Clouds have long served as the source of inspiration for many artists for their symbolic representation of purity and holisticness. In Vietnamese folk culture, clouds often appear at the foot of gods, goddesses and sacred spirits. Moreover, despite its translucent form and seemingly ephemeral existence, they signify the mighty power of natural forces according to many folkloric narratives. Thus, clouds, when they appear as distinctive subjects, form a close association with spirituality. The amalgamation of quartz as material and clouds as form are a coherent and meaningful concept.
Equal parts symbol and legend, the Lady Dior made its début on Lady Diana’s arm, launching from there into its extraordinary destiny. An architectural homage to the House’s excellence, this iconic cannage creation reinvents itself through the collections in a multitude of colors, sizes, techniques and ever-exceptional materials. Season after season, Lady Dior rewrites its history at the crossroads of modernity and excellence, becoming, more than ever, an object of art and desire, revisited by artists around the world. I want to make a sculpture of a reimagined Lady Dior bag, one that is durable, transparent, poetic and one that can project a pure energy of compassion. I want to juxtapose the sturdiness of stone and the airiness of clouds to challenge the viewers’ imagination.
Tia Thuỷ Nguyễn
Fashion accessories have never been just functional. In fact, they are a creative manifestation of one’s characteristic, aesthetic and desires. As someone who practices lies in the intersection of fine art, fashion and media culture, my appreciation for The Lady Dior rises above its connotation of luxury and symbol.
Tia Thuy Nguyen at Lady Dior As Seen By exhibition, open from 15th March to 14th April, 2024 at Hochiminh city, Vietnam
To Tia Thuy Nguyen, it signifies confidence, resilient femininity, and most importantly love – for it was named after Princess Diana, a figure that symbolizes genuine compassion and care for all humanity. Thus, the designer wants to create artwork that can further enhance such a way of seeing.
I have choses quartz to be the primary material for this work, for in the fengshui system of thoughts, precious stones are believed to help balance human’s tshi. Year by year, quartz has absorbed the energies of the universe and is often used in healing practices. It is a durable material that itself contains healing energy. It helps calm the mind, crystalise one’s thoughts and erode negative feelings. From an aesthetic perspective, quartz shares a visual resemblance with clouds, which allows light to pass through, bending its direction to reflect its surroundings. The contrast between the sturdiness of quartz and the airiness of clouds can challenge the viewers’ imagination, leading to open-ended personal contemplation.
Tia Thủy Nguyễn
“Light embedded the idea of hope, warmth and can facilitate an illusion if done creatively and meticulously. Though I want the work to be able to relate to all its viewers, I also wish to retain some degree of the majestic enchantment. In fact, it can welcome more diverse imaginative stories from the viewers and most importantly can enhance the notion of liberty, love and healing.” – Tia explain.
Photo
Tang Tang
Ngô Nhật Hoàng
Thuy Nguyen Design
