The Leftovers
BY Xiruo Jiang
This art installation explores the environmental impact of the fashion industry, highlighting the pollution generated by clothing production. On a single hanger, a series of coats transition in color from deep black to earthy brown, symbolizing the journey from creation to waste. The coats extend to the ground, where they are connected by pattern-cutting paper used in garment manufacturing. This paper leads to a large pile of tangled brown scraps, representing the “leftovers” of the fashion process. Through this piece, the artist confronts the hidden pollution behind the allure of clothing, inviting viewers to reflect on the true cost of fashion.
Threads
BY Xiruo Jiang
Delve deeper into the materials, this piece showcases a wooden chair supporting a long length of fabric. Surrounding the chair are balls of yarn, the raw materials that contribute to the fabric's creation. This display serves as a reminder of the human and environmental costs associated with garment manufacturing. By showcasing the the yarn alongside the finished fabric, the installation invites viewers to consider the intricate relationship between creation and consumption.
Fashion-fills
BY Xiruo Jiang
This compelling installation further explores the themes of waste and sustainability within the fashion industry. The centerpiece is a striking sofa crafted from discarded fabric scraps, with its filling composed of abandoned design sketches and blueprints. From the front, the sofa presents an inviting and unique shape. However, upon sitting, viewers will witness the sketches spilling out from an opening at the back, revealing the hidden reality of what supports this seemingly beautiful object. This duality invites reflection on the often-overlooked consequences of design and consumption, emphasizing that behind every fashionable piece lies a narrative of waste.
Diet #1
BY Xiruo Jiang
The “Diet” series features two poignant paintings that critique the unhealthy weight loss behaviors propagated by fashion brands' body anxiety marketing.
Diet #1 depicts a plate holding a tiny garment crafted from actual clothing tags, prominently displaying an “S” size label. Intriguingly, the plate's pattern illustrates the gradual weight loss of a woman descending into an unhealthy state. This work presents the harmful health implications of blindly pursuing the unattainable ideals perpetuated by fashion marketing.
“S” For “Shrinking”
BY Xiruo Jiang
This painting critically examines the fashion industry's troubling trend of minimizing clothing sizes, inspired by brands like Brandy Melville, known for exclusively marketing "S" sizes. In recent discussions on Chinese social media, many have noted that clothing sizes are shrinking, reflecting a broader issue where brands use less material, resulting in increasingly smaller garments. The artwork uses wine glasses to symbolize women's clothing sizes, all labeled as "S," yet each glass diminishes in size. This visual metaphor demonstrates the absurdity of a one-size-fits-all mentality, which confines individuals to a narrow definition of beauty and desirability. Sizes should serve to help customers find clothing that fits their unique bodies, rather than enforcing unrealistic beauty standards.
Diet #2
BY Xiruo Jiang
Diet #2 presents a cake, where each layer is meticulously labeled with its calorie content on the left and the corresponding “S,” “M,” or “L” size indicators on the right. This piece satirizes the absurdity of assigning body labels to everything, including food, highlighting the pervasive culture of body image obsession.
Together with Diet #1, this work challenges viewers to reflect on the societal pressures that dictate our self-worth and health, advocating for a more compassionate understanding of body diversity and the importance of promoting positive body image in a world dominated by unrealistic standards.