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NOTHING IS STATIC

Clothing is a language we use to express our voice and our identity.

I find that when i do want to reveal, to take up space , to express myself: It can be frightening.

My project invites us to reveal and conceal ourselves as we please.

To practice projecting our emotional vulnerability into the world, while making sure we feel physically protected at the same time.

I want to create a garment that accompanies the voice and the identity of the body it’s servicing. a garment that emotes and communicates.

To do this, i need to reject the idea that a garment can only project a single message at all times.

As human beings, our emotions are elusive, volatile and fleeting – As Rick Rubin states in his book, “we experience constant fluctuations in our moods, thoughts and unconscious processes”. No one is the same person all day…

Species with Chromatophores can change the color of their skin to emote themselves.

What if we, too, could use our second skin to translate these constant changes that we experience?

Video / Movie final project

Gallery

2024 by Mina Mayo Smith

Presentation

final presentation by Mina Mayo Smith

Thesis PDF

NOTHING IS STATIC: PROCESS + INSPIRATION by Mina Mayo Smith

Acknowledgements

I'm grateful to this course, Troy and Cecilia, my mentors, whose encouragement and advice helped propel me forward in my project, and especially to my instructor and friend, Rico, who accompanied me throughout the entire process - Not only during my 3-month stay in Kamakura, where I spent the majority of my time in his lab with Mr.Einstein, Rico's corgi, but also (during the last-three months while I was working on my final project in Chiang Mai) virtually, answering all my questions with precision, prompt, and enthusiasm. Rico went above and beyond with his instructor duties, organizing zoom meetings with his friends, such as Kurumi Shiowaki, who not only carried out a lecture on TouchDesigner during her free time, but also played a large role as my guru during my journey of learning TouchDesigner. Rico's trust in my abilities allowed me to produce a project that I am extremely proud of, but also throughout the process, inspired confidence in me and a sense of accomplishment for every new skill I've gained throughout this course. I'm beyond grateful for my instructors and mentors.