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Perception of Beauty
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 01/06/2021
Designer: Margareta Kanuscakova
Dimensions:
600 × 400 mm (60 × 40 cm)
Medium: Metal, Aluminium, Pearls (beads)
Object number: FA.2021.65.CC
DescriptionMetal disk chain mail face covering.
Description by designer:
I have been battling with acne since I have been 12 and I still haven’t won. In my worst state, I even struggled to make simple errands as to go to a shop, because I was so ashamed to show my face in public. I felt as if everyone was staring at me and judging me. People feel so insecure about an issue that almost everyone faces to some extent, because of the pressure by society to look perfect all the time. The trend of being extraordinarily beautiful started in Renaissance – the ‘period eye’ when artists tended to avoid realistic interpretation emphasizing instead the positive features of the subjects. Beauty became the only stability and utopia of classical beauty was created. Even though the cult of classical antiquity no longer dominates our culture, and we don’t find perfection as seductive as we once did, we still idealise it. The trend of emphasizing positive features remained until today when people tend to rely on photoshop and filters on social media where they hide behind effects to blur out the reality. My question is why do we do that? Why do we feel the urge to be on point 24/7? Why do we feel uncomfortable in our own bodies? I used this project as a means of creating protection from my own feelings and being vulnerable overall. Looking at Renaissance armour and thinking how directly it helped men in battles, is a great metaphor for helping people struggling with acne and with their mental battles. Designing headpieces that act almost like a face chainmail offer protection and make people more comfortable stepping outside of their home. This project could be a continuation of face masks that now people got used and feel more confident, after covid-19 ends and face masks are no longer needed.
Description by designer:
I have been battling with acne since I have been 12 and I still haven’t won. In my worst state, I even struggled to make simple errands as to go to a shop, because I was so ashamed to show my face in public. I felt as if everyone was staring at me and judging me. People feel so insecure about an issue that almost everyone faces to some extent, because of the pressure by society to look perfect all the time. The trend of being extraordinarily beautiful started in Renaissance – the ‘period eye’ when artists tended to avoid realistic interpretation emphasizing instead the positive features of the subjects. Beauty became the only stability and utopia of classical beauty was created. Even though the cult of classical antiquity no longer dominates our culture, and we don’t find perfection as seductive as we once did, we still idealise it. The trend of emphasizing positive features remained until today when people tend to rely on photoshop and filters on social media where they hide behind effects to blur out the reality. My question is why do we do that? Why do we feel the urge to be on point 24/7? Why do we feel uncomfortable in our own bodies? I used this project as a means of creating protection from my own feelings and being vulnerable overall. Looking at Renaissance armour and thinking how directly it helped men in battles, is a great metaphor for helping people struggling with acne and with their mental battles. Designing headpieces that act almost like a face chainmail offer protection and make people more comfortable stepping outside of their home. This project could be a continuation of face masks that now people got used and feel more confident, after covid-19 ends and face masks are no longer needed.