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Freedom of Choice
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: June 2021
Designer: Nicola Constantina
Dimensions:
150 mm (15 cm)
Medium: Human hair (designer: my own-Nicola Constantina), vegan ingredients and brass
Object number: J.2021.67.CC.1-2
DescriptionHairpiece made from real human hair with brass fastening rod.
Description by designer:
My graduate project allowed me to begin to develop a creative practice that is both material led and placed within a socio-cultural context inspired by my heritage. The material choice was essential to the overall message I wanted the concept to deliver, so I chose to work with black hair as I wanted to reframe the negative ideas black hair has historically been labelled with, by transforming it into a luxury material that would challenge these misconceptions. In altering the way, the hair is perceived by elevating it through its transformation into something luxurious, I created a dialogue surrounding the issue that helped shift the perception of the material and cultural value of black hair. The use of hair resulted in the project not only being beneficial for people of colour but for the environment too, I would consider it to be not only healing but a regenerative method of design. I designed my material using all-natural ingredients so that it can go back into nature at the end of its life cycle via composting.
This piece is about freedom of choice, I wanted to create pieces that represent the natural beauty, versatility and transformational qualities of black hair. With the intention of encouraging and promoting freedom of choice as to how it should be worn, this should be entirely down to the wearer.
Techniques used: laser cutting and engraving
Description by designer:
My graduate project allowed me to begin to develop a creative practice that is both material led and placed within a socio-cultural context inspired by my heritage. The material choice was essential to the overall message I wanted the concept to deliver, so I chose to work with black hair as I wanted to reframe the negative ideas black hair has historically been labelled with, by transforming it into a luxury material that would challenge these misconceptions. In altering the way, the hair is perceived by elevating it through its transformation into something luxurious, I created a dialogue surrounding the issue that helped shift the perception of the material and cultural value of black hair. The use of hair resulted in the project not only being beneficial for people of colour but for the environment too, I would consider it to be not only healing but a regenerative method of design. I designed my material using all-natural ingredients so that it can go back into nature at the end of its life cycle via composting.
This piece is about freedom of choice, I wanted to create pieces that represent the natural beauty, versatility and transformational qualities of black hair. With the intention of encouraging and promoting freedom of choice as to how it should be worn, this should be entirely down to the wearer.
Techniques used: laser cutting and engraving