GAIA
There is fragility under the perfect face of femininity. When cracked open, we see the uninhabited wilderness of who we are. Seeking out this wilderness will reveal that our identities are often uncharted territories, only knowing ourselves on the surface level. People can be soft and sensual, but they can also be bold and confident. Drawn from nature, for my body of work, I explore the spectrum of gender in relation to femininity, metamorphosis to who we are, and our inner ferociousness.
Femininity
For my work titled Femininity, I created a wearable art piece inspired by gender identity in comparison to orchids. The word “Orchid” comes from the Greek word testicles. I used orchids to play with gender and what femininity represents to an individual. Orchids, to me, have this unique ethereal femininity juxtaposing the origins of their names. Through this, we can unravel the question: “What is femininity? What is gender?” Femininity being wearable boots brings these concepts together and connects fashion with gender exploration.
Metamorphosis
Transformation is seen through my piece Metamorphosis. An iridescent butterfly blooming from one's chest ready to evolve and take flight. The butterfly represents personal change and growth within one's soul. It is acceptance of the past and stepping into the future. Inspired by magical girl transformation sequences as seen in anime, this piece gave me a sense of nostalgia while creating it. These shows are often advertised towards young girls and resonate deeply with them, myself included. Connecting my childhood whimsy and adoration of magical girls with my current passion for art and creating is what truly brought this piece to life. Embracing all aspects of oneself is the key to unlocking one’s future self. Metamorphosis is about growing and developing into your best self.
Feral
There is a hidden Feral side within all of us. It appears at the breaking point between anger and rage. Inspired by the emotions of raw rage and its imagery, I wanted to create a piece that symbolizes danger within beauty. A push and pull of anger breaking free from normality and expectations turning into bold confidence. Feral is a leopard's jaw open flaring her teeth, painted in vibrant colours as a way to see her emotions' intensity. From the left side of her jaw drips red reflective beads. Women are strong akin to the leopard. When choosing to be untamed, you are truly beautiful.
Mac Anne
Merging art and fashion with themes of femininity and nature is what vitalized my body of work. Femininity, Metamorphosis, and Feral are all part of my thesis: GAIA. There is fragility under the perfect face of femininity. When cracked open, we explore the wilderness of our souls, and discover who we are.Thank you so much for you time interacting and reading about my work! If you are interested in seeing my work further, check out my instagram and info card linked below.Thank you!