Duplicitous lives

2020-olivia-rubens-fashion
technical description

Blue, white and shocking pink sleeveless recycled plastic chainmail crop top and mini skirt with knitted waistline rib, a wool section with synthetic fur and chained eyelid detailing. Worn with a knitted recycled and up-cycled patchwork wool asymmetrical top featuring a plastic corseted closure, cable knit panel, metal inserts and a pair of pink cotton knitted and perforated leggings.

Size 1250x850x350mm, 4200 gr., 2020.

concept

Olivia explores what it means to be a woman, forced to construct herself to become who she is or who she thinks she is. It questions women's “true” selves, sameness, and their perception of others, while humorously points towards the masks they wear to conceal their identities. She references performance artists and photographers like Cindy Sherman, Juno Calypso, Nadia Lee Cohen, Laurie Simmons, and Martin Parr. She created her own Cindy Sherman style photo shoot, turning her performance into the outfits of her collection. Through sustainable knitwear design and social justice initiatives, Olivia stands for embracing our differences, and battling the injustices of bullying and prejudice.

tags
Art, Cindy Sherman, Identity, Juno Calypso, Laurie Simmons, Martin Parr, Nadia Lee Cohen, Social Justice, Sustainability, Womanhood