Three Words Project

I believe this project gives much scope for extensive exploration. The combining of not necessarily connected words can provide interesting outcomes.

I have chosen to research and explore the great existential, abstract artist Francis Bacon. I love his use of colour (this was my primary reasoning for choosing his name from a list of iconic people such as Frank Zappa and Frank Lloyd Wright ).

Initially I felt the best way to research the artist was to gain a wider understanding of his work and the work of his contemporaries. This led me to research into Dali's self cannibalising creatures and the exploration of hell by the Chapman Brothers. I was prompted to note that it is ok to focus and specialise on one specific person, even more so one specific detail to do with that person. With this in mind, though happy to have developed my knowledge of surrealist and grotesque artists, I began to hone in on my favourite things about Bacon's art. I am pleased to conclude that my research is more focused because of this.

The primary concept of my explorations so far has been to take the dark, often morbid paintings of Bacon, that feature screaming and crucifixion, and translate the forms and figures within each work into patterns, florals and silhouettes much more light, feminine and 'beautiful' than the originals. I believe the outcomes so far are very succesful, most notably because of the strong and aesthetically harmonious colour palettes I have identified and curated from tones used by Bacon.

Sketchbook concept board author's own- using imagery from multiple sources

I have continued to explore the process of Frankenstein collages- I believe the ones I have produced for this project are the strongest yet because of their unique visual appeal and abstract quality.

I have explored fabric manipulation on the neck to make subtle reference to Bacon's personal struggle with chronic asthma. I wanted the result, much like the imagery on some of his portraits, to look like tumors/ disease/ infection.

I have been mindful of the lack of textile exploration on previous projects. For this final term sketchbook I am exploring painted textile and the creation of 3D, appliquéd florals to emanate the visuals of Bacon's work.

I do not wish to lift directly from Bacon's art, rather understand his style; his textured application of paint, existential musings and inner darkness. I aim to subvert this with ostensibly serene floral patterns, that on closer examination are formed from darker, original forms inspired by Bacon's art. Flashes of dark pink, red and black aim to hint at flesh, blood and death whilst surroundings of orange, green and lighter pinks will present indications of the opposite.

As regards to my second two words, the first being 'Francis Bacon' I am drawn towards 'Decorate' and 'Surreal'.

Surrealism is perhaps an obvious choice when exploring Bacon, though I feel strongly that my own angle on 'surrealism', namely the images that appear in my dreams like octopuses, teeth falling out and falling, can result in a unique outcome. I will use such images to create similar florals to those which I am designing with Bacon's painted silhouettes.

The research and outcomes so far are visually pleasing yet suspicious upon extensive inspection. The florals and silhouettes I am exploring are highly decorative. My final word then shall be 'decorate'.

Author's own

I believe my work so far is promising and I am excited to work on sampling, leading towards a hopefully succesful final garment.  

Saatchi Gallery and Tate Modern Visit 06/12/2016

'Deceive'

I have been greatly inspired by Richard Wilson's '20:50' Installation in the Saatchi Gallery. Wilson explores the art of deception masterfully. I could explore this notion in my own work too somehow perhaps via abstraction, distortion of silhouette or choice of materials, with which I could 'deceive' my audience in the very same way creating surprising and interactive clothing. I would work with reflection, sculpture and negative space to do this. The medium of sump oil could inform my colour choices or material choices also.

Richard Wilson's 20:50'
at the Saatchi Gallery, London

'Scratch'

I found the work of Raffi Kalendrian to be inspiring also. His colour combination and character exploration interests me. He works with 'real people' and creates a sense of 'story' within his oil paintings. His 'scratch work' (scratching layers of paint away to reveal the lower layer) could inspire the processes I choose to use within this project.

'Distort'

Ryan Mosley's oil paintings explored grotesque human figures in an interesting and endearing way. I liked the cultural feeling of the paintings as well as the profound sense of movement they conveyed. Print and pattern play a role in his art work and could inspire me in terms of the exploration of multiples and the distortion of the human body.

'Provoke'

To me, the work of Bjarne Melgaard was provocative and vibrant. His use of colour is impressive- I like his bold palette- whilst his exploration of slogans like 'cock' and written text could inform my own design work, where I too could use strategic words to provoke and captivate my audience/ client.

'Combine'

I loved the random quality of Richard Tuttle's 'System VI,  White Traffic' at the Tate Modern. His combination of wood, fireboard, terracotta, polystyrene and vinyl, among other mediums, was interesting and well-considered. I am inspired to combine, contrast and clash opposing and unrelated mediums within my final outcome.

'Peel'

Keith Sonnier's peeled layer of painted latex, manipulated with pigment and sawdust, on show at the Tate, inspires me to paint and peel in my own explorations. Using a liquid to then form a solid layer interests me and could result in the creation of an entirely new textile.

Sonnier's 'Red Flocked Wall'

Historical Details Project Fashion Shoot

I feel that my final shoot for this two-week project has been a success. I love the contrast of the bright

red against the cold stone back drop of the Queen's House and Royal Naval College in Greenwich. 

I would have liked to have shot inside the Queen's House but unfortunately was prevented by a typical jobsworth. The Queen's House holds many of the portraits I researched and referenced throughout the project so it would have been effective to photograph the final outcome against the original inspiration.

I am nevertheless very proud of the below shots.

Photographs Author's Own
Model: Olivia Morgan

                                   

Historical Details Week Two

I wanted to choose a textured detail from my historical era to dissect and elevate into contemporary fashion. Using the skills learnt with Sarah in our design workshop, and developed during the two following projects, I started to sketch modern outfits inspired by details explored during my research. I picked three main details; a jacket fastening, a glove adornment and appliquéd stripes.

From the moment I saw the 17th century shoe (picture on previous blogpost) I was fascinated with the detailing and was determined to refer back to it later in the week. This striped detail soon became the key focus for my project. I love its linear effect and colour and am pleased that my designs inspired by it sufficiently elevate the detail.

My final line up works the detail as a top, skirt, jacket, coat and trousers. The mini-collection includes a fringing detail drawn from a woman's glove and bows inspired by a stomacher of the era.

Although the construction of a garment is not required for this project I felt too inspired to not create a piece and realise my ideas in 3D. I have worked on a jacket that references several design details from my research process. This includes tight pleating, an 'elevated-Puritan' collar (taking the typical Puritan style which dates directly before my chosen era and re-working it with an English restoration-style outlook), shoulder features and floral work as well as the focal appliquéd stripes.

I believe the final garment succesfully combines all my secondary and primary research. I could not have completed this project without my informative and deeply inspiring gallery, library, museum visits which gave me additional literary/visual inspiration beyond that easily available to and routinely used by other students.

Final Line Up