GRADUATION COLLECTION
About multiple identities, we are all wearing mask
As individuals, we play different roles on different occasions. In family, we are sons and daughters, in school, we are students, in a romantic relationship we are someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend. Each identity is modeled by the people who surround us and the circumstances. We are carrying so many identities with us.
I have seen a film before that impressed me deeply. The main character in the film is an actor, but he doesn’t need to stand in front of the lens or curtain to perform in front of the public like other actors. He plays different roles in daily life. He takes his life as a play. He is the protagonist of every scene. He will play the CEO of a company, the lackey in the gang, and the restaurant owner, changing different roles every moment. But in this process, he gradually lost his original self and was immersed in the role he created. Throw away all the additional identities, he will only be an actor at the end. Sometimes multiple identities will give us a strong sense of belonging and stimulation in different groups, but we don't know whether it will become a burden. Where we ultimately belong and what identity we choose to live in are the results of step-by-step exploration.
The conflict and collision between multiple identities will generate self-doubt and lead to more thinking. This point can be related to the topic of multiculturalism. When we define ourselves, which identity is superior to others, and which group we will choose to belong to in the collision of different identities. Multiculturalism is the product of a specific era and reflects the great changes in society, including family, marriage, religion, race, and other fields. Multiculturalism advocates equal treatment for all groups, especially vulnerable minorities. When we define ourselves, will we take the initiative to classify ourselves as a minority, and whether all people have the courage to certify their identity?
The growing self-doubting and hesitation between different identities are the most important thing I want to have my attention on. Identities are like our second skin, or like clothes that we keep taking off and wearing on. As this being said, the idea of undressing and the motions when we get into a piece of clothing become my inspiration on the silhouette. Struggling and hesitating create contracts, then contrasts initiate a series of splitting. I was really inspired by Paris-based artist Damien Blottiere, his work contains a lot of exciting collages and playful layering effects. The distortion of body and limbs informs me about the self-doubting emotions in my concept.
We find ourselves in constant self-doubt and remodeling. All the energy bursts out from within. The process of finding ourselves needs stimulation and expression. Protests, as an important form of activism, can enhance the sense of belonging of the group and help each individual better accept and recognize his/her own identity.
In this collection, I want to explore the balance between assimilation and being the true self. In refusing assimilation, people will unconsciously label themselves with countless labels to prove their individuality, but on the contrary, we are restricted. We don't need to be defined by anyone, we don't need to have an excessive identity, we are just ourselves.