Paper Cuts

After looking at so much make up and make up application this week, it has been a pleasure to find the work of Hector Sos who has developed a series of images titled 'Swatch Book Creator'. These immediately bring to mind the more crafted aspects of the design process and elicit a response that negates the now ubiquitous image of glamorized, sexualized female beauty - images of the healthy and exposed body, made-up face, direct and inviting expression.

I recently came across the term 'Design and Emotion', and it immediately struck me that if any design project that I embarked upon were to be successful then I would need to incorporate emotion into the process and outcome. Reading the essay 'Emotion & Design: Attractive things work better' by Don Norman I have begun to ruminate on whether "attractive things work better," and will the design approach I am taking enable me to understand how we use use cosmetics to foster identity. Is this problem centred design or am I just making pretty pictures?

Human Collage

'Human Collage' is an exciting example of creative fashion photography.

Based in Berlin, Studio Straulino has developed a series of works that focuses on make up and capturing the creative

moment of applying materials to the face and body.

It takes time and effort to look this beautiful

For Rodarte's Spring/Summer 2010 Runway show in New York, MAC Cosmetics Senior Artist Chantel Miller, in collaboration with Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, designed full-sleeve, half sleeve and neck tattoos painted on by hand, using MAC cosmetics and brushes. It took 40 artists and 4 hours to prepare and accomplish the look on the models before the show.

Tribal-Like Illustrations

This tribal mask-like series illustrated by Indian-born Illustrator Nina Chakrabarti is a direct way of re imagining the face. The series below was made for the US/Seattle based magazine, I Want You. It is a way of re-informing the ideas I have surrounding scarification - more literal but still engaging.

Wode

Wode is the first ever visible fragrance by Boudicca. It comes in a graffiti spray can and its color is cobalt blue. At first it will turn your skin and clothing blue, but it will disappear after some time. This version is called Wode Paint, there is also a normal one, Wode Scent, for those who don’t trust it.

Chanel Liquidated

“Chanel Liquidated” is one of Zevs, a French street artist, most famous pieces. It is not only a mural, he also does it as a live performance. This is his new google-style website.

Erased Classic is a collection of carpets by Jan Kath. They are based on classic patterns from Italian wall coverings and Indian saris. The carpets are produced by weavers at manufacturing sites in Kathmandu. But their final look is caused by acid, which makes the patterns fade and disappear. The customer cannot only define the color, materials, size, knot density, and design, but also the degree of erosion.

While this isn't directly linked to cosmetic ideals it does allow me to consider the possibility of recreating this concept on the face and body - plus the ability to deliberately contrive make-up so that it dissolves or 'wears' on the face thereby allowing a contrived faded 'glamour' or alternate image to appear over time.

Perhaps the 'thing' I am seeking is change, as opposed to freezing an image in time and space through creating an idealized form and then recording it through photography. Many of my recent posts seem to be looking at how to define change through surface materials/cosmetics, also how the the response to the visual impressions illicits change in the viewer.