Blog Entry 27:
Enwrap: Hands in Tandem with the Body
The Embodiment of the Human Hand’s Potential to
Comment on the Complexity of Body Confidence and Modesty
Critical
Evaluation of the Realisation Project
My project title Enwrap: Hands in Tandem with the Body is indicative of
my exploration into the human hand’s potential to comment of complex aspects of
the human condition, especially when placed in particular positions on the
human body. “Hands are capable of many actions but they are especially good at
griping, when they wrap around objects and in a sense take on the shape of the
object they enwrap.” (Raynes,2007). This quotation is taken from the context of
using the hand in life drawing as a tool used to suggest the form of other
areas of the body. Enwrap in the physical sense means to envelop or cover an
object so closely that the material or item covering the object takes on a
sense of that objects shape; in the non-physical sense to be enwrapped suggests
that a person is completely absorbed by an action or object, for example
enwrapped in conversation would be suggestive of a very high level of attention
and interest in the subject or possibly the person the conversation is
happening with. With these two aspects of the word enwrap in mind, my project
is designed to encompass the full meaning of this word by the physical way in
which my embroidered illustrations of human hand on garments can wrap around
and to some extent take on the shape of aspects of the human body, and the
non-physical way in which the illustrated hands in particular positions can
provoke an emotive response. The imagery in tandem with the human body is
designed to provoke the audience to question to whom the hands belong, as how
this is viewed can drastically change an individual’s interpretation of the
message.
My Realisation
project has been shaped around a small number of questions, which have stemmed
from work and research done during the Concept module and have developed to
become more coherent during the Realisation module and its progression. The
first question is similar to that which formed the basis to my Concept and Dissertation
modules: Can images of the human hand create a complex visual commentary on the
human condition? As many avenues of exploration into how this was possible had
been reviewed in the past modules, I was able to begin the Realisation module
by narrowing down the subject of what the human hand might have the potential
to comment on with a view to portraying how the human hand could specifically
comment on a singular complex aspect of the human condition, gender. I began by
evaluating my dissertation, specifically chapter two which focused specifically
on the subject of gender and images of the human hand. I found that the hand’s
capability to cover areas of the human form in a way in which could be
suggestive of modesty, touched on by my dissertation was particularly important
in discovering my project. After researching the covering position more closely
I was able to eventually specify more closely the subject on which the human
hand had potential to comment within gender: body confidence and modesty.
The second
question which has largely affected my outcome occurred to me later in the
project whilst considering how the hand could visually comment on the subject I
had decided. I realised that during the Concept module I had focused on images
of the hand alone rather than in context, yet in my Dissertation many of the
images I had examined had been particularly strong because they had context.
Images where the hand appeared in tandem with the body were especially
important due to how the commentary could be changed or strengthened by how the
hand was placed in a particular position on or with the body and the way this
could be perceived. My second question therefore became: How can images of the
hand be visually communicated as in tandem with the body whilst retaining
focus? After creating a number of samples depicting hands in tandem with the
body in the covering position, I realised that to simply draw or paint/
embroider the body
along with the hand meant that there was a possibility that the viewer would
focus on areas of the body other than the hands. After realising this the
design problem was clarified, how can the body be visually suggested without
having to illustrate it? Whilst debating this issue I decided again to look
back at work for the Concept module as I viewed it as preparatory work for this
project and found an embroidery sample on a cardigan, which at the time had
been done whilst considering how I might benefit from using the technique,
known as free machine embroidery, in my future career as a way of putting
imagery on clothing. I noticed that the cardigan sample with a simple line
stitch hand image on the shoulder could be viewed as belonging to another
person and suggest either a comforting or controlling gesture. I then realised
that by creating imagery on clothing and photographing the clothing being worn,
the images of the hand could exist in tandem with the body but still retain
focus.
After answering
the design questions in theory and after I had done a number of samples and
mock garments I was able to create 8 final outcomes, 5 illustrated garments and
3 flat framed pieces. The garments were each designed to place the hands in
specific positions to be worn in tandem with the body, these positions were
simple and could offer a number of meanings depending on whether the hands are
perceived to be belonging to the wearer of the garment or someone other than
the wearer, I chose to do this in order to create layered meaning through
simple positioning to visually communicate how the human hand can comment on
the complexity of the subject of body confidence and modesty not just a
singular aspect, which I feel successfully answered my original question. I
have also photographed the garments worn by models in both a photographic
studio and in specific locations; I specifically chose the locations to show
how the message or meaning of the illustrations could be affected by the
context. The flat pieces were created as a response to the word enwrap to show
how images of the human hand can be suggestively in tandem with the body as the
hands are in such positions which suggest they are taking on the shape of
certain parts of the body which they are wrapped around.
In conclusion, I
feel that during this project I have been able to answer my two main questions
as intended. I have also developed paint, embroidery and dress making
techniques, which I intend to use in order to set up my own business after I leave
university. Before doing this project I had never made a garment before and
this skill is not very valuable to me, as during Realisation the photographs of
my outcomes and samples, which I have shared using social media have gained
much interest and I have at present been asked to make and embroider clothing
for commission and am considering making this a permanent part of my future
practice along side illustrating for publishing purposes. I feel that during
this semester I have progressed more toward my professional goals than the rest
of my time at university.
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