Desire is an instinctual and basic emotion that all humans experience at at least one point in their life (if not multiple). Although often shrouded in layers of negative connotations; desire is a necessary part of survival.
My final work is a culmination of three philosophies from three famous figureheads; Aristotle, Buddha and Simone de Beauvoir. Greek philosopher Aristotle states that desire is necessary for any type of movement (be it figurative or literal). This conflicts with the Buddhist belief that desire is what entraps us in a cycle of suffering. For ‘when a man is stimulated by his own thoughts, full of desire and dwelling on what is attractive, his craving increases even more. He is making the fetter even stronger.’ (Buddha, c.563BC) This paradoxical relationship between Buddha’s and Aristotle’s beliefs on desires effects on movement is what I wished to pursue in my final work. The two concepts also paradoxically make perfect sense and work harmoniously together in contemporary society.
De Beauvoir’s views on desire in society have also played a large part in my final work. For ‘it is desire that creates the desirable and the project which raises the end. ” (Simone de Beauvoir) I wanted to explore how the way in which we desire to express ourselves shapes the way we are represented and accepted within contemporary society. I intended to explore this notion in terms of human aesthetics and appearances and our use as our body as a canvas. In the most basic sense, clothing is used to ensure our warmth and health. However, in contemporary society, the clothing one chooses to wear or has no choice but to wear is a form of self expression and way to differentiate one another to form our individual identities. However, this form of expression is shapes heavily by our desire to exert a certain appearance. as we aim to become our vision of what is ‘desirable’ (whether that meets societies expectations / standards or not). By using fashion and clothing to do this, we are warping our natural image in order to fit in (or disassociate) with society. Even though we may feel as though these items of clothing are freeing us and allowing us to progress and grow, they confine us to society and limit us. The clothes we wear act as a symbol for values that members of society assume that we hold true, even if that is not the case. By the way we dress we are stereotyped and ideas and preconceptions are thrust onto us whether we want them to be or not.
This relationship was reminiscent of the space race in the 1960s between the USSR and the USA. Desire to be the most powerful superpower lead to rapid technological and cultural change. Abstract materials such as metal and plastic were used as they were thought to be the materials of the future. This period inspired my final work.
My final project is a realisation of this notion. It is a collection of two tops, a pair of shoes and a necklace all created using variations of plastic. The plastic is an embodiment of materialism and ‘progress’. The first piece is a poncho, allowing for movement and freedom. However it is bound by a necklace, symbolic of the imprisoning nature of desire. The second piece is a square top which at first glance appears to be extremely spacious. However, when the wearer attempts to move in it, it proves to be a deceptively restrictive garment. It represents the societal assumptions that come once you represent yourself in a certain light and how you may or may not fulfil them; not fitting parts of the criteria but also wanting to break free. The third piece was a pair of shoes made from plastic takeaway containers. They symbolise the discomfort of being trapped in a world of desire. The awkward shape and lack of mobility provided by them is a representation of how our desires may seem enchanting (suggested by the plastic, new-age look), but in reality may make our lives more difficult. In the realest sense, it can slow us down and prevent us from ‘moving through life’ with any ease or grace. The static looped nature of the gif further emphasises the entrapment of desire on the human psyche. Although the material is aesthetically appealing as desires are, it is distorted, replicating the false sense of reality we perceive from being onlookers to those who have what we desire and how desire distorts human perception.
Buddha, Gautama. 'Quotes By Buddha. An Buddha Quote Library | The Gaiam Blog'. Blog.gaiam.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 3 Sept. 2015.
Flashbak,. '1960S Space Age Fashion - A Retrospective - Flashbak'. N.p., 2013. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
Marxists.org,. 'The Ethics Of Ambiguity By Simone De Beauvoir'. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
Pavitt, Jane. Fear And Fashion In The Cold War. South Kensington, London: V & A Pub., 2008. Print.
Race, The. 'The Space Race - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.Com'. HISTORY.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
Shields, Christopher. 'Aristotle's Psychology'. Plato.stanford.edu. N.p., 2000. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
The-philosophy.com,. 'Desire In Philosophy'. N.p., 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
Vam.ac.uk,. 'The Space Race - Victoria And Albert Museum'. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
2087
blakekathryn
origamiaround
snowghoul
turnnoffyourmind
discoholicmusic
romaincrisis
titsay
theartofmadeline
stormborns
kaledo-art