Nominated for the Manifestations Young Talent Award 2019
dirk vaessen:
With my collection Brave Hendrik I address the stereotypical image of man and offer a new freedom for male identity. At birth you are placed in the box of gender identity and based on this box the first choices are made for you, pink or blue, Cinderella or Superman, short or long hair. In short, gender identity determines which values and norms society sets for you. With my collection I want to move beyond this characterisation in society and invite people to be brave and to embrace the freedom to show as many sides of themselves as possible. I believe people can have a much more fluid character than merely being categorised as male or female. My designs allow people to explore who or what they can be, and this takes courage.
All my designs are based on a 2D silhouettes, to then literally blow up this into a 3D form, this allows me to play with the transformation of 2D/3D. The sealing technique ensures an airtight shape and gives strength to the form. For the foot pieces I used patent leather, and used glue as a connection to make the airtight connection so the work gives shape. With the gloves it is human hand that creates volume and plays with form by wearing the pieces.
The colours of my collection determine and evoke different associations. The shoulder pieces are made of a transparent PVC that creates an optical distortion of the body. In keeping with the change of form and the monumental nature of the head pieces. To emphasize the theatrical aspect of my accessories I use monumental forms. My accessories have distinct silhouettes and are intended as showpieces that can be used in dance performances, operas, performances, fashion shows or in the nightlife.
Through my internship at RAVAGE, I had the opportunity to step into a world created by Clemens Rameckers and Arnold van Geuns. This inspired me to create my own world and progress with my thinking and design to work and provoke more with the changing stereotypes.