CAN YOU INTRODUCE MYSELF?, Experimental Documentary

CAN YOU INTRODUCE MYSELF?

Essay-Documentary, 11min04, August 2019, NYC
Dir: Andriana Lagoudes, Ibrahim Cissé

Can you introduce myself? from Andriana Lagoudes on Vimeo.

Can you introduce myself? is a visual essay that came out of an encounter between Andriana Lagoudes and Ibrahim Cissé. The pair spontaneously addressed the potential for post-nation states to be a potent answer for a sustainable collective future by questioning the brief at the root.

Can a revolution take place if it does not start with the self? Who is the self? Can we learn about it through others? How much do we understand it? And how much do we actually really understand each other? These questions led to more, and escalated to highlight the fundamental and urgent issue of global governance and mass movements. Wandering in the streets of New-York City, Andriana and Ibrahim weaved their daily visual and sonic findings and edited the reflections that stemmed out of it into a collage. The result is an 11 minutes stream of thoughts, flowing from the river to the ocean, a film showcasing moments of doubts and clarity, two opposing languages attempting to find peace and at last, a glimpse of surrender.

stills from film

Down to your Rawness

Philosophical Concept Development, Menswear Collection, September 2016 - June 2017, Brighton
Designer & Creative Director: Andriana Lagoudes

Statement of Intent. June 2017

An evolution from the physical hardships of the everyday, to the moment in time where fundamental needs are being addressed and understood. The collection is attempting to depict the journey of a resourceful man who is working his way through life, from a reference of field workers, to understand his rawest personal needs to reach an enlightened state, inspired by the lives of Tibetan Buddhist monks.

A functionally modest approach is the essence of the collection, reflected by the simplicity of workwear garments from the aspects of both humble peasant wear and serene nomadic monk clothing.

Down to Your Rawness depicts the enlightenment of man through rehearsal of the self in everyday activities.

Lacking in weight, layering and functionality the purpose of the outfits is instead found internally, allowing the corresponding garments to be free from physical obligations and embracing of new ideas of contentment and self-acceptance. The comfortability provided by workwear is authentically represented throughout the collection.

From utility workwear to basic undergarments, the collection is expressing a humble idiom in the language of urban clothing. An interesting mixture of unconventional plastics with beautiful satins, highlight the romanticism of how crude allotments may look in contrast to what they represent.

The exploration of tent fabrics, vegetable sacks, rusted samples and second-hand plastics work towards depicting the resourcefulness required by the man of this collection. As the evolution of the collection develops, simple pieces mature with the inclusion of intricate details. A closer look into allotments, through the medium of photography puts emphasis on the textural approach translated in fabric qualities and enriched fastening details – a reminder that everything stems from primary rawness. Fastenings found in allotments inspire the development of signature detailing of the collection which are translated into fastening, cuffs and belts.

This menswear collection intends to relieve the wearer from narratives that are not his.

Thank you for spending the time to look through my work. I hope some aspect of it resonated.
And if it didn’t that’s still ok.

Love,
Andrianalla