Call me silly to make a whole blog post about this but really it really cranks my brain sometimes when I find a moment to really think about it. Ever since last summer (damn time flies) I met one of my closest best friends at that summer residential. At a glance when people first met  us that thought we were practically the same person with the same style….the list goes on and on. Sure some of it was true, we do share a similar childhood and family background, both are Asian, both artist,perfectionist, and do I dare to say we are both somewhat pretty stylish. But the more we really got to know each other the more we (or I ) found we don’t share in common, which isn’t a bad thing it was just really shocking to me.

Ironically enough we were both working on clothing collections at the same time recently. His entitled “Black and Gold” and mine entitled “Gridded Organza. ” Right off the bat there is stark contrast in titles. His a very direct and gripping and overall a very eye catching title where everyone is fully aware in general what this is going to be.  With mine, “Gridded Organza” its not as direct yet still somewhat of an attention grabber. Not necessarily from the actual picture but the underlying tone of wonder and what is really a “Gridded Organza.”  So point one!: He is more direct and affirmative  contrasting with me with the more subdued and passive sense.

Looking a bit closer to each collection, lets start with his. Black and Gold, every viewer is already prepared to have the visual spectacle of metallics and blacks playing up the more graphic nature of the new colors. Seeing just a few pieces of his collection the most striking characteristic of all of it was the very unique play with masculine and feminine elements that were both interwoven within each other, almost blurring what is really masculine or feminine. The play with black flowing satins detailed with very geometric gold patterns plays around with your senses of what is structured and what is fluid. Overall, the hyped up contrast is the prominent feature of this collection and the illusions of form with flat planes curved to the body really gives it a more architectural edge to this collection. Having both the fluid lines of the satins, the Alphonse Mucha inspired scroll details, juxtaposed on to stiff structural elements, and the strong sense of tailoring gives this collection a more graphic sense. Sadly I not aware of his intent or his artist statement to this collection but hopefully I will be able to add that in a later date.

Gridded Organza, Not having an over descriptive title the audience won’t really have a clear idea of what this collection is going to be about. The word gridded implies an idea of structure and hardiness and organza gives a sense of more organic, nature inspired imaginary. Having the luxury of knowing more in depth about my collection I can explain more about it. Having the idea of structured softness it really makes you wonder, what in the world is this going to be? The debuts, the dresses are made out of window screening overlayed with delicate lace work which has been hand beaded with pearls adding just a hint of more emphasis of the contours of the whimsical outlines of the patterns. The on the folds of the dress it has been lightly sprayed with metallic  sliver to give it just a hint more depth and form from the very flat matt gray of the window screening. Overall this collection focuses mostly on detail work of each dress and the subdue qualities of the patterns, sheerness of the pearls catching the light and the translucent quality of the dress allowing the viewer just to catch a glimpse of the shape of the body.

To make is clear the true contrast here is his sense of graphic and soft elements working together to create this visually exciting new look that makes you question the qualities of what is structured/geometric vs soft/ graceful ? With mine, it makes the viewer take a second glance at each elements making them exam what it really made out of and how little details can come together to pull a whole united look. As artist we employ totally different elements of design and really play them up to our advantage. We are both very skilled at our craft and both get raging reviews on it but funny enough no matter how similar the reaction we get from our art its absolutely amazing how different they are.

He beckons on the shock and wow factor of contrast and dramatic lighting and occasionally more risky topics but it is counterbalanced with the soft fluid lines and the absolutely stunning gradating colors giving them a calmness in a world of negative impacts.

I beckon on the shock value of details which forces you to take a long and deeper look into my art. Also I try to draw a upon the more nostalgic characteristics our past but them making you question it by hidden dark messages within this very idealistic setting.  I am the person who makes you wonder “what is ideal?”

Not saying we are totally different people in every way possible but pointing out the obvious then picking it a part really makes you think what really makes you or the other person tick. What about the graphic/ soft contrast that DJ is so drawn into and what does detail and subdue passive ideas do to me?