New semester that fills with new faces. Why not start off with atypical ice breaking session coming from a bunch of architect students? Before designing spaces for outsiders, our first Studio I project kicks off with an individual assignment of creating a mask that defines ourselves. As to understand others and fulfilling their design needs, we should first understand our own needs.
Who am I? Well to summarize everything, my name is Phua Jing Sern, or J-Sern for short. I'm that type of person who likes to understand and engage on who you are and to know your stories, but in contrast I wouldn't want to share my own life secrets, unless you dare ask. Both a extrovert and a introvert; like a private extrovert, an ambivert. Still following me? Nice.
Inspired by the definition of a wallflower as a noun [who sees everything and knows everything, but does not say a word], I believe that term suits me very well which eventually my mask is named after that. To Bring out the concept into art, I would like to express a item which protrudes outwards as to engage someone, also a face which is hidden from the public, but vulnerable for secrets to be exposed with just a simple initiative like opening a curtain. Also with the use of contrasting colours of black and white as to represent private and open
After using straighten metal wire to act as the structure skeleton with fabric to covered as skin, and 20 pairs of black BATA shoelaces to create a loose wall, I present: The Wondering Wallflower.
A few challenges came while assembling this mask, one that gave me a hard time is the weight of the combined wire strings depressed the structure, making it hard to balance on my head. So to overcome it I did a small support structure that sits nicely on my shoulder so the whole mask rests firmly as a walk around.
In the end after submission, it turned out way better than I've expected with awesome results and to see all the different masks presented by my course mates. This truly helps to understand our own needs of design, and a step forward of understanding the needs of others.
