WORLD OF WEARABLE ARTS
'A Peeling Misconception'
Wood, Fibreglass, polystyrene
Finalist for World of Wearable Arts 2022
2nd Monochromatic Category Prize
Maintaining the dedication to pushing the boundaries between conceptualism and post-pop art through his ceramic sculptures with playful elements as an important part of his oeuvre, the English-born New Zealand artist Oliver Cain challenges the focus on his ceramic practice by venturing into the world of wearable arts with the piece A Peeling Misconception.
Carefully working to preserve his artistic identity and the stories he tells, Cain has created a masterpiece that is a pure reflection of his practice and his characteristic approach. Trusting the recurrent element of the banana form, he reinvents it into a complete wearable piece of art. Strongly referencing his ceramic practice and as an extension of it, the playful, whimsical and light-hearted dress created with wood, fibreglass and polystyrene, has the intention of openly questioning and confronting social constructs. The materials were chosen to resemble the fragility of ceramics, their delicacy and the fineness of porcelain to create the illusion of bringing to life a china doll, as the dress itself is solid and sits perfectly on the model, who gives life to it through movement. As much as a stand-alone sculpture, it is given life when worn and presented in a different light.
As a proud member of the queer community, Cain’s art aims to examine, question and criticise the relationships between gender, (homo) sexuality and societies’ misconceptions about those themes, and this masterpiece could not be less. Using the idea of the banana as a representation of still life that is able to bruise, decay, and be covered in skin, with poignant links to the erotic imagination and the phallic shape of this well-known fruit, A Peeling Misconception is a statement of queer identity, without forgetting the deep universe it represents, encompassing any worldly interpretation.
Thanks to the chosen shape, which resembles a huge peeling banana with smaller bananas coming out of the body of the dress, the model seems to burst out of it, having been peeled back from within like one does when eating this fruit, representing a revelation; a breakthrough; a liberation. It is a frozen snapshot of the stage of flowering, depicting the coming out process of queer individuals. Having been created without a gender target in mind, this dress can be worn by anyone. For the story it tells and the personal meaning and the emotional consideration the artist gives to it, Cain has chosen a male model to wear the dress during the show. A Peeling Misconception comes alive on the occasion of the exhibition World of WearableArt.
- Adrian Gomis Exposito
'Hope'
Fabric,19,000 Deconstructed Daffodil Pins
Finalist for World of Wearable Arts 2023
As an artist, I am deeply influenced by my personal experiences and the emotions they evoke within me. A significant event in my life was having grandparents battle cancer and eventually pass away from this terrible indiscriminative disease. I’ve also witnessed friends and other social acquaintances battle with cancer. Their strength and resilience in the face of such adversity inspired me to create something that would honour their fight, resilience and memory and raise awareness in the battle against cancer.
When corresponding with the Cancer Society I mentioned that I wanted to enter WOW this year and they showed me previous examples of wearable art made by art students with their daffodil pins. This got me thinking and led me to create a wearable arts outfit made entirely from recycled daffodil pins. The Cancer Society no longer uses fabric pins and have now moved on to paper. So they have an abundance of fabric daffodil pins that were not going to be used.
This outfit was a labour of love and consists of 19,000 recycled daffodil pins donated by the cancer society and months of work. Each pin was deconstructed and then the two parts of fabric sewn together to make long strands of yellow daffodil ribbon. These were then cut to lengths and sewn onto painters overalls. It was a cathartic experience for me, arranging each strand of daffodils to create a powerful message. The process of designing and creating this outfit was a deeply personal one, as each daffodil represents hope of each individual who does and will battle with cancer.
“When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud – William Wordsworth
This wearable artwork is more than just a tribute to those affected by cancer. By using recycled materials, I aim to draw attention to the importance of sustainability and environmental stewardship. In a world where resources are increasingly scarce, we must find creative ways to repurpose and reuse materials in order to minimize waste and preserve our planet for future generations. Also using recycled daffodil pins, I am making a statement about the importance of hope, resilience, and the power of community. This wearable artwork is a unique representation of the emotions and experiences that have shaped me as an artist and a person.
Ultimately, my work is a tribute to my grandparents and the countless others who have been affected by cancer. It is a reminder to always hold onto hope, to never give up, and to find beauty in even the most challenging of circumstances.
