Arts Thread

Menstruation is a beautiful and natural process that symbolises the beginning of sexual maturity in every adolescent girl’s life. However, in Indonesia, adolescent girls face a unique challenge - the lack of proper knowledge and awareness about menstruation that leads to unpreparedness on the onset of menarche. If this problem keeps occurring, it could compromise the adolescent girl’s future abilities to manage their reproductive health. Diari Dara, is a community for pre-menarcheal and menarcheal adolescent girls in Indonesia. Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment for young women to commemorate their first menstruation and learn about feminine hygiene through engaging and fun activities. We believe that by equipping young girls with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their reproductive health, we can empower them to take charge of their bodies and their futures. We recognise that menstruation is still considered taboo in Indonesia, but we believe that it is important to break the silence and create a space where adolescent girls can openly discuss their experiences and concerns with their loved ones. We want to celebrate this milestone with you in a shroud of secrecy and intimacy, as we understand how personal and meaningful this moment is to our fellow Dara. This project was created collaboratively along with my peers (Alicia, Theo, and Erfa) for our final year BA (Hons) Design Practice project at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

Our deepest sense of connection begins before we're even born. In our mother's womb, we experience a profound intimacy with the natural world. Surrounded by low vibrations and soft light, we are organically connected to our environment. The human body is a complex system. It's comprised of physical components like brain waves, bones, skin, and muscles, as well as a living aspect – the mind, soul, and the force that drives our choices. While the physical body experiences sensations through touch and movement, the living body is a dynamic entity, constantly exchanging energy with itself and others. My artistic vision explores the connection between a dancer's physical experience and the expression of deep-rooted intimacy (with herself). Through experimental knit samples, I aim to translate this connection. My research explores my own body, the unusual art forms and the freedom of movement found in various dance styles. Ultimately, my goal is to be original, highly experimental, and push my own creative boundaries. Throughout this process, it's crucial to empathise with the dancer, understanding their experience "by stepping into her shoes.. and her body"

The most fascinating concept of a leaf beetle is its spectacularly bizarre shape; an oval-shaped bug and often possess a metallic lustre dome. This conspicuously tiny coloured bug has inspired me to define the concept of warped beauty for Autumn/Winter Womenswear 2021, Diploma in Fashion Design final year collection. Through my conception, the main interest of the collection is the outsized silhouettes with deformed details; the four-sleeved top and extra armhole on gathered dress. By providing peculiar designs with a playful injection of colours, this collection is expressing my most eccentric pieces to redefine the sense of beauty in this rapid-evolving world.

DFS2123 – Fashion Branding and Marketing To fulfil my Fashion Branding and Marketing elective module assignment during the second year of Diploma in Fashion Design, I created a quirky and vibrant womenswear line named Moth. Moth was derived from the night butterfly that possesses a strange habit of being attracted to the bright light. My objective is to transcend every woman beyond their horizons by providing eclectic and free-spirited designs, and empowering them to have fun with their wardrobes. The whole visuals including editorials, collaterals, and colour palettes were derived from Acne Studios, Proenza Schouler, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Mara Hoffman, and Prabal Gurung.

Diploma Year 2 Semester 1, Spring/Summer 2020 Collection for DFS2120 – Design Studio 2A module. This collection is derived from the Batak Tribe in North Sumatera, featuring my fabric dye experiments on 100% cotton and surface manipulation on draping exploration.

Picked up from the abstract-expressionism artist, Mark Rothko, the aim is to translate his emotional state through the bulbous-shaped garments. The collection is intended to fulfil the assignment of DFS2220 – Design Studio 2B module during semester 2 in the second year of my diploma.