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World of Wearable Arts beckons for Creative Technology students
The Textile and Design Lab has been working with student groups from the new Bachelor of Technologies studio paper 'Digital Skins'. The paper, led by TDL/Colab PhD researchers Miranda Smitheram and Donna Cleveland responded to theories of embodiment and post humanism, developing performative costumes that incorporate wearable technologies. Students utilised the lab’s resources in innovative ways, from digital printing, developing soft electronic circuits, fusing conductive material and even heat setting origami pleats!
Two of the groups were accepted into the World of Wearable Arts through the pre-selection stage. Both teams have created costumes for the Performance Art section - The Greatest Show on Earth. Students Lara Galea, Katriel Worrall and Sophie McIntyre created 'Darling', a vulnerable, fleshy, ashamed circus freak of the future. While humans have become genetically perfect, Darling remains physical and imperfect. This is emphasized by Darling’s digitally printed skin, making her a sight to behold. When she slouches and rests her hands on her knees, the mechanical lesions covering her body pulsate, expressing discomfort towards her exploitation.
The second group consisting of Claudine Nalesu, Harriet Johnson, and Yu Yu Shwe created 'The Colourless Clown'. In their interpretation of the future, it’s 2084 and the air is toxic. To adapt, the human race evolved their lungs in order to breathe. However, The Colourless Clown did not evolve: to survive she must wear these giant pom-pom air filters. In heavily polluted areas she touches her conductive ‘lungs’, triggering them to light up and add more power to the filtration system. Best of luck to the groups!
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