , most that I have seen look majestic, with delicate Japanese detailing. Transforming a cocoon coat into something that comfy & bedroom , is one of the few ideas I have running in my mind. My bedroom was the place where I hide away the most, I slept there, watched streamed shows there and ate there. My older brother ( biggest introvert i've ever seen in my life ). Inside or outside , you still go through an effect on your life. For instance, I was an extrovert for most of my teenage years. I would be at parties at least every Friday & Saturday after a long week of education. We also have mini parties after school which I never told my parents about...shhh. Just said it was an afterschool club. Going outside most times and socialising caused me to put my education stuff to the side. But sometimes something dramatic can happen and make you change your ways.
Parties during Halloween we’re the best !! Not too cold, not too hot & it was getting dark early, therefore parties were starting earlier and posting longer. However this one Halloween party in east London was what made me slowly convert from an extrovert into an ambivert. The rave was held in an underground pub and got too full, phone were being stolen and was getting hectic. So the party finish around 10. Heading out and going home ...a bright flashing light passed me- fireworks. Boys my age with thought they were “bad” by shooting fireworks at people and into shops. I managed to escape but as I got near my station, there was a mini firework set off by a male near me. There I suffered a second degree burn on my shoulder. I didn’t even know I did till I got into the train as I was in shock that my jacket had a burned hole through it. Arriving home, I knew my mother would ask why I got home early ....but the next day I explained how I got hurt and that I will no longer be going parties as often. There’s are good and bad sides to socialising and all it takes is one little change and your social life is different.
Week 2
I started to look into my first book, Introvert Power, to get some context on what others think and feel that introverts are connected with the creativity. This is an E-book that i collected from ProQuest E-Book Central. This is actually my first e-book and i feel like this is the best way forward with the pandemic currently happening.
review:
ive noticed a chain of negative words that were repeated such as, displacement, vulneralbilty, depressio and the list goes on. I as a reader could also relate to felling alienated. most of us introverts feel alienated by others as they are always home or seen as the mood killers. Mood killers is somehting ive been called when i refused to join a party, its like you are not youtself anymore and just prefer your own space.
Alienation from self can lead to depression which is , at best, a loss of empathy .
Viktor &Rolf inspired draping :
Edited :
Padlet task - 5 images & one sentence
Article Workshop task
The aim of this workshop was to widen our secondary research within this project. Sometimes i limit myself with only using WGSN as a resource.
I chose to select chapter 7 in the book : The Irresistible Introvert : Harness the Power of Quiet Charisma in a Loud World
The key person : The 14th Dalai Lama is the current Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibet. Was awarded a Noble prize. he quoted "This is my simple religion, there is no need for temples: no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple: the philosophy of kindness.
Bibliography:
Chung, M 2016, The Irresistible Introvert : Harness the Power of Quiet Charisma in a Loud World, Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated, New York. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. [12 March 2021].
Week 3 - Tuesday
Rhino workshop :
As i was unable to fully download rhino onto this borrowed laptop, i decided to still attened the workshop and watch ow they created shapes into 3D animations. I
Sarahbande foundation Workshop fashion illustrations :
Due to the pandemic , the gallery
Sketchbook Workshop ( studio):
The aim was to collect a bunch of object related images, non-fashion images, fabrics, and a few fashion images. Had to create three pages, could also add drawings.
Survey - Quarantine Behaviours ( TARGET AUDIENCE RESEARCH)
Interview with my Introvert older brother:
For this interview i asked him the same questions posed in the survey above, this is a such detailed answer and i intend on making a shirt picture clip to the recoding of his voice.
1) What would you describe yourself as? Introvert, ambivert or extrovert?
I’m more of an introvert. Id see myself as an ambivert – introvert is more of not searching feelings. I’m not quiet , I like talking about jobs. Its’ a quick small question but I’m longing it. Its just that a lot of people have different descriptions of extroverts: like in class, the usually describe it as ‘extroverts are people that like to be out there, quick to make friendships, quick to establish relationships and stuff like that. “ Introverts are those that prefer their own space, that like their own things” , so I guess I’m like an introvert, but my personality is extroverted, so I’m an ambivert! Maybe ambivert, that probably that!
2) What challenges did you face during lockdown quarantine?
There’s been so many. A challenge is to find new hobbies, you can get very bored of the hobbies that you like the most- as it is. So, lets say you are someone that likes to read, I’m pretty sure during lockdown you didn’t read every single book in the world, like you would want to do something else. If you draw, you would probably get bored of drawing as well. I’m football focused, pretty sure one of the lockdowns I just stopped looking at football or doing any sort of football so I just find new ways. New hobbies, new passions, in this case, I took up cooking, I took up reading because I never used to read a lot before, now I’m reading a lot more. So to conclude finding new hobbies.
3) What was your favourite room whilst lockdown and why?
