Monthly Archives: July 2014

Studio 2 Final Project

My final project is going to be explaining the effect social media has on social isolation. I believe that we as humans are social creatures, and thus need relationships and interactions in order to survive. That’s where social media appeared and swept us all off our feet. It seemed like the perfect tool to connect us together. However, studies have proven that social media actually does the very opposite of what we expect it to do- create more isolation. Because of our reliance on social media to do the interaction for us, we have grown farther apart, widening the distance we sought to distinguish.

In the beginning stages of the project, I explored possibilities of ideas that related to my project. 20140724_170219 20140724_170143

I researched many social media sites and also other scholars doing similar research on this topic.

As for my first iteration, i’m doing a garment made out of plastic. I was inspired by

Lygia Clark. The Abandonment of Art

Lygia Clark (1948-1988)

The Abandonment of Art

Lygia Clark was one of the most daring artists at the forefront of the Neo-Concretist movement in Brazil. She engages the audience in creating an interactive element between art and viewer. Her art is comprised of paintings, drawings, and sculptural works often made of metal. She then became interested in the psychotherapeutical aspect of her art, and ceased to call herself an artist and concentrated on developing art for these purposes. She had a series of psychology/sensorial/relational works that she categorized with the term “collective body.” She defined it as a single body incorporating multiple individuals. Just as she had imagined art fusing with the world through relational actions, she also imagined various bodies fused in a collectivity. Thus, Clark has become a major reference for contemporary artists dealing with the limits of conventional forms of art.

During my visit to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), I had a chance to experience Clark’s work in person. There was definitely a strong element of interactive approach to many of her artworks, in which I was able to be a part of. Most art don’t allow for the audience to touch and feel, but in this exhibition there were many areas where the viewers were welcome to interact with the art. There were metal plate contraption throughout the space, as well as a performance of a mental exercise that involved a woman using seemingly random materials in contact with a man laying down.
A lot of her work was geometrically structured, and had a rhythm as well as coherency to the general majority of her pieces.

Sketches:

Artist Statement

Wide eyed, I stared at the graceful motions of a straight wooden bow pulled across the strings of the violin as the piece “Salut d’amour” by Edward Elgar richly filled the air. At the age of four, I was fascinated by the beautiful melody pouring out from the hairs of the bow. Upon such desires to learn such a skill, I embarked on a path to master playing the violin and began to explore melodies on the piano as well. Pressing keys on the piano soon became as familiar to me as moving a bow across my violin, which fueled my musical ambitions for the next eleven years. However as I approached the end of these years, I realized that my creativity in this particular area began to plateau. I felt confined to the sheet music and began to crave a new challenge which would expand my borders. The music notes gave directions for my fingertips on the instruments which reminded me of Albert Einstein’s quote that, ”The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” I saw how this oxymoronic statement encapsulated my musical education where I was taught in a manner that limited my creativity.

Upon this realization, I was drawn to fashion because the extent to which I could express myself was limitless. With every stroke of paint or alloy of textures, it felt like I was taking a breath of crisp air as I entered into a new world of creativity. Unlike a sheet of music with its notes and lines, a sheet of fabric allowed me to go wherever my mind desired. Starting from my idea sketches to the finished product, it was exhilarating to see my inner visions actualized into reality.

My musical efforts were not all at a loss because they have shaped who I am today and continue to influence what I do, how I see things, and what I make of things. It serves as an inspiration and challenge to make my own works of art. Such experiences have only added pieces to my creative capabilities. Fashion has furthered my creative efforts by giving me the freedom to go wherever my impulses take me and has made room for my mistakes to become a part of a better end result. In the future, I hope to move to greater canvases, not confined to a classroom or an institution but those unexplored in the world. Following my education at The New School, I envision myself to be equipped with an arsenal of resources and to be inspired by the endless landscapes and environments I will encounter. Beginning with Elgar’s song, my eyes opened to the possibilities of creativity in the world, ultimately leading to my current aspirations to produce innovative works starting with an empty canvas. I anticipate new experiences and challenges, which I know will come with failure, but room to learn from mistakes, and even more room to triumph over the new lands of creativity that lie ahead.

Portfolio Works

Inspirational and Interesting Topics

1. Is social media and technology making us lonely?

lead

I’ve found that there’s something undeniably valuable when it comes to direct human interaction. Sadly, society today has been distanced so far from genuine contact, disconnecting us from the world right in front of our eyes. You can see it everywhere, increasing with each new generation- on the streets, in restaurants, and even within the household. This draws me to question exactly why we have become so dependent on social media and technology and explore its effect on us.

2. How schools limit and contain creativity

Growing up in a very structured education environment, I realize now that it severely limited my creativity. Not only did it allow me one (and only one) method of doing things but it also discouraged room to try different methods.

3. Society’s focus on the idealistic standard of superficial appearance

The definition of ‘beauty’ has been shifted many times in human history, but in my opinion it has taken a dangerous turn in today’s society. There seems to be only one true look of what everyone deems to be considered beautiful- white, tall, and abnormally thin.
Moodboard on IS SOCIAL MEDIA MAKING US LONELY?