I have been researching materials and textiles that are uncomfortable or irritating against the skin. My theme throughout this project is Irrational Fear and Phobia so my main way to represent this through fashion was to replace the fear with an uncomfortable or irritating fabric. Furthering this research I came across Suzanne Lee’s Bio-couture collection she created from bacteria called a ‘scoby’. I found this very interesting that a leather like material could be made from what some people fear the most, GERMS. I had already briefly looked at ‘Germophobia’. This then got me thinking about how I could create this material myself and make a garment or piece for this project that is a pure form of bacteria.

I am going to record the process of how my creation of the ‘scoby’.

Looking closer at ‘The Body’ and how it changes in different situations, I found Ivana Basic who created this art instillation based on the bodies reaction to dust when under pressure. This idea of how the body reacts has got me thinking of fear and phobia in a different way. I would like to represent this idea of fear in a physical form of how it has impacted the body and the mind.

The Body is a large part of my research project, I find the way it reacts to different situations and materials extremely interesting. So far I have been researching ‘Irritants’ and how the body reacts to different materials. In the first stage of this project I was exploring the use of uncomfortable and irritating textures, objects and living things. I am now exploring how the body as a representation of our own fears. Dance, specifically ballet has always been unnerving to me personally, the way a human can move so smooth and fast yet so lightly on their feet. When thinking about this deeper I have made the connection with the ‘scurry’ of insects and the way they carry themselves. I came across a photograph taken by Vadim Stein of two ballet dancers back to back to me this image creates the illusion of two bodies becoming a single spider form (top middle image in the mood board). This concept leads me to think of how human bodies can become another form, in some cases they can become a form of what we fear the most.

Bottom mood board: Rafael Gomezbarros – Invasive Art Instillation

Now I am in the stage where my research will develop further to inspire my final outcomes. I have begun to look closer into the specific topics that are particularly interesting to me and I will develop these concepts into my own outcomes. Suffocation has been a huge theme throughout the project so far, may people experience this feeling of being consumed by their irrational fear or phobia. I am now exploring ‘The Body’ further and how it reacts to different situations and materials in relation to irrational fear and phobia.

Statement of Intent: FMP AD395

For my Final Major Project, I will be developing my perspective on Irrational Fear & Phobia relating to the context of art and fashion.

In my research project I have shown evidence of strong experimentation in preparation for my FMP development and outcomes. I will now be experimenting with a range of media to create my final outcome for this project and for Graduate Fashion week.

Throughout my research project I had been focussing solely on the effects of Irrational Fear & Phobia alongside creating photoshoots and props to support my research. For my FMP I will be expanding my creativity and working towards creating an experience for my Final Exhibition where people can interact with my work.

I will be using textures and fabrics in my work as a direct link to Irrational Fear & Phobia particularly to continue my theme of ‘Suffocation’ (A feeling commonly experienced by people who suffer with Irrational Fear & Phobia, due to the overwhelming feeling of being consumed and suffocated by it).  I will be developing this theme and working with new themes throughout my project such as ‘Uncomfort’, ‘Irritations’ and ‘The Body’. The human body will be related to consistently throughout the project and will play a large part in my upcoming photoshoots.

I will be aiming to look at historical references, towards the end of my research project I developed an interest for 1930s-1940s hair and beauty gadgets & procedures that resemble torture methods.

For my FMP exhibition I am planning to create an ‘interactive experience’ and will decide on this later on as my research develops throughout the project. As my project is inspired hugely by ‘The Senses’ I feel it is important for viewers to be involved in my work and have their own interpretation on it. I am thinking about ways to use senses such as touch & hearing to achieve this.

I may also design a small photo book to accompany the ‘experience’ with some of my main images from my other photoshoots linking to the final exhibition with a few words explaining my final major project themes the main topic of Irrational Fear & Phobia.

I have been researching deeply into irrational fears and phobias. Two of the most common phobias are Aquaphobia (fear of water) and  Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces). I am interested in the idea of enocorpirating textiles and nature together as a main theme in my photography. I have been looking at wide open spaces and felt that the sea shore would be a perfect location for my shoot. The sea can be both calming and disturbing depending on a persons perspective. Looking out to sea from the shore shows a wide open space however it is unknown what is under the sea. I thought this idea was quite interesting to experiment with. I chose to do a series of shots where my model is stood out in the open space. As the shoot date was in November it was cold and windy and the sea was rough, I thought this was really important for the shoot as it meant the fabric movement and the models hair was out of my control (people with an irrational fear feel it is out of their control). I particularly like the image where my model is stood in the sea and the wind has lifted her hair. My model looks almost possessed in this image. I also experimented with different photography techniques such as long exposure. I really like this style of photography as I feel it works well with the dark and gloomy monochrome theme. I edited all the photos into black and white as I wanted the shoot to look chilling and unnerving. I do not think this photoshoot was right for what I was trying to achieve and I need to plan it out and do its again. I will be using this photoshoot as a test shoot as I feel I need to research further into the specific fears to capture exactly the right shots, as I do not want the images to be extremely obvious what they mean.

Film and Photography by me

Model: Caterina Bechelli

Location: Photography Studio

I was experimenting with ‘Space’ for my claustrophobia fear research. I used a small confined box for my model to sit in surrounded by a wide open white space.

I did an interview with the model after the photoshoot to ask her about her experience in the box:

What do you think the shoot was about?

How did you feel in the box?

Did you feel uncomfortable in the box?

Did being in the box intensify and senses or bring out any fears?

This is an experimental shoot created in the Fashion Communication photography studio. I wanted to do a shoot that subtly conveys what is felt by a person who has an irrational fear or phobia. I used a small clear box with my model pressed inside. The box is surrounded by a large white empty space. I am interested in this idea of a fear being irrational. I used the box as a representation of the ‘fear’ and the empty space as the reality of the fear. For the final images I used photoshop to remove the box itself so I was left with just the shape of my model trapped inside what appears to be nothing. This is a representation of how a person with claustrophobia feels. You can’t see the box however it IS there.