My favourite room!? That very easy, it’s the living room. Just because it’s got all my stuff in there. I hate my bedroom, in terms of I can do anything like sports, gym- I can’t do gym in my bedroom. The living room was my gym, the living room was my chilling space, the living room was my kitchen, where I used to eat, the living room was my…EVERYTHING. It’s like I’m talking to a lover. And second, kitchen because that where I like to go the most as well. But living room most definitely.
4) If it wasn’t for lockdown, where do you think you would be right now?
I like this question, is it the last question.. always the worst one . I’m not too sure. I don’t know if I’d still be at my old job, I don’t know because it was reaching that point where was needing a change. Maybe I would have done the same job, but closer to home- THAT’S MY BEST GUESS. As I don’t think I would have went up and left and would have not done the same job/ thing. I would have still convienced myself that this is the right job, but looking for something closer. So probably the same job but closer to home- THAT’S MY BEST BEST GUESS. Yh, I would have still been unhappy at that stupid job, to be fair. I think lockdown has made me a lot more happier I think, and obviously my injuries, football injuries. But erm, I don’t know … what else would I be doing?. I wouldn’t have tried to get fit. So I would still be unfit.
Me : interviewing me
My understanding of an “introvert world” is that there are several different traits that comes with being an introvert first. For example there are 4 different types in each personality (introvert, ambivert, extrovert). What I discovered for introvert is reserved . You can’t really know which you are exactly, so I asked my brother , to see from a different perspective and I matched the reserved introvert. It’s shocking how a pandemic has made my behaviour change completely. Although when there was a taste of freedom during summer ( lockdown ease up ) , I started to notice myself not attending parties that I would normally go to. One this one occasion I decided to go to a open bbq , but felt very uncomfortable and left the open bbq after 2hours. This was a clear sign that socialist in brig crowds with wasn’t my “cup of tea “. Even whilst I was ta the bbq I happened to accident it reunite with old friends from school, and that was the highlight- not the food, not the popular rappers that attended- being close with people that I know.
I started to gain weight, went from 54kg to 65kg over the lockdown period. This was due to me getting in a bad habit of eating unhealthy food and staying in bed all day
I kept myself busy by buying disposable gloves and selling them for 5pairs £1.80. I made a total of £130 and I noticed that I’m truly an entrepreneur. As well as that I started my own stylist page by posting content daily and engaging with my followers. I also became to style wigs and sell them on Depop to make extra cash ( wigs that I never used or forgot about).
Changes in my characteristics , changes in my habits and changes in my creativity.
EASTER BREAK WORK
I have kindly asked a few of my mates to take pictures in their favourite room during the first national lockdown in the UK. Everyone had different spots in the house that they were in the most in, like toilets, living rooms, kitchens, gardens, shed, rooftop, basements etc. i had an idea of them posing on their favourite room, like its their natural habitat.
Cocoon coat experimenting/ draft:
SHOOT.
Judith Scott Inspired work:
Week 4 -
Thursday i had an 1-1 wit Danni, and i found that i needed more guidence into what exactly it can be narrowed down to. My concept and idea is very broad and i just needed to find a simple was to explain it . with this project i really have so many things to explore and do with experimentation. i believe that haven't really pushed myself, i don.t know if this is me being an introvert once again and just being too comfortable in my own space at home where i find myself procrastinating- but when im in a work area , a public area im focused more than ever.
Had feedback that would help me continue and REALLY catch up with my work : 1)add introvert information collected from the stories I have on spark into my sketchbook.From stories I can expand and get a sort of idea.2)Motion clip to the recording .3) Imovies - to make it .4)Create more fabrications- like cocoons..All cocoons look the same on the outside but different on the inside . Everyone cocoon is different. 5)From interviews.More experimenting in different scales.
Draping - work from home ( prep for final outcome)
Friday
Research and reading
Despite the fact that introverts account for 25 to 40% of the population, there are still many myths about this personality form. It's also worth noting that introversion isn't the same as shyness or social anxiety. Being an introvert does not imply that you are nervous or uncomfortable in social situations.
YAYOI KUSAMA ARTIST RESEARCH (250 words)
She wished to a painter one day, as a kid, it started from the early ages of 10. Unfortunately, painting and doing any sort of art was not an option by her parents. Traditional ways were to become a housewife and live off husband wages. Her life was already blocked from expressing her creativity. She was talented but blessings were blocked, she was on a path to excellence and he cocoon that she was forced to be in didn’t let her do it. Deep down in her real cocoon, is a luminous front with black polka dots. She always dreamed big, like going New York and making the art world know her name, as she had a strong passion for art.
“Mountains of creative energy stored inside myself” - Kusama
I learnt that the art would was mainly full of males, so work from females would be pushed over in the industry. So she first started by painting ‘nets’ everyday, when she landed in New York. And when she done this, she wanted to expand and fill the empty spaces around the ‘nets’. That recreated an optical illusion for her and all she saw was more and more dots surrounded by the ‘nets’ she drew.
