Passport to self

Week One - Exploratory

An exploration of our hidden interests and its contribution in creating our identity.

Whether it be simply an interest in collecting stickers or something as complex as a love in understanding geometry; it as an asset that creates our identity. This week is purely based on the idea of understanding yourself and bringing your interests to light. Earlier this week we had taken a refreshing trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum to begin our brainstorming research, I remember walking in through the tunnel in awe at all the delicately sculptured pieces. This was my first time at the V&A museum and I had already become drawn. I walked around surrounded by these daunting towering sculptures when I had noticed the Asian exhibition; I decided to take a quick look around. it had the most beautiful tapestry work and displayed traditional cultural clothing with the most endearing detail. They had also framed some delicate utensils, which I had not really found interesting. However as I walked on into the Islamic section,  I found myself strangely attracted to the pottery; the delicate and intricate designs on every morsel of them.

V&A - Islamic Section

V&A - Asian Section

The idea of the 'simplicity of the complexity' of the design using purely two colours in contrast to each other was something very interesting to see. I then took a slight detour into the fashion section where the clothing of all era's were displayed. The one that interested me most in particular was the collection from 'Deconstructing Fashion 1975-1985'. The set had come through the idea of emerging punk movement in the late 1970's, I found it intriguing due to the compositions and the initial idea behind it. I've always been quite fond of the punk fashion, the dark colours and ripped clothing and sometime with a splash or bright colour really queues my interests. Its quite symbolic to my love of kpop, and the Korean music industries fashion. they usually wear dark, mysterious and unconventional clothing. When walking around the fashion exhibition I noticed a video projected onto the ceiling of shoe making, I found it very interesting and watched though the whole video; it showed how the shoes were cut and sculpted right down to the tiniest detail and how they would hand craft the leather and soles together. After the video had ended I made my way to the architectural designs where I took a few pictures and finally sat and took a short break to write some notes and draw some observational drawings. The architectural designs were beautifully set out with abundant beauty; both bold and bountiful.

After exploring through all the buildings I started to explore a little more widely and noticed some really beautiful stained glass, packed filled with different techniques. It was a mix mash of different work which slowly came to complete a full picture with some odd parts which made it quite unique, the artist also used the technique of scratching, thereby creating such intricate detail.

The final exhibition I visited was the 'What is Luxury' Exhibition, an insight on how luxury was created; this was one of my favourites sections with the delicately thought out messages put in each piece. I particularly enjoyed looking at the 'Bubble Bath' by Nora Fok who crafts unique pieces of jewellery that combine everyday materials and tools with time-intensive techniques. For 'Bubble Bath' she delicately hand knitted nylon filament around marbles. The piece plays on the opposition between material and subject, where durable synthetic thread has been used to capture bubbles, "One of nature's most fragile and ephemeral forms". This final exhibition had opened my eyes to what really interests me, the time consuming and intensive work with the most tiniest and intricate details were what had drawn me in the most.

V&A - Nora Fok 'Bubble Bath'