Meet GFF Talent, Jinwon Park, a final year student at Nottingham Trent University. Jinwon’s final major project is focused around race, nationality and language. “I lived in a situation where I was a majority. Now I have become a minority. I have realised that there is a massive gap between living as the majority and the minority throughout my life” says Jinwon. Read all about it below!
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
I learned a lot of technical skills related to knitwear and knitted textile at university. I learned Dubied Machine and Domestic Machine, and using a computer program called Shima Seiki, the machine automatically creates knits. Among them, I like the domestic machine the most. The device makes it possible to work with a variety of materials. I think it's valuable learning for me to use various types of machines and learn what I like to work with.
Tell us about your current projects and work, what have you been working on?
“I AM 이방인” 이방인 means 'The stranger' The concept of my project is me in the UK. I was born in South Korea and lived there until I was 18, and I came to the UK to study my major. I always lived in the same race, nationality, and language, and I lived in a situation where I was a majority. Now I have become a minority. I have realised that there is a massive gap between living as the majority and the minority throughout my life.
The day I was racially discriminated against walking down the street ruined my whole day, and I was filled with anger and anxiety in my heart. Also, living in an environment without family or friends created much loneliness. There are many difficulties for me living in England, but working with knitting has given me much vitality. So, I wanted to express the depressed feelings of anger, anxiety, and loneliness that I feel like a minority through my graduation collection with textural knit, which is helping me to find happiness.
What form does the final project take?
My project will be produced as garments and textiles. The main threads are paper, yarn, and wire. But It will also use monofilament and felt wool. By mixing several yarns, three-dimensional and various textures appear, which is a combination that fits well with the design and concept of my project.
All of my fabrics are made with a domestic machine. I designed a unique three-dimensional fabric by making a hole in the material or sewing the spot using the partial knit technique. In addition, I created various textures and shapes by mixing mesh fabrics. And using hand embroidery, I mixed it with text representing my concept. Lastly, I designed multiple patterns and three-dimensional impressions using two threads and a hookup with a domestic machine.
How have you evolved as a young creative while studying?
I usually get a lot of inspiration from fine artwork with emotions as the subject. Based on the many skills I learned in college, I tried to graft the emotions I felt into garments and textiles.
What are the messages and themes behind your project that you want people to take away? Do explore any topics like diversity, sustainability or politics in your work?
People of many different races and nationalities study fashion worldwide, and in the UK, people with very diverse backgrounds study fashion. Many of them might feel lonely and depressed or angry due to the experience of discrimination because they were a minority. I want to give them some sympathy and comfort through my project.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
So many students from many backgrounds study fashion. However, there is still no diversity of race, nationality, etc., in the fashion industry. I think the reason is that the culture of the fashion industry still does not give equal opportunities to everyone. Fashion is for everyone, not for any particular race or nationality. In that sense, people in the fashion industry should study how the fashion industry can give people more equal opportunities.
What is your plan once you finish your BA?
I want to become an artist who works with messages. Currently, besides fashion and textiles, I am also studying media art. So, in the future, I want to do work that can deliver a message better by combining textiles, fashion, and media art.