The Golden Mirror

These days, cosmetic surgery techniques are beyond imagination; yet another development is how these instant transformations and effortless enhancements are now considered a necessity rather than a choice, encouraged by mass media and the beauty industry. 

By definition, picture frames are used to decorate art works such as paintings or photographs, to elevate their artistic value, and to make it easier to display and to protect them. However, in this work, multi-layered heavy and opulent golden frames surround a small mirror in the center, mimicking current societal norms.

The mirror, which is displayed higher than the average person’s eye level, leads the audience to jump or tip-toe to be able to see themselves in the mirror. In this way the audience will be able to experience frustration, curiosity and despair of having to reach the unrealistic and unreasonable beauty guidelines set by society.

Beautiful Lies

The beauty industry has come a long way with the development of new technologies and scientific methods. The products that claim to prevent and to fix flaws such as pigmentation, enlarged pores, dark circles and sagging overwhelmingly allure female customers regardless of age.  

“Beautiful Lies” explores the power of the cosmetic industry and its effect on the modern woman. These familiar-looking pots in neutral shades and the colorful lipstick palette depict countless product claims and “breakthroughs” that are too good to be true. 

The ABC chart, which is meant for teaching kids new words and their meanings, is presented here as a tool to educate women about the flaws in their faces, and about what needs to be improved by looking at the list of miraculous effects of the latest cosmetic products available in today’s market.  

Due to the constant bombardment of digitally manipulated and airbrushed images in magazines and advertising, flawless skin is deemed vital among women. This makes me wonder how aging, a natural process that affects us all, became a condition or disease to be treated, and why we are fighting against this process to satisfy external standards of beauty set by corporations and mass media.

Faking Silence

“Faking silence” is the latest creation of my word- find series. Amidst all of the composition of self proclaiming effect of the skin care available in today’s market (in Times New Roman font), you can find a few hidden words in vertical and diagonal direction describing harmful chemicals used in skin care products, which the consumers often overlook (in Arial font).  

By using a fragile mirror with laser tracing technique to carve in the letters, it brings up another forbidden topic of beauty remedy- the laser treatment and cosmetic surgery. This marking process represents how today’s women chisel their bones, burn off the skin and cut away the flesh to secure a guaranteed successful life. The ugly and horrific reality of how far women would go to achieve that perfect look is beautifully disguised in this carefully crafted mirror.

Label Me

In today’s society, humans look at those around them for confirmation of their social and economic status subconsciously and those signals come in the form of houses, cars, clothes, jewelry and material possessions such as luxury designer goods. Conspicuous consumption is to describe the behavioral characteristics of those who use their public consumption of goods and services as a way to manifest their social power and prestige that are generally not considered to be necessary.  

“Label Me”, which is inspired by Louis Vuitton’s multicolor monogram design, is part of my previous word-find series. Amidst all of the composition of international luxury brand labels, you can find a few hidden words in bolder font in vertical and diagonal direction, which signify the psychology of conspicuous consumption. The work talks about this conspicuous consumption, which assists to ease one’s feeling of insecurity and a fear of being rejected, also to fulfill one’s desire to signal positive things about themselves to others and to get more attention in order to feel worthy. 

Book of Cures

The “Book of cures” represents the notion of beauty and identity, how we Asians admire Western beauty since young age mostly influenced by barbie dolls, cartoon characters and fashion models.

The danger is that this Western beauty is not only telling us how we are supposed to look, but together with the beauty and cosmetic industry, it encourages us to achieve that look, using all means possible. The main purpose of this book is to question the standard of beauty set by the corporations and mass media. 

The book is based on a simple children exercise book format so it delivers this disturbing message in a very subtle way. The usage of 3M medical tape which bounds the entire book also compliments the idea of cosmetic surgery.