“ She was breaking all boundries of space” – Richard Castwllane.
Obesseions of fear was the main focus of her art as well. For example when she sees flowers, she sees flowers everywhere and starts to feel panicked , so to get rid of that fear, she draws them.S he used her trauma and experience to enormous productive ends.
Bibliography: Modern, T., 2012. Yayoi Kusama – Obsessed with Polka Dots. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZR3nsiIeA> [Accessed 6 February 2012].
Fabrications - Draping with single duvet
Week 5
Fabrications leading to final designs
New moodboard
Textile print making
Youtube video of how i turned a jersey fabric into a Kusama inspired print.
Development of prints and meaning :
What colours would associate with my extrovert lifestyle ? Well looking deep into what activities I got up to when I was an extrovert before lockdown was mostly parties, eating out , sleepovers, cinemas and all of these were impossible with a phone recoding with flash. My generation captures every moment on phone and it’s our digital memory Lane , rather than the printed A5 photo sheets. So every time there’s a light flash on, it leaves a flash shot in our eyes. I looked up paintings of peoples image of how it look painted. And the main colours that appeared were white blue and red, with a small touch of green.
Therefore I went out my way to use the colour pallet from WGSN and change the red to a hot pink. I used the painting technique I used when experimenting with Kusama s paintings for this. All I did was put spots of paint on a row , then use a card to swipe the paint down across the paper in only horizontal and vertical directions. This created beautiful prints, which I scanned with my iPhone (as I couldn’t acces a big scanner due to pandemic restrictions) Which these I will put through photoshop and Add extra edits to make the colour pop. Then be ready to send off to Contrado ( a UK fabric printing service ).
Critical workshop
Assessing Freya
Feedback given to Freya from me
Studio work:
fabrication 1
fabrication 2:
fabrication 3:
Week 6
Thursday Studio: Pollution dark side of fashion - Workshop
Life-cycle of a garment is called ' Cradle to Grave ' ( 8 phases)
https://amberoot.com/blogs/blog/future-of-fashion-innovative-fabric-mango-materials
Fashion illustrations for final.
Week 7
Tuesday : 1 on 1 with Aimme. Gave me string and positive advice that really helped. Including the story of —— bed. Noticed that I was too late to book with Samantha Sliver for digital printing for my fabric. Therefore was suggested an alternative- Contrado. However the prices was way too high and I figured that there could be another way to get my print made in time. Afterwards I decided to go on Inkable- to get my fabric printed on a beach towel. The towel arrived late therefore I took it into my own hands to paint 5 m of fabric with fabric paint.
Sculptor of my cocoon:
Beginnings for garment making :
Final digital print:
As beautiful as this print looks, i have noticed that even outside UK fabric printing companies were able to ship in time for a shoot on Wednesday.
Therefore i've decided to take things into my own hand, the more homemade and work i put into it the more origanial it is and shows my usage of different mediums. So in this case, i,ve decided to go for a cheaper option of buying plain fabric and fabric paint. This is more work, but it saves money in my pocket!
WEEK 8:
I had the shape of my off-shoulder dress/coat. But all I needed was to sow the ends together and wait for my fabric paints to arrive to add the finishing touches.
Patiently waiting for the paints, I re-edited the lay out of my design and began making the sleeves of the coat.
Creating triangle for bottom of the dress, so let’s of the model can walk a little freely.
Peer Assessment task: Send each other a PDF of your SPark blog to ensure you have no issues on hand in day
Tom Wooglar makered my work and overall, it looks like a great feedback. i took everything on board. My FMP Proposal was nt at th top of this page, so i moved it and also added my E-Book annotations that i missed out.
As i've been busy with making, i've left the writing unpolished , and now i am going to note all information down under my experiments, so there will be a clear understanding for the reader.
Last studio day: 1-on-1 tutorial with Lamna
Feedback
1. You have bought 5m of fabric to hand paint. Plan to finish this by today . 2.Research pages / Digitising work - Make to add the loose images into sketchbook pages.3.Development - Good.4.Final outcome / presentation - indoor in your house / ensure you plan and create the right mood / set up props if needed..5. Blog post / spark - Many images but you must reflect more / talk about how you came to certain decisions and what next? 6.Critical review - Must complete this before Sunday night
Friday night
Saturday
IMAGES OF GARMENT ONLY
FINAL SHOOT
look 2
MIND/OVER BODY
HABIT
COCOON
Behind the scenes *
Went with a natural glow look. Added dark circles as my eyes were worn out with so much screening. Also some edgy eyebrows that need plucking. A cute childlike Pom Pom hair style.
“I confirm that the published work for the Unit 2 assessment of my UAL(Awarding Body) Foundation Diploma is all my own work and does not include any work completed by anyone other than myself (accept where credited) and sources have been appropriately referenced. (VERONIQUE AGOSSA, SUNDAY 21/02/2021) “
