mul·ti·po·lar—ex·ist·ence
Premiering at New York Fashion Week and making its return to the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week, “mul·ti·po·lar—ex·ist·ence,” is inspired by the interconnectivity and the multidimensionality of the human experience. It demonstrates the capacity of the human condition and how we as people are interdependent elements whose souls become intertwined through chance and circumstance. It is a conceptual, personal, and poetic vision of what humanity was, is, and will be; it is both an homage and a criticism of the dissociation and derealization of relationships in our own lives.
“mul·ti·po·lar—ex·ist·ence” can best be summarized in just six words: soulmates will always find a way.
Look 001: Detachment
Detachment is inspired by a quote from author Albert Camus: “And never have I felt so deeply at one and the same time so detached from myself and so present in the world.” This look is meant to evoke the feelings of suffocation and apathy, with the circles on the collar of the dress surrounding the model’s face, leaving only her eyes to be seen, and the face silhouettes on the sleeves seemingly fading into nothingness, showing one’s dissociation from reality.
Look 002: Derealization
Derealization is inspired by the idea of soulmates meeting for the first and only time, introducing the face silhouettes more concretely in the sleeves and body of the jacket. The skirt is embroidered with two pieces of continuous line art, resembling faces. One face is embroidered in yellow thread, and the other in white. These faces are meant to represent two souls intersecting once and then never meeting again. The thread overlaps only once and is left intact at the end of each piece of line art, symbolizing that the two souls’ lives will continue on their own. Derealization could best be summarized with the thought of “what could have been.”
Look 003: Circularity
Circularity is based on the idea that all lives—and all souls—are somehow interconnected. It is further inspired by the implications of human selfishness: why is it that we as humans consider our own selves to be the drops in the ocean that create ripples? Perhaps, we instead exist where ripples meet or where ripples become waves. Circularity is further inspired by the artist Yayoi Kusama, who explains, “Our earth is only one polka dot among a million stars in the cosmos. Polka dots are a way to infinity.” These circles are meant to be caricatures of the polka dots that Kusama describes. Additionally, the embroidered eye motif raises the questions of whose eye is it and what are they looking at? Is the eye full of anger or sadness? Is it full of hope or kindness? Or maybe the eye is waiting for the answer, too.
Look 004: Catharsis
Catharsis acts as a visual pause in the collection, as it is arguably the most wearable and marketable look. The face silhouettes are seen in both the jacket and the pair of pants. While the silhouettes on the pants are concrete and whole, the faces on the jacket are visible only through negative space. This raises the question: “Who in our own lives are only visible through negative space?”
Look 005: Coalescence
Coalescence is a direct continuation of Circularity, inspired by the second half of the quote by Yayoi Kusama: “When we obliterate nature and our bodies with polka dots, we become part of the unity of our environment. Thus, we obliterate ourselves from our selves and realize infinity.” Coalescence could be seen as the obliteration of the polka dots from Circularity. Coalescence is further inspired by the quote: “The artist understands that destruction is part of expansion and is willing to do what’s best for the masterpiece.” We as humans must understand that destruction is part of our own expansion in the masterpiece of our lives. This look is also meant to be a moving sculpture; while many of the other looks in the collection show breadth of movement when the models walk, this look is meant to show continuous motion even when completely still, demonstrating the psychological state of “flow” in relationships with people.
Look 006: Anxiety
Anxiety is based on the painting The Scream (1893) by Edvard Munch, representing the anxiety of the human condition. This look is shaped like a giant circle, harkening back to Detachment and Circularity, with an embroidered version of The Scream surrounded by what seems to be a halo. Partnered with a hat that covers the model’s eyes and only revealing her mouth, this look is a direct contrast to Detachment. Yet, it is the model’s own hands that complete the embroidered character’s iconic pose, demonstrating that even when disillusioned with reality, one can be attached to a distorted world. The draped horsehair on the back of the outfit is meant to be a visual representation of the chaos of the mind and the anxiety of humanity itself. And as the model reaches the end of the runway, she screams while the garment, the halo around the agonized face, and the world all begin to collapse.
Look 007: Vibration
Vibration is inspired by the notion that a single encounter with another person can impact one’s life forever. Not only are the physical vibratory levels present through the hundreds of hand-cut face silhouettes on the skirt of the dress, but there is a sense of transience as the dress moves, symbolizing an individual’s fleeting action but lasting impact. At the same time, each face moves with—and in response to—the others, mirroring the ways in which we humans are collectively sharing, albeit independently from one another, the human experience. Thus, Vibration seems to juxtapose the idea that we as humans are individuals who share a collective consciousness; we are living paradoxes.
Look 008: Homeostasis
Homeostasis is defined as “the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.” This look is inspired by the hope that one may have when with their soulmate. Each circle is now white—in contrast to the black circles in Detachment—symbolizing the dichotomy of purity and maturity. Finally, these two souls that have experienced so much strife on their journey, realize equilibrium—and peace—with one another. With whimsy, Homeostasis is meant to be the release of breath at the end of the collection. As humans, aren’t we constantly yearning for a release and for balance? Truly, this look embodies the quote that best summarizes the collection as a whole: “soulmates will always find a way.”
