Bhavika Anil Awatramani

BFA Fashion Design Materiality

Title: "LIGHTS OF THE WORLD, LIKE DROPLETS OF WATER JABBED INTO AN EYE."

Updated: July 24th

It was 2017, the month of March. I remember a specific day filled with merriment and comfort. Little did I know that I would be suffering through a devastating situation a few hours after. As cliché as the start to this story may sound, it was a reality. The following morning, I woke up with an ulcer in the cornea of my right eye, almost causing it to lose its vision. To carom this uncertain and severe situation, I healed from this condition; however, a scar was left behind. This scar was not only physical but also emotional, which made me look at the world differently. For months, I could see the lights of the world like droplets of water jabbed into an eye. If one were to ask me the feeling of such a condition, I would leave a pending answer. It was something that could not be described with words.

One night, walking down the streets of New York City, the lens of my camera captured an accidental photograph, something distorted, eerily but aesthetically pleasing to myself. Looking at that photograph created a moment of realization: long exposure photography perfectly described what I once saw with my right eye, blur. This medium did not only ease the process of portraying my vision but also served as a meaningful base towards my creativity. Whether it was fashion, art, or photography, highlighting this story of mine has been a goal because I believe that every creative surface should be interlaced with something meaningful, a satisfaction, a feeling.

Hence, I have formed a thesis based on these long exposure and blur photography of lights, a series of personal takings. To produce the sensation of distortion and unclear/ obscure vision, I have experimented with weaving, screen printing, embroidery, and various other techniques.

I want to not only underline an intimate story or emotion but also motivate the viewers to find their voice through creativity.