Environmental project, Integrative Seminar

green, quiet, tranquil

 

Standing outside Alice’s enormous gate, overgrown with layers and layers of leaves, one would not guess the secrets that lay behind them.

Once passed, the juxtaposition of traditional and untraditional was a key feature witnessed. Side by side with two black, conventional minivans, there is a first clue to Alice’s colourful understanding of aesthetics and excess in her everyday being. Spray-painted with all colours that are to be found on the spectrum, the patterns vary from figures to geometrical-shaped patterns to an imitation of Piet Mondrian dominating the ceiling of the vehicle. This vividly displays Alice’s tight relationship to visual arts, art history and a proud homage to her individuality. Asking her about the specific emotional and aesthetic connection to the artist she told me that she thinks he is a structured, minimalistic and conceptual artist approaching art in an almost scientific way. What fascinate her is the contrast between him and Alice, since she mainly emphasizing the element of spontaneity and serendipity.

In light of the traditional black cars and yellow painted house, the car gains intensity. By just setting one foot into the family’s driveway one is invited to recognize the significance of transforming everyday objects into pieces of art as means of self-expression.

 

bright, modern, open

 

Entering the living space, I walked into the roots of Alice’s appreciation for art and design. While carefully considering the practicality of the room, the design furniture that filled it was consciously chosen and appreciated. From the round black-and-white chair in the foyer to the subtle artworks on the wall, one of them even created by Alice herself. The base and support for Alice’s artistic self-expression was clearly encouraged and a sense of aesthetics submitted through her loved ones. Large windows looking over the garden, playing with green, blue, white and grey tones the space was certainly carefully thought and planned out, yet Alice’s existence in it was valued. This submitted a sense of community, respect and support to one another.

As I moved into the upper, I felt as if I was peeling a fruit, overlooking one aspect of Alice’s personality at the time, stepping towards the core of her being.

 

Diverse, exciting, youthful

 

Passing through the staircase, peeking into her sister’s room, one gets a first glimpse of the sense of colour. A satin blue, green and gold Kimono filled the and gave away not just the diversity of the family but also specifically Alice’s cherishing of Japanese culture. It creates not just a first contrast towards the subtle colour choice but also leads one to the core of Alice’s space.

 

contrasting, colourful, unique

 

Alice’s room was very contrasting towards the family space.

I noted the importance of art and more specifically fashion as her key passion which I would have to give weight within my representation. Alice told me that she customizes objects bought in thrift shops on a daily basis, to suit her sense of aesthetics. Her main inspiration are bright, primary colours and extravagant clothing, which was backed up as I opened her closet. The range of patterns and materials were astonishing, from satin Japanese Kimonos to recut and newly glued leather jackets to 80s plastic sunglasses. Yet the most present feature in her clothes remained fur. Alice owns and adores her variety of thrift shop-bought fur coats, dark blue fur slippers and even has an enormous pink fur steering wheel cover that accompanies her on her travels and ensures second glances at traffic lights. Her own impersonated animal being a lion did not come as a surprise.

 

 

Passionate, artistic, warm-hearted

 

As I left Alice’s house, I came to the conclusion that her personality is made up from different pieces and juxtapositions. May it be between old and new, conventional and unconventional; she exhibits her uniqueness with proudness. Her family traits display an inherited sense of aesthetic and emphasis upon individuality.

It was clearly displayed she was coming from as well as her determination to get where she wants to be.

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