OLIVIA AUDSLEY - ADAD 1002 // UNSWAD 2016

Instinctual Fight

Resin, Lace, PVC Tubing

Olivia Audsley z5115771

Research Question: 5. Contemporary art and design often looks at the idea of constructed binaries, such as man/woman, soft/hard, straight/gay, dirty/clean, organic/synthetic. Considering the history of these ‘pairs’, how can art and design interrogate these binaries and offers new insights?

‘Instinctual Fight’, a wearable art piece that questions the ‘Fight or Flight’ response, contrasts the two binaries of ‘fighting’ through the obstacle, or fleeing, ‘Flight’. The ‘Fight or Flight’ response is present in not only humans, animals too. The response is a physical reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event. –("The fight or flight response: Our body's response to stress - Young Diggers", 2016) For my major work for Assessment 2 I have constructed a set of arm shields, to protect the wearer against threat. The materials of the strong PVC tube and the delicate lace represent the two binary responses of the ‘Fight or Flight’ response. To wear my work ‘Instinctual Fight’ one will question their usual instinct, and have the confidence to use both ‘Fight’ or ‘Flight’ to response to a threat… The pairing of the two binaries allow for the wearer to see both the ‘Fight’ or the ‘Flight’ response in an advantage in the face of a threat.

As I have interrogated the binaries of ‘Fight’ or ‘Flight’ in my work, I offer a new insight of how one can respond to a harmful event. Personally, when I think of the option to fight, aggression and violence quickly follows, a relationship I wanted to subvert through my work. I believe I have done this successfully through the integration of materials as I have constructed a set of armour that helps the wearer to both ‘Fight’ or ‘Flight’, with the use of lace and resin. Those who usually stay to fight now can realise that to flee, to take a break, to remove themselves from the situation could clear one’s head, allowing for a better understanding of the situation as time is allowed for reflection. Similarly, those who usually flee a harmful or stressful situation can now understand the importance of ‘fight’, to stay put in the face of a stressful situation. This could see one standing up for their beliefs, and standing their ground.

As I wanted my work to communicate a relationship between the binaries of the ‘Fight or Flight’ response I decided to create armour that will assist the wearer, regardless of their response to the threat. This decision was also influenced by my initial research on the instinct of the ‘Fight or Flight’ response, as through mind-mapping I related both responses as providing protection. I worked through a number of experiments through the process of my major work. The experiments were based of the initial research I conducted around the history of armour and the traditional materials and methods used. I work in steps, making sure that other options are explored before settling on one idea. This is evident through my numerous experiments to find the right material to create my shield. The different methods of my experiment to construct the shield were inspired by the history of the armour, as I researched how the material of the armour was modified from the iron links of chainmail by the Celts, to the leather sheets used in pre Qin-dynasty China. The choice to use fibre-glass resin, PVC tubing and lace, also allows me to communicate the ongoing modification of armour, as the material is always changed due to the needs of the armour, its functions and technological advances, not only the advances in protection wear, but also the advances of weaponry.

The delicate fibres of the lace, and its lightweight property represent the ‘Flight’ response. The hard plastic and resin represents the strength needed in the ‘Fight’ response. As both the lace and resin are used to create the arm shield, I communicate that both responses require strength. I wanted to subvert the assumed weakness attach to the idea of ‘Flight’, as I believe removing oneself from threat, if its either for protection or reflection takes strength. The wing of my work, strongly represents the ‘Flight’ response. I decided to include it in my major work to contrast the shield. The binary of a hard, tight fitting piece, with the loose flowing shape of the wing, helps me further communicate the binary of the ‘Fight’ or ‘Flight’ response.

Through my major work “Instinctual Fight”, I communicate the binary of the ‘Fight or Flight’ response. Through the contrasting of delicate lace with the hardness of plastic and resin, I subvert the perceived meanings of each response. Through the integration of materials to create an arm shield, an art piece that offers a new insight in how one can act in the face of a threat. When wearing my work, one response is not the correct response, rather both the ‘Fight’ response and the ‘Flight’ response can be used together as an advantage.

   Bibliography:

A Brief History of Armour. (2016). Artofchainmail.com. Retrieved 20 September 2016, from http://www.artofchainmail.com/history.html

Farris, W. (1998). Sacred Texts and Buried Treasure.

HISTORY OF ARMS AND ARMOUR. (2016). Historyworld.net. Retrieved 10 September 2016, from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa89

How Fear Works. (2005). HowStuffWorks. Retrieved 8 September 2016, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/fear2.htm

International, A. (2016). Medieval Armour. Medievalwarfare.info. Retrieved 10 September 2016, from http://www.medievalwarfare.info/armour.htm

Middle Ages :: Armour. (2016). Themiddleages.net. Retrieved 20 September 2016, from http://www.themiddleages.net/armor.html

Android Arms

Can be purchased at:  http://chromat.co/collections/cages/products/android-arms?utm_campaign=Pinterest%20Buy%20Button&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Pinterest&utm_content=pinterest-buy-button-01446a84d-bea9-4b40-b43c-9c1c35eb9cc0

“Inspired by scaffolding and robotic appendages, the Chromat Android Arms add an expressive layer of linear armor to the arms, shielding the fashionable from the grotesquely banal. The Android Arms are made of corset boning and satin elastic.” 

Jean-Paul Gaultier: Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture A/W 2009/10Photo by Pascal Le Segretain on Getty Images

The contrast of the hard bodice with the lightweight material of the dress, makes the viewer question the function of this garment- would someone wear this to battle or to a fancy dinner? This dress evokes the viewer to image the model is to wear the dress to an event that consisted of both, fighting and fine dinning.