Tianyun Lan
Self/Identity
Class of: 2025
Major: Fashion Design BFA
Medium: Multimedia: paper, plastic, paint
Faculty: Aviva Maya Shulem
Prompt: Inspired by an introductory collage made for Seminar class, introduce your fashion style and identity to your classmates by making a wearable object. Showing your own unique personal style is a great way to tell the world something about you without having to say a word.
I wanted to create something that shows who I am and what I stand for, whether it’s fashion style or other values. The reason I chose to create a mask is that historically, besides religious uses, masks are used to either play a role or distance oneself from a certain group of people. When I was brainstorming ideas for communities to relate to, I thought for a long time and figured that I don’t necessarily consider myself being actively involved in a certain community. I feel the most comfortable just being myself without any labels or connections to any community. As for identity, fashion is my biggest passion and priority, I am also an advocate for environmental sustainability. Those are my top values now and how I would introduce myself to people. Therefore, the mask I created has buttons and a safety pin, objects that represent my passion for fashion design. All the materials I used are found in my apartment as well as packaging supplies found in mailboxes. Nothing new was purchased in the making of this mask and I believe the objects I already own are a good reflection of who I am.