Our July cover story looks at the sketchbooks of some of fashion graduates in NCAD with photography by Ruth Connolly.
“My collection speaks to the non-verbal language communicated between the spirit, body and nature. Entitled ‘Anam Corp’ meaning ‘Friend of the Body’, I seek to fill the harmful gap of communication between the spirit and body and create the space to dismiss body dysmorphic attitudes and instead embrace the beautiful contours of nature’s gift. Our perceptions of our bodies are rooted in childhood, so by taking a childhood artefact, the teddy bear and draping it on the body I uncovered new and interesting shapes to adorn ourselves with, distorting conventional stereotypes about what is “flattering”. I decided to fully immerse myself in the collection and allow my own wants and needs to determine the direction of form and fabric; by strictly using luxurious natural fibers such as cotton poplin, worsted suitings, moleskin and native Irish Galway fleece my aim is precisely what I do in my own personal dressing, which is to take back control and learn to love my body again.” – Conor O’Brien
The NCAD graduate show runs until Friday June 16.*
*The show might be over but you can still explore all the graduates’ work from across Design, Education, Fine Art and Visual Culture at NCAD.WORKS.
