proposal for SHADOW studio outcome

For the duration of this semester, my aim is to explore 'notions' of dress, the perceptions individual have of dress and their motivations behind it.

I also plan to explore the bridge between the 2D form and the 3D - most notably, the shadow.

Through the course of the next few weeks, I plan on utilising varying materials to explore, challenge and illustrate my notions of dress.

key questions

If it's not about me, is it then about how i make you feel?
This became my principle question when asked to address shadow & dress. Initially my thought process wandered through the obvious, such as nudity, protection and comfort; but halted at the thought, that if one was not concerned with everyday conventions of dress - why not go nude? Is this out of consideration to others? Is what we wear governed by what others want us to wear?

What do your clothes say about you?
This question was borne out of a quote from fashionology that i found quite through provoking.

"As a non-verbal language, it communicates to others an impression of social status, occupation, role, self confidence, intelligence, conformity, individuality and other personality characteristics" Yuniya Kawamura

Can the motivations behind our choice of dress fit withing that one statement? I'd like to explore this further and actually find out what motivations people have behind their choice of dress.


What's in the space between the 2D & the 3D?
This course of exploration was initiated through the line-light workshop conducted by Ricarda Bigolin & Antuong Nguyen.

I found that the creation of shape or form from a 2D image via the application of light was quite inspirational.

This avenue of my exploration is quite tangible, and may seem quite derivative, but I am looking forward to exploring it through continued prototyping.

what is it about/what am i researching?
avenue A

At what points do certain types of dress become acceptable - who decides & why?
I'm endeavouring to explore the conventions of dress, and from that challenge them to some extent. By using my friends, outside of the fashion system, i'm hoping to understand their motivations, but also challenge them. To what outcome - i'm not sure; but through practice and experimentation, i'm hoping to reach some kind of conclusion.

I also plan on attempting to create dress through the use of varying materials in order to illustrate my questions, and 'get around' pre-supposed conventions of dress.

Are the certain materials that i can use metaphors to my arguments - a mirror or projection (blue screen) to illustrate image and vanity?

avenue B

Manipulating shadow through the tangible - taking the 2D to the 3D - using various materials to create various shapes and silhouettes. I'm wondering whether i can create an aesthetic through my experimentation; in particular, a prototype garment that is informed through my experiments.

how are you going to go about making the project?

Continued interrogation into my chosen arguments, and attempting to illustrate them through various materials.

My goal, is that through continued experimentation and documentation, i have a greater depth to my understanding of dress, not as an authority but in a more democratic sense - understanding those around me, and also myself.