Karen Casper
I create complex hand crafted garments using new and old technologies and media that have been photographed and published in avant garde magazines and shown in galleries and museums. I also control the creative direction for the photoshoots of my textiles.
Veils Project
I selected the Victorian mourning period as a theme and through my research and elimination process I chose the female mourning attire, in particular the mourning veil to inspire my designs. The series of 3 veils have been produced with embroidery to create a lace aesthetic. The 3 veils are represented as follows:
Veil 1 — Black/grey palette representing respect used within full mourning. This veil is inspired by the supressed female, suffocating and being anchored down.
Veil 2 — After one year and one day the colour purple was introduced, with the embellishment of pearls representing tears often used in Victorian mourning jewellery.
Veil 3 — Vibrant colours and structure represent the power and freedom of the woman living in today's society, although exposing the vulnerability of the pressures she puts on herself.
