10. Week 5 Class Critique

5th Sep


I feel like a wondering jellyfish.
My classmates and lecturer tried to help me identify the characteristics of my work last morning. I think it helped, although I wouldn't say it was completely unfamiliar. I would say I am a little saddened by how my work always turns out to be something I don't really like. I tend to use cool colours, and I thought my work had a parallel to EK's but I don't think that anymore. I couldn't point out a contemporary designer whose happens to be similar. I hate it. I hate this moment.

I am now going to work on more textural effects.

11. Irrelevant Designer Research Week 5

7th Sept

I tried doing some designer research whose works relate to mine but there aren't any which have got a striking resemblance.

Balenciaga FW0809
Constructions aside, there are some techie-fabrics in this collection which have a sort of jacquard texture one might find in furisode kimono. I see some bits of trompe loeil- use of imagery of what appears to be dragon scales..


Hiromichi Nakano AW0809
I quite like the placement of the swans in this collection, and the combination of a tight and loose knit in the same dress


Lie Sang Bong SS08
LSB (Korean) built a whole collection on what seems to me like a well peeled apple shaving.
the ombre effect in the "single"(?) piece of cloth makes me think it might well be a strange fruit from outer space and the layering gives it more dimension, which makes me think the entire dress could have its layers printed on a piece of cloth. that makes trompe loeil.

12. Botanic Gardens Weekend of Week 5

8th Sept
I wanted to bring forward that marbling experiment I did on to cloth. I used the same materials but it remained really stiff where the paints went on.





I tried to treat the surface by quilting (to resemble the surface of the leaf of the waterlily) but it did not work out very well, the relief was almost insignificant.

I wanted it to be more dramatic in terms of its texture so I tried with an untreated piece of 100% cotton with 2 layers of sponge underneath.

It turned out quite well besides the fact that some bits are quite untidy but if this could be printed on a piece of fabric, it would be interesting since there are shadows on the print that would make the garment look as if it was quilted.

13. Little India Attempted Development Weekend of Week 5

8th Sept

I have been putting off The Horsey for too long. I wouldn't say I was lazy but it was and still is pretty intimidating. I don't know how to draw a horse. They all turn out so retarded in an ugly way. I have also been thinking about how I could change this horse but still retain some kind of "Little India-ness" in it. I fell back to pens and paper although I was pretty sure I was going to make a sculpture of a horse. I might later, but for now, these are the most retarded stuff for this semester.

I considered some placement before drawing them. I like the idea of a print going across the seams, having to join the image with different panels as well as the need to have the wearer's hands fall down or raised to reveal the complete image, as seen in Hiromichi Nakan's collection and .. this I found on Copenhagen Streetstyle

N/B- Up to this point, I don't think my work is necessarily kidswear friendly.
The colours and aesthetic of my creations will scare children I say!

15. Secondary Research Week 6

11th Sept
The last time I did research with the objective of finding a designer who works/ has works that are similar to mine was pretty unsuccessful. I tried looking at the works of other student designers who are studying textiles and other courses in universities.
I thought some of them (though not directly related to textiles or fashion) were very good techniques, and I could incorporate them into my textile designs.

RCA students' works

Tang has emphasized a lot on the fact that digital printing is cool because it allows the illusion of something 3D, such as bead work or embroidery, without having to actually sew for hours on end.
I am picking up on this idea, but expanding it to other types of techniques I might try.. such as the illusion of a particular type of fabric/texture on the cloth but having a totally different hand-feel when explored with your fingers.

14. Reflection Week 6

9th Sept
Today we were looking at some other classmates' works and trying to figure out their PERSONAL CONCEPT. While trying to guess their design identity and style of work, I was a little surer of my concept.
Some points brought up were parallel between my mates' and mine, such as indecision- me going back and forth, trying out new things such as quilting before I got any better with paper cutting, literal translation- trying to directly translate textures from research into artwork and cloth. I think its easy for anyone to guess what my theme is which I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing.

I browsed through my recent works in my brain gallery and thought over how to describe them, as well as the direction I plan for each of the three themes.
I feel a strong need to break away from 2D drawings/paintings at the moment because everyone else in class is doing that, and I would like my final digitally-printed placement design to have the appearance of textures articulated through relief, shadows and highlights. Also what seems to be more intriguing to me at the moment is exaggeration of body parts (to enhance or diminish).

My classmate Mira told me I have great ideas that never quite come through. I know I often speak of the hundreds of ideas I have but having to articulate it is sometimes frightening because the execution should be accurate or close, at least. What I have in my mind never quite matches the output I create and that upsets me although I would not easily admit.

16. Digital Printing Trial

11th Sept

We had our prints printed on transfer-paper 2 weeks ago, and we got our images transferred on 100% polyester-cloth today.

There were two printing resolutions set on the computer before printing the images, one was 540 and the other was 720 or something like that. There was a slight variation in the colours appeared. Some colours like yellow or orange became a few tones darker than it really is and overall every one's work turned out in brilliant colours, or so it seemed, as they were pretty neon. I foresee some problems in producing final prints but that can come later. Enough troubles for now.

Original artwork on layout paper

Digitally-printed image on cloth

17. Why "Waterlilies"?

12th Sept
I've yet to explain why I chose the waterlily as my theme for BG.

Besides the fact that aquatic plants are of interest to me, the waterlily is, to me, a phenomenal green. There are tropical waterlilies and hardy waterlilies. Of over a hundred species of cultivators, hybrids and crosses, what is interesting to me is how the waterlily grows from the bottom of the pool, and its leaves are fully open when they reach the surface of the water. It's stems continue growing but it gets all tangled and they spread themselves almost radially from the center. The simplicity of its appearance on water is kind of serene. I think having a print inspired by this plant is going to be lovely, but I have to be careful it doesn't turn out looking like costume.
There are lots of beautiful blooms of waterlilies but I am have chosen the Victoria Amazonica, because it has a more pronounced texture on its leaves which I am currently working on. I did not see the VA's flower during my three visits so I am not attacking its flower. I visited the BG's library, and found two books on waterlilies to get a better understanding of these Nymphaeacae family of water lilies- The Water Garden published by Thames and Hudson and Water Garden Plants by Greg Speichert.

Crocodile skin-like textures

Some of the many varieties of blooms found across the world

Scientific drawings of plant structure

bit of history.

image via wikipedia

"On unbent leaf in fairy guise,
Reflected in the water,
Beloved, admired by hearts and eyes,
Stands Annie, Paxton's daughter..."

This plant, once named Victoria regia was the subject of rivalry between Victorian gardeners in England. The plant was presented by the Duke of Devonshire to Queen Victoria and named it in her honour.