Wearable Technology

Wearable Technology is forever changing and developing. This is having an amazing effect on the types of fabric's which are being developed. I've always found this subject very interesting as I love textiles and how they are becoming more contemporary, developing into smart fabrics to have multiple uses. Such as in Military textile research into interactive camouflage or textiles that can heal wounded soldiers. Also these smart textiles are being used throughout the fashion and design world. Such as second skins which can adapt to the environment and to the individual. The quote below is from the book 'Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture' by Joanna Berzowska.

'Fashion, health, and telecommunication industries are also pursuing the vision of clothing that can express aspects of people's personalities, needs, and desires or augment social dynamics through the use and display of aggregate social information'

I find it very interesting that technology is inspiring and helping create intelligent fabric to be used for so many uses. For example, Designer Andrew Schneider has created a solar bikini that overlays the basic swimsuit with narrow strips of photovoltaic film sewn on with conductive thread. The bikini then produces a five volt output that, which helps to attach a USB connector, which then can recharge gadgets like the iPod. Barbara Layne created these jackets which actually are fitted with sensors and LEDS which when two people wearing the garments hold hands, the sensors pick up the connection and create text messages onto one jacket which then scrolls across to the other.

I think developments like this are very impressive, but I am always concerned with the aesthetics of creations like this, in everyday life I don't think many people would really choose to wear them.

Time Based Art

Whenever I think of time in art I always think of Dali's Persistence of time. I love how symbolic of time this piece and the fact time is in affect, melting away, and although visually this painting has a very powerful message, Time based art can also present this but through a more contemporary medium.


The Term Time based art was first introduced by UK video art pioneer David Hall in 1972, he used to describe to identify moving image and sound work by visual artists. I then found this definition of what time based art is:

'Time based art: art works that are sequenced through time, that change as we view them, and that may be ephemeral (eg video, kinetic sculpture, performance works)'

After looking at this definition of time based art i have mainly found out it relates to multimedia art, such as films, or photography. I believe the whole idea of time based art is that the viewer can really interact with there surroundings, they can experience exactly what the artist has create through so many different ways, Installations can have a powerful affect on there viewer, they help the viewer to involve themselves with the artwork, through sound and sight. I also believe that to experience this type of art is very situational. It depends where you will witness it to have the complete effect, for example in a gallery setting.


All art is time based, it is there innately, whether or not the main concept is based on it, its still present. In my previous blog I looked at land Artists, these are all time based. There work is only there for a certain period of time time due to where it is located and the effect the environment has on it, over time the artwork will become decayed etc and the only evidence available will be photographs and films. For example, Andy Goldsworthy's work is ephemeral.


Also the spiral jetty by Robert Smithson. The whole idea that the viewer interact with this piece of artwork by working around it, or seeing it from an overview. I believe the whole idea of time based art is that the viewer can interact with an art piece, and I find that concept very interesting.

Guerrilla Art

Guerrilla Art, or Street Art is any art developed in public places, Such as Graffiti, street posters etc. I believe street art acts as a good platform in which opinions, or views on particular subjects by a particular person can be shared with the public.

I am a big fan of Banksy's work. His artworks are often satirical pieces of art on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics.

I took this photo of Banksy's work when I went to Bristol, I was so excited to see this in real life!

I also associate graffiti with gang culture, 'street tags' Gangs marking there territory. I am also drawn to the colours in Street art, I love how vivid and bright and the shear scale of them. Below is a photograph i took on behalf of a friend. Here you can see I was very much inspired by the whole idea of Graffiti and Gang Culture from a Fashion point of view.

Land Art / Earth Art / Environmental Art

This type of Land artwork started in the late 1960's, early 1970's in America. Inspired by Natural processes, it was a backlash reaction to the commercialisation of art, such as Warhol's pop art. I love the idea that land art is very time based, and decays over time, only recorded through videos and photographs for future reference


I also found that Ancient artworks such as the Cerne Giant have been made a permanent feature into the landscape, by being re-chalked every 25 years so future generations can see this ancient creation.

Although i find this ancient earthworks fascinating. I am more inclined to look at more contemporary land artists as i have always been interested in more contemporary views of this type of art work. I've always admired Andy Goldworthy's work, since coming across his work in Art in school. I love how he uses such natural objects from the his surrounding space and how he is inspired from the space in which he houses his sculptures.



I was also Fascinated by James Turrell's work. Most of his works usually enclose the viewer in order to control their perception of light. Turrell experiments with manipulating space and uses unnatural and natural light to create illusions.

I was also interested in Walter de Maria's 'lighting fields', I love how, by using 400 metal poles over an area of 1 mile, all at the same level in a very high lightening area, has been able to bring the earth and the sky together.

Body Modification and Body Art

There are many types of Body Modification, such as scarification and tattoos, the first body type of modification i think of is that of piercings. I've never been a fan of this type Body modification. Although i do have my belly- button and ears pierced, i think it was just a way of being different, making a stand? rebelling? My sister is into it in a very big way, she was 15 when she had her first piercing, she says its kind of addictive. Having more than 15 on her face and ears, i wonder why it is appealing to have small bits of metal embedded in your body.

