Final Outcome Research and Brainstorm

In order to create a final outcome, I needed to collectively put together some research of art that was inspired by the body as visual inspiration.

Since I am exploring malfunction, I wanted a range of visuals that I think portray this using structural design. While some of the images show the anatomy side, just the idea of a garment that doesn’t look fully functioning is a great way to show malfunction using textiles.

I further explored through a mindmap the different way I could depict malfunction in my final outcome.

They are split into 3:

A garment that is malfunctioning

This was inspired by Violise Lunn, an artist who creates sculptural garments out of paper, which means the outfit is unwearable. Since the whole idea of clothing is to wear it, if you can’t do that then it’s malfunctioning.

I could translate this to my own work by using materials that would fall apart or making a shape that doesn’t fit. I wouldn’t say I’m overly keen on this idea because I think creating a garment that is wearable yet distinctive fascinates more people than just a sculpture. Who knows?

A garment that is showing malfunction of something visually

This would involve using the garment as a means of display, rather than including it in the malfunction.

Artists who could inspire this are:

Mediated Matter – they create 3D printed sculptures that look wearable (I don’t know if they are) and are inspired by natural forms. I could create a hat that looks like a malfunctioning brain or a shoe that looks like a malfunctioning foot.

Central Saint Martin – using cutouts and mesh to create a normal garment that looks like it is malfunctioning, like if pieces were missing or torn off. Doesn’t really coincide with my malfunction of the body theme but I could work it in somehow by using those techniques to show malfunction of an organ.

Yiqing Yin – creating a garment where something looks like it’s spreading. Perhaps part of the garment is functioning but a change in texture, colour and shape indicates that that area is a disease etc. This could be shown through vines or channels.

I think this type needs to be paired with one of the others because on its own it doesn’t have much depth and if I really wanted to show malfunction from all angles then it would have been included in the others anyway.

A garment that makes the person wearing it malfunction

This made me explore restrictive clothing and of course, lots of people’s first thought is the corset. Many years ago it was common practice to dress in restrictive clothing (for women mainly) and maybe we like to think that we don’t subject ourselves to this anymore but the truth is…we do.

I think this could be interesting researching modern day restrictive clothing and seeing how it compares to older attire worn in the Victorian era.

It adds to the list of causes behind malfunctions, so not only does it visually show malfunction, it depicts further depth of my theme as to what is causing our bodies harm.

All the artists that I talk about are featured on my visual inspiration page above.

From this mind mapping, I decided to do more research on restrictive clothing and how it can cause malfunction.