Since "Inside my Wardrobe" was a success, I have decided to continue demonstrating the connection between my art and fashion.  This series is an expression of how bright colour helped me to take my original shy, introverted and un-noticeable identity and transform myself into a confident, unique and bold identity.  This has been achieved through the use of mannequins/tailor dummies; an essential piece of equipment for any fashion designer.  The inspiration for this comes from the work of German artist ‘Manuela Engelhardt’ who is best known for turning worn down objects into beautiful pieces of artwork.  One particular body of work she produced revolves around painting on full bodied mannequins using a palette of bold, outstanding colour, and consisting of elaborate, geometric pattern. It is like these mannequins have been made to rebel against what they are and how they are viewed by others, to demand the attention of the viewer and exaggerate their presence, how they are now in power and deserve respect. 

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Six tailor dummies have been painted in acrylic in a certain pattern or design taken from one of my original fashion prints I sell online, each carrying three-dimensional forms built up around the shape of the body, in order to create an illusion that the design on the body is coming to life, transforming it from 2D to 3D, growing out of the dummies body.  These are cheap, easy to find, light-weight materials so to not upset its balance or the joining method, varying from cardboard and ready made polystyrene 3D shapes, to expanding foam where I am able to produce more unusual forms.  

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This concept of tailor dummies is to express that colour has the power to completely transform something or someone.  Tailor dummies are objects which are predominantly very plain, dull and lifeless, and adding all this bold colour, 3D forms and patterns has transformed these lifeless pieces of foam into beautiful, vigorous and eye-catching pieces of art, and in some way, I was once one of these mannequins.  I was once a shy, timid and un-noticeable young boy who didn’t fit in with anyone around me.  But when I discovered colour, I was no longer that shy and nervous child, the art of wearing elaborate colour transformed me into a confident, unique and expressive young man, who had finally found himself an identity that people would recognise him for.  The designs on the tailor dummies transforming from 2D to 3D are a representation of my change in life.  Beginning as flat, lifeless shapes and blossoming into prominent, vigorous sculptural forms.  So, these tailor dummies are visuals of my transformation and journey of finding myself through the usage of colour.