A group-curated publication (digital or printed) showcasing each member’s work. e publication will include a 200-300 word collectively-written editorial/forward, and an individually-written 500 word text introducing and discussing your work/practice.
These are the final versions after the tutorial – Editor’s Note:
This issue of FAZE highlights artists and designers who explore how negative situations, circumstances, and emotions can be confronted and conquered by means of creative endeavours. The overall tone of this publication highlights how a creative lifestyle can help people be triumphant in their own battles. Through the collectively orchestrated methods of staging, use or absence of colour, wide pallet of materials, and interaction of our garments with the body, the emotions on display are almost tangible. These designers evoke a resonating effect in audiences, creating connections between themselves and their viewers, through the exploration of shared experiences. These sentiments, personal feelings and commonalities in the human experience include addressing own mental health, a lust for control, a yearning for protection, the toxicity of stress, and the grief surrounding lost loved ones. The outcome or goal of this publication is that the work will have a positive impact on viewers—whether it is through instigating a change or simply letting people know that they are not alone in their struggles.
The designers being highlighted are Samantha Bratzke, Biwei Li, Huang Shiyu ‘Summer’, Suey Xiao, Sisi Cai and Shiqi Zhou, a group of young fashion and textile designers who use their personal journeys and abilities to empathize to manifest highly evocative creations. Communication is key in this body of work. Viewing the work collectively presents audiences with contrasting perspectives, which still manage to complement each other in an effective and thought-provoking manner. The designers have a diverse set of experiences, techniques and approaches, including the use of photography, video, performance, collection, and material experiment sampling, which together sync their separate goals into a common aim. The work tells the designers something critical about themselves, those who view the work, and their interconnected lives, showing that developing strength, empathy and bravery are more essential than personal comfort.
From, the’FAZE’team （*we also want Signed on the officially published book）
Individually
“I think I should get surgery for double eyelids. What do you think?” Influenced by entertainment, film, television culture, and further aided by the development of medical technology, the popularity of cosmetic surgery has even permeated the millennial generation. People deny their true selves to pursue a better and even more perfect version of themselves. What Huang Shiyu ‘Summer’ is interested in is understanding people’s mentality, their dissatisfaction with themselves, and their lack of confidence that has turned them into a person with low self-esteem. The core of the collection is empathy, with a focus on the low-self-esteem states, the concept being “imperfections attract, therefore their flaws make them true”. She wants to have the bravery to truly convey her inner state, attempt to resonate with the audience, and let them perceive and understand this body of work.
The fashion designer chose this theme because she has also experienced low self-esteem. She wanted to express the concept of self-healing through fashion, and reflect upon herself as she matures emotionally. She wants to face her own mental health and obtain peaceful coexistence with her own emotions. She has scoured through books, online articles, exhibitions, film and television to find relevant information on low self-esteem, which she then analysed. Huang wanted to explore the ways to express these unpredictable mental states through clothing. The significance of this topic is using emotional elements and visually expressing them.
“Fragile, struggle, split, grayscale, judge, shadow, pretend and distortion.” Huang used eight keywords based on personal sensations to help her develop different clothing detail elements. She chose mainly black and white colours. She used the technique of superimposing to create a richer grey tone, showing the characteristics of extreme and hierarchical through the various tones. Meanwhile, in contrast with light mesh and different heavyweight fabrics as well as different levels of stretch fabric and drawstrings show variety. The different fabrics pull each other to convey the emotional tension. Furthermore, she selected the mirror element as a highlighting embellishment. Intentional fragmentation as decoration is used throughout the accessories and garments. A metaphor that the stress and judgment make her feel a sense of undoing and burden. Through those visible and tactile combinations of materials, there is a stronger communication with the audience. The goal is to achieve that emotional, almost tangible feeling.
Investigation: In Overcoming Low Self-esteem, Melanie Fennell defines self-esteem as: “The way we look at ourselves, the way we think of ourselves, and the value we give ourselves”. She pointed out that low self-esteem indicates our negative core beliefs in regards to the quality and value of ourselves.
Some people are used to “labelling” themselves. These labels generally start with “I am __”. Psychologists define these labels as “conceptived self self.” Those with low self-esteem do not realise that human beings are complex and variable, and may behave differently from their “conceptived self selves” in different situations. They doubt that they are capable of change, but use the notion of “conceptived self self” to limit themselves, to only act and think in accordance with these rigid templates.
The feeling of inferiority comes from “comparison”, whether consciously or subconsciously done. It may be a kind of “inadequate” or “weak” feeling when compared with others in the outside world. Similarly, one can also feel “incapable” or having “insufficient ability” when held to their own idealised standards. These feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness may threaten the values of our beliefs and our own existence.
*And Many thanks to our group member Sam to help us check grammar and sublimate content
xSUMMERHUANGx 