Slime

Working with materials that explore the body by examining volumes and ways of re-shaping the human silhouette, Bart Hess creates imagery that captures future human shapes and new body forms.
He may be using low-tech prosthetic methods for human enhancement, but his ideas for 'Slime' appear to be more tangible in their creation than many advanced systems of design application.

Caught on film - Van Beirendonck and Hess

So far, cosmetic application, with a few exceptions, is seen as a static representation caught by the camera lens or illustrated on paper.  I would like to see more 3-dimensional representations, which is why I often seek images on film.  Cosmetic discourse has to include how the body and face of the wearer acts and reacts within the applied cosmetic skin that is constructed.  It is also important to gauge the reaction of others, without their discourse as part of the journey, the understanding of the impact of the choice of visual representation made by the wearer would be limited.  I have chosen to show the work of Walter van Beirendonck and Bart Hess as way in to this dicussion, it may not have all the answers but it does highlight some of the possibilities.

LucyandBart - Field Essays Publication

Field Essays Publication (Lucyandbart) from Lucy McRae on Vimeo.

The publication Field Essays analyses how behaviour constantly shapes the ways, in which our body interacts with the world and vice versa. The absurd human enhancements of LucyandBart, which let the skin perform as an intimate interface with the material world, are presented alongside an essay by the Polish philosopher Marek Pokropski.

Human Instinct and New Animal Archetypes

Video - Bart Hess/Hunt for HighTech

I may be in danger of over indulging in the work of LucyandBart but after watching SHOWStudio's 'Make Up Your Mind' again (and again), I am struck by the sensuality of the dancers responding to the materiality of the hair. The weight, movement, warmth and I daresay the aroma of the wigs, have given the performers and performance a physical vehicle to respond to. The work of Bart Hess, particularly the recorded videos, is very much in the same vein. This time the stillness of the model allows the materials to almost have a life of their own. The sitter is only the host for these new surfaces. Listening to the creak and rustle of the materials , I sense that these exteriors are not there to offer the comfort, warmth or protection usually provided by secondary surfaces to the skin.

LucyandBart - elementary ideas with a new vision

LucyandBart.com
Lucy Macrae and Bart Hess

Discussions with S this week have forced my hand and I now have decided to invest my thoughts, images, energy in this diary. I have come to the realisation that make-up as art is an exciting point of debate for a blog. That the face should be a surface to explore, not just a surface to visually enhance for the casual eye is the remit. Finding evidence of these intrusions on the face and body will question the appropriateness of the convergence of make-up design and materials technology, and ask 'what will happen?'. The inability to anticipate end-use applications in advance is key to the dynamics of my enquiry. Anyway, who cares about the outcome, when the journey can be so delightful.

LucyandBart have appeared in my discussions with S, and by sheer coincidence we have referenced different projects but always the same artists/design duo. So here is my first posting, images that I had in my minds eye when I decided to commit to show and tell. And, thank you S.