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15/03/2024- 29/03/2024 (Week 6-Week 8)
Lizzie Tanaka (0362065)
Typography | BDCM | Taylor's University
Task 3: Final Output
INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions:
Produce an outcome reflecting our interpretation of cultural sensitivity with considerations of cultural and aesthetic aspects, utilizing data collected previously
Week 6-Week 8
1. PROCESS
A. SKETCH & RESEARCH
During our trip in Japan, we have decided to do a set of three kanzashi
based on the Osaka perfecture; Osaka, Kyoto, Nara. On week 5, we met up
physically to finalize the data gathering (task 2) and start the sketch. We
decided to split the team into three smaller groups.
- Osaka (Tsumami Kanzashi): Ying Ying & Velicia
- Kyoto (Hana/Bira-bira Kanzashi): Emily & Tao Yuze
- Nara (Kushi Kanzashi): Lizzie & Aisya
On Friday, Aisya showed me her sketch of the kushi kanzashi and I ended up
adding some elements to the sketch. At first thought, I liked the sakura
tree Aisya drew but I thought that it was too simple so I suggested a sakura
in the center and to remove the deer and replace it with some deer patterns
that gradually lessens as it goes up. We ended up doing the sakura and the
deer patterns but added the deer.
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Fig 1.1 Kushi sketch
On week 6 (Wednesday), Aisya and I met up to start ideating for our part
(Nara). Since Mr Asrizal adviced us to do something more subtle, we decided
to do a claw clip. We thought about other hair accessories such as the snap
hair clips but ended up choosing a claw clip because we noticed that almost
everyone wears claw clips.
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Fig 1.2 Final Sketch
- Why this certain shape: This certain shape of claw-clip reminds us
both of how some kushi combs look like. Kushi is not commonly used in
Japanese' daily lives anymore but historically, hair ornaments (kanzashi)
and kushi (combs) used to be so crucial in a woman's life that it represents
social class, marital status, age, and more. Western style hair ornaments
did not appear until the modern era. Hair ornaments became family heirloom,
passed down until it broke down. Kushi also means suffering and death from
'ku' and 'shi' so gifting hair ornaments were considered misfortune. Source
- Sakura: A famous and commonly used in most Japanese items, is still
relevant up to this day. Sakura symbolizes both death and the beginning of
something new. Source
- Pearls: Symbolizes health and longevity. In the past, it was also
called 'white gems' and was used as offerings to gods. It was used as
general decoration but only on hair ornaments. Japanese pirates used it on
omamori which is Japanese amulet. In present days, pearl necklace is
commonly given to children who are becoming independent as a sign of good
luck in facing various difficulties during adulthood. Mother-in-laws also
give pearl jewelries to brides as a symbol of acceptance. Source
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Fig 1.3 References and inspiration
Around the beginning of week 6, Emily and Ying Ying told us that we can do
2 kanzashi instead of 3, representing traditional and modern Japan. Since
ours were already quite modern-looking, we decided that we'd both do the
modern part while the rest did the traditional part. Starting from 18th
March (week 7), Aisya and I worked on our output since we had to finish it
before 23rd March (we had already booked a ticket to go home). Fortunately,
Emily, Ying Ying and Velicia were in Malaysia so they could work on their
kanzashi.
[Click their names to check their blog for more details]
2. Modern kanzashi: Lizzie & Aisya
B. THE MAKING
For the claw clip, we had to stray away from our sketch since the size
would be too small. We chose a similar shaped one which was bigger in
size. We bought the claw clip through online shopping.
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
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Fig 1.4 Materials needed (glue & paintbrushes not photographed)
(19/03/2024)
Fig 1.5 Paintbrushes
(19/03/2024)
We thought about doing our sakura and incorporating the fabric we bought in
Osaka. We began by making the flower using clay. We could only find the
paper based clay and had to work with it. On the first meeting, we decided
to create 5 petals so that it would be easier for us to wrap it with the
fabrics.
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
We decided to do 2 flowers and so we made 5 more petals. Progress here was
so slow unfortunately. We managed to re-do some petals that looked too
different in size and shape.
Thursday, 21 March 2024
Decided that painting would be better because the fabric would wrinkle on
the edge of the flower and would look weird. After we began painting the
petals, we attempted to stick each petals on the claw clip but it was too
hard and it looked messy. Promptly decided to re-do the flower by making it
at once, using a petal we liked as a mould for the other petals. Aisya also
made one alongside mine. While it was drying, we tried gluing the pearls to
the claw clip using super glue. The super glue got to Aisya's fingers and we
panicked for a while before deciding to get regular liquid UHU glue to be
safer. Then the claw clip broke and a part of it chipped away. Thankfully,
we bought two claw clips just in case.
Fig 1.6 Painting the petals
(21/03/2024)
Fig 1.7 Attempt #1 gluing the pearl
(21/03/2024)
Fig 1.8 Re-doing the flower
(21/03/2024)
Fig 1.9 Chipped off part of the claw clip
(21/03/2024)
Friday, 22 March 2024
This was our last day to work on the output, we spent 9 hours finalizing
it. We painted it in several layers, and decided to coat it so that it looks
glossy. My flower broke when I was painting it (used too much water for the
gouache paint), so we used Aisya's flower. Instead of buying, we used the
liquid UHU pen and covered the flower in it, leaving it to dry. We began
gluing the pearls again, this time successfully. Gluing the flower was not
as easy as we thought it would be. Took us several tries to get it to the
wanted position. Aisya did most of the gluing part
Fig 1.10 Sticking the flower
(22/03/2024)
Fig 1.11 Adding details
(22/03/2024)
Fig 1.12 Coating
(22/03/2024)
Fig 1.13 Final result
(22/03/2024)
2. FINAL RESULT
Fig 2.1 Final claw clip (1)
(22/03/2024)
Fig 2.2 Final claw clip (2)
(22/03/2024)
Fig 2.3 Pearl focus
(22/03/2024)
Fig 2.4 Flower focus
(22/03/2024)
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Fig 2.5 Claw-clip example of use
(27/03/2024)
Fig 2.5 Final Slides
(28/03/2024)
FINAL PRESENTATION
Fig 2.6 Final Presentation
Jump Links
FEEDBACK
Week 5
Our sketch was looking more of a replicated product. Try to find why
people no longer wear traditional kanzashi anymore, find more about
kanzashi being a 'dying tradition'. We should be able to create something
more subtle.
Week 6
We showed Mr Asrizal our sketch and he said we can proceed to making the output.
REFLECTION
Throughout the 8 weeks, I've learned a lot through this project. I got to know more about Japanese culture and history which was an interesting process. I've also gained more experience and skill in terms of design knowledge and practice, both digitally and manually. Most importantly, I think I learned that being in a random group with people you barely know is not an easy task. At first, our group feels like a disaster because we all were confused and there was no clear direction of where our idea was heading to. Ensuring communication goes smoothly is not an easy task to do when everyone is fluent in their own language, misunderstandings happen in the midst of it. However, I've learned to be more proactive when sharing an idea or critique. I'm grateful for my team members who (mostly) are very hardworking and constantly goes beyond the instructions.
I find that groupwork is never an easy task but to be able to pull this off requires all of us (most of us) working together, actively sharing ideas, accepting critiques and opinions, and being open to other perspectives. By the end of this project, I'm thankful for the majority of my group members who have contributed a lot to pull this off.
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