The Power of Words

Words are powerful as they represent many things – emotions, subjects and thoughts. Through just one word, endless meanings and interpretations can unfold.

Dictionary definition of the word, “word”:

Research on the Power of Words:

• From this article, I have learnt that we forget the importance of words. For example, being mean to someone can have a detrimental affect on one’s mental health and that is down to the power of the bully’s words. Or, for example, the main reason that world leaders become powerful is down to the way they communicate with words.

• Words are a central focus in human life.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/contributors/donalee-markus-phd

Starter: Word mind map –

Chosen words to pay attention to:

• Fingerprint – an impression or mark made on a surface by a person’s fingertip, able to be used for identifying individuals from the unique pattern of whorls and lines on the fingertips.

• Disfigure – spoil the appearance of.

• Cybernetic – the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.

• Metamorphosis – a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.

• Eruption – an act or instance of erupting.

• Reflection – 1. the image of something in a mirror or on any reflective surface. 2. the return of light, heat, sound, or energy from a surface. 3. serious and careful thought.

• Epiphany – 1. the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12). 2. a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.

Chosen word…

CYBERNETIC

• Out of all the words, I am mostly drawn to the word “cybernetic”, as it relates to modern world and I have an interest in the combination of the natural world and the man made. Can nature and technology come together to create an even greater force or can opposites not fuse?

^(a collage that I created which depicts the fuse of technology and nature)

Technology:

• Technology is a modern invention that has created a whole new world – it has enabled us to evolve as human beings through intelligence and life expectancy.
• The invention has both pros and cons. A pro being we can easily find where to go on Google Maps without having to spend hours staring at a map, or can easily call for help when we are desperately in need. The list continues…
• However, there are cons to technology, one being the fact that it can make us lazy staring at our phone screens for hours on end or how technology provides us with deadlier weapons that can end the lives of billions of people.

Word mind map –

Nature:

• The natural world has been around longer than technology and is not made by man. It includes picturesque landscapes and fascinating creatures but also has power in its dramatic weather (floods, earthquakes, etc.). We cannot control nature which is what makes it greater than us. If you believe in God, God creates nature suggesting that it is a higher level of consciousness that controls it – vastly more powerful than any human.
• It is an incredible wonder that inspires us all. It underpins our economy, our society, indeed our very existence. Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services we depend on for our health, happiness and prosperity.
• It is our home and in this modern world it is easy to forget about nature due to technology’s existence, but what if nature and technology could become allies?

Word mind map –

Sketches to get ideas flowing:

• After this small piece of research on nature and technology, I decided to stop and sketch down ideas:

Woman Bridge

Powerful Tree WOmen

Summary:

• From doing these sketches and initial pieces of research, I noticed a recurring theme and was inspired to fuse technology and nature as one to create a powerful army of women in a world that oppresses them. Women will use both technology and nature as their mighty weapon, along with unity amongst themselves. This project will be a continued piece from my last project, therefore I won’t repeat the same research but take and add to it.

Plan:

• I will pay attention to injustices against women all over the world and reinvent their stories.
• Also, taking inspiration from my last brief “Crown and Glory”, that focused on creating a powerful union of women, in defence against the injustices imposed on them in Iran, I will focus on Iran.
• Therefore, I intend to create a ‘Cybernetic WOman Garden’:

Mood board:

Key Words:

• Unity – by connecting and coming together as one, a greater, more powerful force is created.
• Power – women will regain and channel their inner power that people try to knock down and convince them they don’t have.
• Control – to regain control over their own lives and what they want to achieve. Not control in the way that men in power do (Hitler, Putin, Trump, etc.), but to take control over themselves and not allow other people to control them.
• Connection – women have a connection that is different to the connection that women and men share. They understand what it is like to be a woman. Therefore, relating to the connections in nature and technology, I wish to show the connection in women.
• Fuse – fuse is an electrical word.
• Electric – a powerful force including lightning or wires, etc. It is striking and extremely dangerous like the women I wish to create.
• Eerie – the army of women will be feared.

Summary of mood board: ethereal and dreamy colours yet a powerful and distinctive look.

Collages to get ideas flowing:

Omnipotent

Artists/Designers I am inspired by...

Noir Kei Ninomiya pays close attention to architectural shapes that challenge the idea of wearability in fashion. His work is always very large in size – “It’s easier to convey feelings in bigger pieces.” – Noir Kei Ninomiya, I am inspired by this statement as I believe that fashion should take up space, be loud and outstanding. Representing nature along with futuristic tones, I am immensely drawn to this as this is what my project is about – connecting two powerful forces: nature and technology, to create a mighty army of women. Therefore, the way that this designer can convert a human to a goddess is something that I intend to recreate. Beautiful yet strange.

Look 1:

Look 2:

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Look 4:

Jean Paul Gaultier is known for his vision of the female form and how he replicates it to create a remarkable, and defying feminist world. She is transformed into a greater version of herself, and rather than giving her a masculine physique (as this is what is considered strength and dominance), he enhances her female form, making her powerfully and irrevocably feminine. It is her womanhood that is her superpower.

Look 1:

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Look 3:

Zehu Crystal Wu envisions a new cultural phenomenon in society that redefines modern art by implementing the value and depth of fine art and technology in a fashionable way. She aspires to make modern art wearable, touchable, and communicative to everyone. Focusing on print, her garments create illusions which is something I am inspired by.

Look 1:

Look 2:

Look 3:

add fine artists, sculpture, fashion, photography, etc.

Inspiration in Pop Culture:

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow: