Copyright 2013Susana CastroNew York, NY

Vanitas

Senior Thesis 2013Parsons The New School for Design

Susana Castro

Introduction

Chapter 1

The creation of my thesis began with the study of literal masks, but slowly evolved into an exploration of the representation of masks. What started off as a tangible idea later morphed into abstraction.

Initially, I started exploring how masks in editorial pictures and contemporary advertising alter the meaning of an image. I continued

this exploration of transformation through collaging, patterning and including symbols of the macabre. The end result of this

investigation became the personification and beautification of death. My final collection seeks to explore different ways of representing

death and translating such a dark theme into a compilation of beautiful images. Some of my designs accomplish this by showcasing

imagery masked with symbolism of mortality. Others do so by showing machines of death or by veiling patterns of death symbols.

The execution of my dissertation is a t-shirt collection that is mostly hand printed by utilizing the silk-screening method. With the

exception of two digital designs, I chose to handprint the collection in order to give each shirt a unique look and to transform the digital

rendition into a raw version. The brand is named Vanitas after the art movement that inspired the ultimate product. The logo is

consistent with this theme and depicts a decaying rose that represents the end of life.

Intro

Process

Chapter 2

The first stream of exploration was investigated on editorial-like pictures that explored the use of facades by literally overlaying painted masks or by using technical photography shots. With these exercises I learned how a mask, literal or not, can be used to obscure but at the

same time reveal.

Masks on EditorialsSection 1

The second stream of examination was executed on existing advertising where masks were utilized to

transform the piece to have a new meaning. The masks reappropriated the content into a new narrative. The

transformation serves as a commentary about our society and what it portrays to the public.

Masks on AdvertisementSection 2

The last stream explored the personification and recontextualizing of death. This study served as a way to transform a negative theme into a different light. In this

analysis, I also used the shirt as a canvas overlaying a body and played with masking the anatomical placement.

Personifying DeathSection 3

Final Collection

Chapter 3