In groups, we were instructed to appropriate imagery of iconic locations from found art historical, political, literary and/or mass media sources with the goal of producing a unique digital rendering(s) that provides new insight into the chosen socio/political topic. In addition, we had to add a 3D element to the project.
Magazine Cover
Artist Statement
Our group titled the piece “Vogue Issue December 1998” as it was when International Animal Rights Day was established. For this collaborative piece, we decided to focus on the importance of animal rights and the significance of fur in the fashion industry. Our goal was to draw the viewer in and attract them to the cover and coat. We appropriated the “Vogue” format in order to target the consumers of fur. As a group, we wanted to create an ironic and contemplative image resembling a glamorous high-end magazine cover in order to combat this idea that animal fur represents a high state of luxury. We chose to resemble Anna Wintour on the cover — she is an avid consumer of fur, however her choices as the editor-in-chief of a widespread fashion magazine allows for a strong influence over viewers as to what is acceptable in the fashion world. For the digital collage, we aim to provide shock value to the magazine’s readers after drawing them into a beautiful fur coat that they would want to wear. We want the viewers to ultimately question why is it okay for humans to torture animals for their fur as it is essentially equivalent to the human skin, teeth, and bones and we have digitally rendered. We subtly depicted a man with a gun, which is a reflection of what happened in order for the model to wear the fur. The 3D material incorporated in this project is human hair. We believe this material speaks to the ironic and unsettling fact that human hair was taken to be work just like an animal’s. It creates a unique experience for the viewer, thus causing one to contemplate the complexity of this issue. In addition to the “Vogue” cover, we used articles from PETA, “National Geographic”, and “Vogue” ads that use animal products to function like a real magazine that a reader would be interested in picking up.
Process: Inspirational Images
