The project is a study of our behaviours, interactions and choice of parameters. How gender construction is made and comparing how this has changed in the last 50 years using Grace Jones as a reference for this study allowing us to question ourselves and think further about our/the human condition.
A KALTBLUT exclusive. Creative Direction & Design by Sofia Rayen. Photography by Cris Cerdeira. Hair & Makeup by Carlotta Boattini & Ilya Fesenko. The models are Inigo Medalia, Bruna Porto, Saskia Rey, Hasi and Sofia Rayen. Documentation by Amaru Quiroga.
Estudio Situational 001 is an observational exercise to question gender construction and remind ourselves of our human condition. In this project, I used a person as a reference: Grace Jones, an actress, singer, performer, artist, rule breaker, and icon.
I did a “regressive design process” (meant to fit into the socio-political context of that time) and created a surgical pregnancy structure, to allow her to shock her audience once again this time with her purer nature, this is because Grace was often not perceived as a woman, she did not behave on the expected female role.
Grace caused quite a stir during the 70/80’s, She mentioned in some interviews that what she learned as power when she was younger, came from the men in her family. She embraced and sometimes even intensified these characteristics when it came to her performance causing society to perceive her more as a masculine figure generating confusion and sometimes even shock.
Fifty years ago the boundaries and roles between men and women were rigidly defined. Acting differently was punished, it was uncharted territory.
Thanks to people like Grace, nowadays the boundaries between men and women are much more fluid, being today fifty years later the other way around**… Paradoxical, isn’t it?
Taking this last idea, My question is… do we have a linear intellectual development as a society, do we advance and evolve or do we just cyclically look for new parameters to normalize*** and marginalize those who don’t follow them because of our human condition where we constantly need to feel part of something, feeling of belonging…?
**People more comfortable with the gender construction of 50 years ago are often criticized
***Normalization according to Psychology is when a situation or thought becomes part of your reality and sometimes even unquestionable given the process of repetition, reward (when you are part of the collective thinking) and punishment (when you don’t adapt).
Creative Direction & Design by Sofia Rayen /Instagram: @sofietche_
Photography by Cris Cerdeira /Instagram: @crisscerdeira
Set Design by Cris Cerdeira /Instagram: @crisscerdeira
& Sofia Rayen /Instagram: @sofietche_
Hair & Makeup by Carlotta Boattini /Instagram: @olio.di.palma
& Ilya Fesenko /Instagram: @ilya.fesenko
Models are Inigo Medalia /Instagram: @itisinigo – Bruna Porto /Instagram: @bruna.s.porto – Saskia Rey /Instagram: @saskia_rey – Hasi /Instagram: @nemo80808 – Sofia Rayen /Instagram: @sofietche_
Documentation by Amaru Quiroga /Instagram: @image_amaru
Structure/Piece development by Sofia Rayen /Instagram: @sofietche_ – Hannes Kleinbub /Instagram: @hvk14 – Rolf Biebl /Instagram: @rolfbiebl – Anton Simon /Instagram: @antonartello
