haute couture

‘Architecture of the Body’ - Degree Show 2002

My degree collection was designed and created on the internal muscle system of the human body. My work was designed to accentuate the body’s own architecture. Every line and curve in each piece follows a specific muscle. The full extent of this remarkable achievement can only be seen when it is on a body in motion: as the body moves, the shape of the muscles change, yet the piece perfectly mirrors these changes, making it seem like a fluid, highlighting extension of the body.

The work, which uses line and texture to illustrate the form of the body, is a collection containing shoulder pieces, neck piece, bangles and body pieces. The lines are made from forged metal some stretching from 8mm wire to 4mm, and this adds to the dramatic effect of the body pieces. The contrast in the hammered textures and the highly polished finishes also creates a different light effect which adds to the piece. I have also use plastic to highlight certain areas and on the body bringing colour and a new dimension to the work.

When shown off the body, the work is seen as a piece of art – for example, whilst mounted as a wall piece to cast shadows and accentuate the lines thus reflecting the muscle and line of the body on a blank flat canvas.

In conclusion, “Architecture of the Body” is an innovative and exciting range of work that demonstrates the dynamic line and exciting form that the human body possesses. Used as an haute couture wearable body piece or as an interesting work of art. This collection is on exhibition at the Leitrim Design House.

These pieces were designed and used for Andrew Mulvenna Hair for the Hairdresser of the Year 2005 awards. Andrew was the Art Director for the shoot (London, June 2005), and he is now one of the finalists for the award which he previously won in 2003.

The most important part of the ‘look’ was to be “angelic”. This immediately set my creative juices flowing and, developing a number of notional and visual ideas, I began pushing each idea around in my head. I new the size, shape and rough structure each of the pieces would look like, but I struggled with the choice of material.

After a number of days of creative ‘block’, I eventually decided to use wallpaper as the basis for my designs and creations. Given the current trend of using wallpaper in the home as ‘designer creations’, I believed I could create a similar image for a jewellery range.

I had used a lot of plastics in my own commercial sliver design work, and I believed it would be innovative to use printed plastics and large aluminium structures. To begin the process, I screen-printed large floral wallpaper samples. I wanted to use the traditional old-fashioned ‘look’ and ‘feel’, as it looks more innocent and “angelic”, than the funky retro styles that are trendy at the minute. By fanning the structures out and weaving them with plastic it give great depth and light on to each piece. As the models wouldn’t be wearing any clothes I had to cover their modesty by making the pieces almost clothes-like.

The final results were astounding, and the visual ‘angelic’ look of both the models and the jewellery, met the end criteria that Andrew had been looking for. Having completed this project, it is clear that my work and creativity has little limitations.