biomaterials: orange skin
Welcome to Ethereal Ecosystems, an exhibition that blends past and future, technology and nature, femininity and sustainability. At the center of this exhibit is a stunning dress and corset ensemble made from biomaterials — in this case, oranges — alongside a remarkable mask created from apples. This work symbolizes the intersection of fashion, art, and ecological consciousness.
The Corset and Dress: A Bridge Across Time
The corset, an iconic element of feminine attire, has long symbolized the shaping and control of the female form, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. This particular corset echoes the styles of the Victorian era (1837-1901), a time when fashion embraced elaborate, tightly-laced bodices designed to emphasize a woman’s waist and posture. During this period, the corset was more than a garment; it was a metaphor for societal expectations, restraint, and the shaping of female identity.
Yet here, the corset is transformed. Made from the fibers of oranges — a biomaterial rich in symbolism — it represents nourishment, sustainability, and the natural world. By repurposing this traditionally rigid garment into something organic and fluid, the artist breathes new life into the Victorian aesthetic. The use of oranges, once cultivated for their fruit, speaks to regeneration and the cyclical nature of life and fashion. It is a visual and tactile reminder that even the most entrenched traditions can evolve into something fresh and vital.
Feminine Icon: Queen Victoria
To evoke the spirit of the Victorian era, we draw inspiration from one of its most influential figures: Queen Victoria. Known for her strict moral values and extensive influence on fashion, Victoria became the embodiment of femininity during her reign. Yet she also challenged these roles by holding power and leadership during a male-dominated age. The orange corset, delicate yet durable, nods to this duality — it is a symbol of beauty, tradition, and, simultaneously, the potential for renewal and redefinition.
The Apple Mask: Covering, Protecting, Transforming
Paired with the dress is a mask fashioned from apples, offering another layer of meaning. The apple has been a symbol of knowledge, temptation, and renewal since the time of Eve. In this piece, the apple is not just a fruit; it is a statement about identity, concealment, and the masks we wear in society.
The use of apples — natural, decaying, and yet also full of seeds for future growth — hints at the fragility of human life and our dependence on nature. As an artifact of protection, the mask shelters the wearer from external judgment while highlighting the thin veil between appearance and reality. It poses a philosophical question: How much of our identity is constructed, and how much of it is innate, like the seeds hidden within the apple?
The Art of Biomaterials: A Step Forward
Fashion, Femininity, and Philosophy
To wear these garments is not just to embrace history but also to look toward the future. In merging the organic with the artificial, the traditional with the avant-garde, this piece asks us to reconsider the relationship between the female body, the environment, and the power structures that shape them both.
As the corset has evolved from a symbol of restriction to one of empowerment, and the mask has transformed from a shield to a revelation, this work captures a delicate tension between identity and nature. It invites us to reflect on a world where our creations, much like the oranges and apples used here, might one day return to the soil, fostering life anew.