Project 1. Working from props.

Exercise 1. Object as a stand in for the body.

In this exercise we have to reproduce/remake the garment with a different material, like brown paper, wall paper, felt and etc. We also have to experiment with the size, enlarging it. After remaking the piece we have to work further, exploring it with the way it can be displayed/worn and located. A series of painted studies of the re-made clothing must be done as well.

I get very much inspired by Japanese kimono, mostly because of its cut and overall shape, as well as with versatility of colours and prints. So it didn’t take long to come up with an idea what kind of clothing to reproduce and play with it.

Work in progress. I have used a bunch of crepe paper in yellow, as well as paper placement with Japanese style design. I have cut rectangular pieces and folded then in required shapes, fixing and sticking them with UHU patafix to the wall. Most artists used the hanger but it looks so alien to me in the composition so I opted to use the wall as supportive base for the piece. I liked working with crepe paper because it gives volume, keeps the shape and it is soft enough to play with it, also it allows you to work fast.

The result:

My assemblage with ready -mades: As soon as I started to work on my piece, I came up with an idea about my assemblage project with it. Japanese woman’s kimono is one of the most feminine clothing pieces which bring a lot of character. Frankly speaking I associate myself with Japanese culture in many things, lets say they appeal to me and I appreciate them when I observe them around and try to develop in myself. I am very much attracted to poetry, appreciation of delicate beauty and samurai’s heroism, self discipline and will power. Below are my two compositions dedicated to woman’s character and woman’s challenge in marriage. When you marry, you never imagine how many challenges you will face. It is extremely rare when a marriage is unfolding ‘for fun’, usually it is always for hard work. It will build up your character and only through relationship anyone can achieve a transformation. Kimono outlines a femininity but the superhero’s mask is what you have to develop and in some sense: what kind of thing you have to be. My son’s Spiderman figures are the expectations a woman and her partner have towards their children, as well as the number and gender of off-spring, which is expected fun very patriarchal model of marriage, which is still very common. Millions of women live like that. You also have to deal with a fire distinguisher going through your live’s roller coaster.

We also had to place the piece in different settings and make some quick sketches, studies, including in colour. Below are photos of my yellow kimono piece placed in different ways in the garden.