Etienne
Project 1
Etienne’s Project 1 was developed in response to the starting point ‘Decay & Destruction’. Inspired by fashion designers Rick Owens and Michèle Lamy, Etienne became interested in their unconventional aesthetic and use of raw, distressed and organic qualities within materials. His ideas were further informed by visits to exhibitions, including The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion and Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London at the Fashion and Textile Museum, where he explored the rebellious and experimental approaches associated with punk and alternative fashion. Etienne was particularly interested in the marks, textures and surfaces created when materials undergo both natural and man-made processes of decay and destruction, and how these could be translated into original fashion designs. Throughout the project, he experimented with materials and mark-making, working in expressive, organic and often unpredictable ways. Processes of tearing, distressing, layering, fraying and manipulating surfaces allowed him to embrace imperfection as an important element of his developing visual language, design work and final pieces.
“Michele Lamy and Rick Owens are a creative team. I was instantly attracted to the bold characteristics o their fashion and jewellery, it was something that I hadn’t seen before. Like a whole new world. My research shows me that clothing is not just style, it’s about complete self-expression, and going beyond society’s standards and limitations. The limitations are often just in our minds”
Project 1
Etienne’s Project 2 was developed in response to the starting point ‘Layers’. He was particularly interested in exploring how artworks can contain layers of meaning that extend beyond their initial outward appearance. He began by experimenting with both two-dimensional paper collage and three-dimensional assemblage, investigating how artists working in these mediums use layering not only physically, but also to communicate symbolism, narrative and hidden meaning. A visit to the Horniman Museum, where he discovered the concept of the talisman (an object believed to hold symbolic, spiritual or protective powers) became an important turning point within the project. This inspired Etienne to consider how objects can carry deeply personal layers of meaning and significance. His ideas ultimately culminated in a personal talisman representing the balance he has found between chaos and calm within his own life.
“The collages really got me thinking about how you can communicate using symbols, then looking at Cornell’s work was a turning point in terms of how you can put found objects together to create art and meaning that is not obvious. It is about creating a feeling”
