Task 2 - Research - Suk-Hyun Hanbok

Strictly speaking Suk- Hyun Hanbok isn't a Japanese designer but actually a Korean fashion designer. 

However I find that traditionally Chinese, Korean and Japanese (Eastern Asia) cultures are sympathetic and been influenced by each other over the time. 

 


Suk-Hyun's designs are all heavy layered with a recognisable East Asian print pattern. 

The term Hanbok translated means tradition dress, this means that Suk-Hyuns designs are the traditional style but with a contemporary twist by, from what I can tell, the choice of fabric, vibrant colours and patterns used. 

The designs also give a nod to more traditional Hanboks by the use of decoration through embroidery as well as pattern woven fabrics.

To me, the patterns are all quiet natural and fresh because of they are floral and leafy shapes, giving the heavy, almost bulky clothing a softer feminine touch.

However, despite the Hanboks being a little 'bulky' and having a awkwardness to them, I like the shapes and styles of them because it has that traditional quality. Personally I've always found that the traditional side helps inspire the ideas for my work and this style will no doubt influence my future work.


All images from:
http://sukhyun.co.kr/new/

Task 2 - Research - Launa D. Romoff

Launa D. Romoff is a mixed media artist that creates collages from found materials.

She started working with mix medias in 1997 and in the artist statement on her website Romoff says " I have been inspired by the work of Kurt Schwitters, regarded by most as the 20th century master of collage. He once said, "How I use the material is often more important than the material itself." This attitude is also reflected in my creative process. "


Romoff has created three pieces of work in Her Asian Gallery ( http://www.launa-d-romoff.com/galleries.html?gallery=6 ) that, to me, have a clear Japanese influence flowing through her work.

In these pieces of Romoff's work I admire the use of a limited colour pallet and how her chosen materials seem old, giving her work a fresh take on 'vintage' medias.
Before finding her work I wouldn't of thought about creating mixed media collages because of my background in Fashion. However after seeing her work I will experiment in creating collages for prints for length of fabric inspired by her work. 

Task 2 - Japanese Theme Decision

For the inspiration for the theme for my brief I selected the Samurai Sword from my research at Blackburn Museum. 

I've decided to use the Japanese culture, artwork and designers to influence my work. 

As a starting point I created a second board on Pinterest to see what other artist and designers have produced in the style or influence by classic Japanese culture and artwork. Throughout this brief I will use Pinterest as a way of finding research and inspiration of my work.

http://uk.pinterest.com/theaalys/japanese-inspirations/

Task 2 - Summer Brief Project

I've created a Pinterest board called Summer Brief Project showing different designers' work, artwork and clothing that could of been influenced by any of the seven collections I saw in Blackburn Museum. The board shows the end products of designers and artist that could of had the same starting point or been inspired by the pieces in the different collections at Blackburn Museum. 
I still need to pick one of the the collections as a starting point to decide the theme of my brief.

http://uk.pinterest.com/theaalys/summer-brief-project/

 

Task 1 - Blackburn Museum - Fine Art Collection

In the Fine Art Collection at Blackburn Museum is a collection of Japanese wood block paintings and artefacts from the same time period. 
The samurai sword in the exhibition caught my attention more compared to the wood block paintings because of the intricate details and textures of the patterned carving. 
This piece is on loan from the Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool and was intended as a more decorative piece rather then a weapon. In the late 19th century carrying swords was banned in a attempt to mordernize the country. This piece is from the same time but produced as a decorative item with a poor quality blade.
I want to research more in depth about the culture that has created the pattern and what it symbolises. 
I also want to know what other artists and designer have started at a simpler starting point or used a similar influence for there work.

Task 1 - Blackburn Museum - Coins and manuscripts

The collection of historical artefacts in the form of coins and 
manuscripts was bequeathed to the museum by local rope maker R.E Hart in the 1940's after his death. The collection houses manuscripts that date back as far as 2055BC and also includes some of the earliest printed books by William and Caxton. The collection of coins is home to British, Roman and various city-states in Ancient Greece. The collection is a representation of history through the ages. 
The piece that caught my attention the most was the fragment of Papyrus from the Book of the Dead, written around 1300BC as a 'guide book' to a happy afterlife. Compared to the elaborate, brightly decorated manuscripts the fragment of papyrus was more humble in its appearance as apposed to the rest of the collection appealing to my personal taste. I am intrigued by the cultural history behind the beliefs shown in the fragment and how the ancient culture has influenced the modern way of life; for example how it has been translated to influence interiors and fashion, such as decorative wall papers and accessories.

Task 1 - Blackburn Museum - Egyptology

The artefacts on display in the Egyptology Exhibition were collected during the late 19th century. Most of the historical objects, including the Mummy, where brought back from Egypt by the Archaeologist and explorer Sir William Flinders Petrie. 

When looking at the other collections in the museum I noticed that some of the objects linked to the Egyptian exhibition such as the papyrus in the Coins and Manuscripts Collection and the Beetle collection has a cultural significance to the known Ancient Egyptian way of life.

What caught my attention in the collection was the amount of detail applied the the foot of the mummy. I found it unusual that the feet of the mummy has more attention to detail then the rest of the body. The feet had been painted onto the wrappings and surrounded by pattern on the top and with paintings of men underneath.

If I was to use this collection as inspiration I would draw influence from the culture behind the artefacts as well as the patterns painted. 

 

Task 1 - Blackburn Museum - Natural History

The Natural History Collection at Blackburn Museum houses a collection of over 3000 beetles, some of which are displayed in glass cabinets. They where given to the museum, after being on loan for six years, in Januaury 1914 by local man Arthur Bowdler. The beetle collection first exhibited in 1908 and shows beetles from various places all over the globe. Some of the beetles are over 100 years old and surprisingly still have bright and distinctive patterns unfaded by time. The array of species' are fascinating due to the differences in colour, texture and size.
I'd like to have a closer look at some of the more prominent, boldly coloured beetles and research designers and artists who have used a similar starting point for inspiration for their work.

Task 1 - Blackburn Museum - Social History

The Social History collection in Blackburn Museum is spread over three galleries; The Cotton Town Gallery, The Skill and Labour Gallery and Early History Gallery.

The gallery I took most intest in was the Skill and Labour Gallery that was the home to the many Thwaites glass bottles. The glass bottles caught my attention the most in the exhibition because I have a family link to Thwaites, generations of my family have worked in Thwaites Brewery such roles as security guards, draymen and working in the brew house and fitters. 

If I was to draw inspiration from the collection of bottles I would translate the cloudy glass style and embossed writing into my work and look back at the history of Thwaites. 

Task 1 - Blackburn Museum - South Asian

The woven textiles in the South Asian collection in Blackburn Museum caught my eye because of the intricate details in the charming weave and decorative embroidery. Just through the few objects show you can see the very colourful culture. Through further research I found out the textiles and art form on display was becoming rarer and rarer because the market has changed due to cheeper mass production growing in South Asia that imitating the traditional fabrics. 

I found the patterns inspiring and if I was to do I print based project I could draw influence from the pattern, however I would use a simpler colour pallet.

Task 1 - Blackburn Museum - Decorative Arts

Part of the exhibition in the Decorative Arts collection is some of the artefacts produced by Elkington and Co.

The pattern on these alluring decorative objects were created by electro-plating. Electro-plating is the process of coating a thin layer of metal upon object by using electricity. The objects were bought by Blackburn Museum in the 1870's giving a captivating look at Victorian style.

The range of objects are enchanting due to the different textures created by electro-plating. 

I'd like to have a closer look the classic Victorian patterns so, in the future I could use these objects as a starting point for a print or embroidery pattern for my work.