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The Gold Standard
This project presents a study on the colour gold as an illusion of wealth, aspiration, and spectacle, positioned against the lived reality of stillness as survival. The Jozi living statue operates within a paradoxical condition: bodies frozen in performance yet constantly working, inhabiting public space as both spectacle and labour. Situated between street performance, urban ritual, and false monumentality, this capsule interrogates the living statue as a contemporary urban monument. Visible, revered, yet inherently precarious.In this work I looked to find the parallels of stillness as survival practiced by living statues and lived experiences of both historical and contemporary South Africans.
Look 1: Help
A study on the colour gold as an illusion of wealth, aspiration and spectacle. Stillness as Survival.
A fully up-cycled couture look made from 33 mens formal shirts. Fitted short sleeve dress, exaggerated 1 piece collar, oversized skirt and corset boned apron.
Look 2: Soldat
A study on the colour gold as an illusion of wealth, aspiration and spectacle. Stillness as Survival.
A fully up-cycled couture look made from overlayed mens blazers and paired with reconstructed camo pants. Asymmetrical silhouettes and elongated legs create exaggerated proportions and fabric depth.
Look 3: BrendaA study on the colour gold as an illusion of wealth, aspiration and spectacle. Stillness as Survival.
A fully up-cycled couture look. Comprised of a custom cropped camo jacket paired with a tulle ballet skirt & mesh tights.
