Floriography
Floral imagery is more than decorative art and a symbol of femininity. For example, in East Asian culture, some flowers are regarded as powerful and noble rather than fragile or delicate. The meanings of flowers go beyond the field of botany and become rich cultural semiotics and spiritual ballast. Looking at flowers through the lens of Sinitic literature, performing arts, and my own horticulture experience, I try to express the floral motif beyond face value.
Prunus mume 梅花
Narcissus tazetta subsp. chinensis 水仙
Camellia japonica 山茶
Paeonia spp. 牡丹/芍药
Malus spp. 海棠
Magnolia denudata 玉兰
Jasminum sambac 茉莉
Nelumbo nucifera 荷花
Rosa rugosa 玫瑰
The Journey of Metamorphosis
I choose Lee Alexander McQueen (1969 - 2010) as my “Medici” for his dramatic expression and melancholic aesthetics. McQueen is famous for his sophisticated tailoring and unrestrained imagination. He is talented at hybridizing fabrics and techniques to express the juxtaposition between the feminine and the masculine, tradition and modernity, strength and lightness, intensity and serenity. Rebirth or metamorphosis is one of the natural motifs he frequently referenced in his fashion creation. Inspired by McQueen’s romantic narration and the metamorphosis of the butterfly, I create my manifesto drawing to explore the experience of seeking light in the dark.
Crafting the Terrain
Model-making is the process to craft the terrain as a piece of art to pursue beauty in form. It’s the combination of precision, elegancy, and design intention.
