Urban Abstractions

 Architecture is one of the most, if not the most prominent feature of our day-to-day life. Whether it be our home, a shop, the institutions in which we receive our education or the place we call work. There is not a second that goes by that it does not surround us.

‘Urban Abstractions’ endeavours to reduce these vast structures into mesmerizing composition in their own individual right. In the style of abstract paintings, these ‘abstractions’ showcase the hidden geometrical elements that shape our surroundings that we often choose to ignore.

Extreme Beauty

Can something be beautiful and ugly at the same time? Referencing Sci-Fi and the futuristic aesthetic, Extreme Beauty looks at issues of beauty and ugliness whilst also delving into the idea of gender or the genderless. By using portraiture photography, the images explore Alien Beauty as an influential trend on Instagram which challenges the traditional notions of beauty. In our contemporary society, the phenomenon of Social Media creates a sense of freedom and gives us access to an enormous range of ‘how to’ videos and influencers’ tutorials. Sophisticated makeup techniques enable the creation of an array of visual effects to showcase a new world of expression which questions our preconceptions about beauty.

Where are you going?

As a child we daydream and wander about anything and everything almost as if we live in a wonderland. These faded childhood memories linger on as we grow into adults but who is to say we cannot relive them through a single frame that symbolises the desire to be young again. This work transforms the fashion image into fantasy worlds following Alice and her journey in Wonderland, exploring narrative, literature and cinema. The chronology of Alice in Wonderland is shown in this series of images and the distorted fisheye perspective is used to resemble Alice falling down the rabbit hole. The display of the series represents Alice shrinking and growing with different sized prints that transport you into wonderland.

Tension

Shibari or Kinbaku is the act of sexual bondage with control and restraint; coming from a Japanese torture martial art Hojojustu, the art of knot tying was used for prisioners during the Edo Period. Further development of Shibari became associations with erotica and BDSM. Tension explores the experience and aesthetic presentation of Shibari displays. With practice, I was able to produce Shibari like Munenawa and Gote Shibari; using techniques like Somerville bowline, square-friction and Munter Hitch knots. Some of these feel supportive and others uncomfortably restrictive verging on claustrophobic. The expectation of BDSM/erocitca is subverted with the collaboration of mother and daughter. My Mother helped with the intricate knots on my body as well as the direction.