Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 3) Challenge 2

Title of work: Self-contradictory

Theme: Shining Era - The Neon Challenge (proposed by Lin Hsin-Chen)

I have been fascinated with a series of eye-catching colors recently. They are so special, attractive and dazzling. Neon pink, yellow, and green colors are flaunting themselves before us and showing their vividness. People look breezy in them and young people look stylish in them. Then, how about creating a quilt with neon colors?

According to what I look up on internet, neon colors are popular in 2012 and 2013. What if neon colors, sequins, beads, buttons…or any other shining materials show up together on quilts, will it reveal quilts’ distinctive charm? As an artist in this ever-changing era, it must be very interesting to challenge new materials and catch up with fashion trend.

So, in the second challenge of V9-3, please create within your theme and use “neon color fabrics and sequins, beads, buttons…or any other shining materials”. The vertical dimension should be 42”, and please choose your horizontal dimension between 18" and 54"). Happy creating!

Artist Statement:

According to previous experience of visiting mountain environments, people mainly dressed in earth tones to try not to disturb natural ecology. Things are not what they used to be. Recently, I had a chance to go hiking. I noticed that groups of hikers dressed in shiny fluorescent colors. How did the situation change? The idea of respecting nature has replaced by a people-oriented world.

I hope such "self-contradictory" is a reminder. My imagination goes wild: I try to put neon-colored roses on a dark background, and to sew elegant chintz which was published in the 70’s on the shining background; I add flowering sky and shimmering silver stream to natural scenery; I dress up in bright and luxurious clothes, and I decorate all the things greedily. Of course, most people are self-awareness and they don’t treat the environment selfishly. We understand that letting fluorescent color get into forest is only a self-secure protecting behavior.

The 70’s is a shining era that neon colors appear in the dark at night to impress people. Today, shining colors are everywhere and anytime. It’s a fast-paced world driven by technology as time progresses. "Habit" is a horrible thing. When we live in an ill environment and completely ignore the existence of ecological environment, over time, we forget what the normal environment is. Obviously, the idea of “respecting” environment has been distorted. Last time I went hiking, a friend who lived in the mountains told me that birds used to fly away when they saw shining neon colors, but they don’t now. Moreover, their feathers are less colorful than they used to be. Creatures also have the right to protect themselves, as time goes by, people may no longer see the true color of the beautiful natural environment in forest.

I ponder that while following fashion trends, we are also blinded by the temptation of fashion. Thus it would cause harm to nature. Causing light pollution and disturbing vision. I have been thinking… when we have something, do we lose something else? “Self-contradictory” is my second work for my Thinking Series. It’s a confession of compunction about nature.

p.s. my Viewpoints 9 pin is broken. It can't be worn anymore. So I decide to put it in the work to show its beauty in a different way! Hope Martha will agree with it. Thank you!

Materials: satin brocade, brocade with gold thread, knitting wool, jacquard plush, voile, acetate cloth, warp sateen, chintz of the 70’s, Indian silk sari, Indian cotton sari, gold thread, silver thread, beads

Techniques: hand pieced, hand appliqué, three-layered hand quilted, embroidered

Size: 26”W x 42”H

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-3.blogspot.tw/