In order to help me define what body modification is, i found this definition from wikipedia.

'Body modification (or body alteration) is the permanent or semi-permanent deliberate altering of the human body for non-medical reasons, such as: sexual enhancement; a rite of passage; aesthetic reasons; denoting affiliation, trust and loyalty; religious reasons; mystical affiliations; shock value; and self-expression. It can range from the socially acceptable decoration (e.g., pierced ears in many societies) to the religiously mandated (e.g., circumcision in a number of cultures), and everywhere in between'.

Body modification, if seen as an art, is looked upon for it aesthetic appeal, just like a painting or textile art. Maybe it more of a wearable art, in a direct response to your body, if your into that sort of thing of course.




Whilst researching Body modification, i came across this website (www.thehumanmarvels.com) It presents eccentric human beings that have completely modified and changed themselves. I think its really quite odd, especially this guy in the image below. In my opinion, he looks like something from a horror film.

Body Extensions and Rebecca Horn

The above video shows artist Rebecca Horn, walking up and down a room, with man- made fingers. At first, I thought this was quite strange and didn't really understand what the purpose of this video was. I was more interested that the shadow she was creating made her have a tree like shape. She is in fact, interacting with the space around her. Having contact with her surroundings through extending her body. 'Finger Gloves' is a performance piece, Her extended finger are worn like gloves, but the finger form extends with balsa wood and cloth. By being able to see what she was touching and the way in which she was touching it, it felt as if her fingers were extended and in her mind the illusion was created that she was actually touching what the extensions were touching.
Rebecca Horn, a German artist is in fact famous for her body modification art.

Her notable works include:

'Pencil Mask' is another body extension piece, made up of six straps running horizontally and three straps running vertically. Where the straps intersect a pencil has been attached. When moving her face back and forth on a nearby wall the pencil marks that are made correspond directly with her movements. Showing her interaction between her body, the pencil and the space in which she is creating these marks.

Another piece that involves the sense of feeling and one’s hand is 'Feather Fingers.' (1972). A feather is attached to each finger with a metal ring. Horn wanted to create a feeling as symmetrical (and as sensitive) as a bird’s wing”.

These Body extensions are a form of body modification. throughout society it is now a common thing for this to be happening. Such as, Plastic surgery, Prosthetics, Earrings etc. I feel it is in our human nature to want to change something about yourself , seeing as nowadays changing your body and how you look is so readily available. I believe extensions, especially in health speaking terms, can help improve someones way of living, that being a prosthetic leg to a hearing aid.

Extensions to the body, especially mechanical can be very beneficial to a person. After looking at cyborg, an organism that has both artificial and natural systems. It houses the question of differencing between the relationship of human and machine, Maybe a kind of super human? invincible.



The above video is that of Bjork, created by Chris Cunningham. I found this video particularly haunting. The fact that it shows the relationship between man and machine.
More recently, i've come across the new invention of the most realistic looking robot, take a look at the link from BBC news below.

Lecture 1: Tapestries

This first lecture was based on Tapestries, their symbolism and how the viewer will interact with this piece of art.

Tapestry, throughout time, has had, and still does, have a widespread popularity due to it decorative appeal, strength, Versatility and overall of it being a durable textile, lasting for over centuries at times. The Greeks regarded Tapestry as an important element of interior decoration, also a status symbol of affluence and importance.

Tapestries are satirical and can be representative of all kinds of subjects, that being religion or myths etc. Used in many ways, Tapestries can have a powerful meaning such as a narrative content. Allegories are very common in Tapestries.

Symbolism play an important role in Tapestries. Each figurative image represents something powerful. A common symbolic representation used was the senses or love.

Medieval allegories almost have the personification of an abstract like quality. Churches used Tapestries to describe biblical events, although its primary purpose was that of decoration. Alot of the symbolist theories that are related to alot of tapestries through time have been lost, meaning some of the greatest allegories revealment shall never be known.

The most famous Tapestry, which actually in an embroidery is the Bayeux Tapestry. I've always had a great interest in the Bayeux Tapestries since learning about it in GSCE history. Based on the Norman Conquest in 1066, it acts as a narrative depicting the overall events of this historic battle. Below is a section of the 230 feet long Tapestry.

It is said that Bishop Odo ordered the Tapestry to be created, whom that was, is unknown. I like to believe it was made as a record for future generations to have understood the battle between Harold of England and William of Normandy in the Battle of Hastings.

As part of research into looking at Medieval Tapestry, I've researched into the myths and symbolism of the unicorn Tapestries, after finding a book in the Library, 'the Oak King, the Holly King and the unicorn, by John Williamson' It looks at Christian iconography in the Unicorn Tapestries, which are all based on animal and plant imagery in order to present the symbolic meaning of the hunt and slaying of a unicorn.

The interesting thing about medival Tapestries is the space, the whole idea of the viewer having to interact and move around with the tapestries to see different elements, helps to understand the story.