<> My Body, My Future </>
//By Claire (Zhongxiao) Chen
// Contact: clairechenzx@gmail.com
My Body, My Future is a collection of visual work exploring the relationship between women and their bodies and also makes science fiction as visual practice through graphics, photography, videos, motion graphics, creative coding, and websites. The multi-media approach strengthens the connection between the female form, feminist thoughts, and science fiction.
As a graphic/visual designer, I understand how white males dominate the world of science fiction, which also influences the mainstream aesthetics of futuristic scenes. In My Body, My Future, I created designs that convey the spirit of feminist science fiction — equality, inclusiveness, and caring.
<> My Body, My Future </>
//By Claire (Zhongxiao) Chen
// Contact: clairechenzx@gmail.com
//By Claire (Zhongxiao) Chen
// Contact: clairechenzx@gmail.com
My Body, My Future is a collection of visual work exploring the relationship between women and their bodies and also makes science fiction as visual practice through graphics, photography, videos, motion graphics, creative coding, and websites. The multi-media approach strengthens the connection between the female form, feminist thoughts, and science fiction.
As a graphic/visual designer, I understand how white males dominate the world of science fiction, which also influences the mainstream aesthetics of futuristic scenes. In My Body, My Future, I created designs that convey the spirit of feminist science fiction — equality, inclusiveness, and caring.
As a graphic/visual designer, I understand how white males dominate the world of science fiction, which also influences the mainstream aesthetics of futuristic scenes. In My Body, My Future, I created designs that convey the spirit of feminist science fiction — equality, inclusiveness, and caring.
<MY BODY>
//Section_1
My Body, the first section of the thesis, includes projects that investigate topics: body images, second-wave feminism, and the history of women in computer science.
[Body/Relation]
Body/Relation is a black and white photography visual study of forms. A woman’s body, a man’s body, and a pair of workshop goggles are the objects for the study. In some images, one body seems to be dominant over the other. In other images, their bodies stay touching harmoniously. The project started as a pure form study, but the narrative of gender and relationships gradually emerges through the process. These images are also inspired by performative art representing actions such as control and manipulation.
[Feminism_Motion_Posters]
Using the photography from Body/Relation, Feminism Motion Posters is a project rediscovering critical moments from second-wave feminism. The posters represent three of these moments: the manifesto of second-wave feminism by Shulamith Firestone, the slogan for women’s bodily autonomy and abortion right, and the Equal Right Amendment.
[Woman_in_Computing]
The website is to emphasize women’s contribution to the development of the computation industry. Today, most programmers are male in the United States, but it used to be a profession dominated by women before the end of WWII. The design work aims to empower and encourage women to study and learn new technology by bringing the full story of their historical achievements to light. View project through a desktop, please click here >>> Woman in Computing
[Rebuild_Body]
Rebuild body is a website that recomposes bodies on the screen. Images of different body parts are moving on the browser, and they change positions every time the user clicks on the browser. The website uses nude, unretouched female images to reclaim female bodies. Women’s appearances online and in real life don’t need to please anyone except themselves. View project through Goolge Chrome, please click here >>> Rebuild Body
<MY FUTURE>
//Section_2
My Future, the second section of the thesis, includes projects making science fiction as visual practice.
[The_Left_Hand_of_Darkness]
The collection of posters is named after Ursula K. Le Guin’s science fiction The Left Hand of Darkness. The texts on posters are from the book, which reveals a different system than the real world. Le Guin presents an imaginative planet in the novel, a place where everyone is of both sexes. Therefore, gender differences have no cultural significance in their society.
[Image_Collage]
Image collage is an imaging experiment using original work and found images to create futuristic scenes. Wild elements and bold colors convey messages from an unknown world. The project is an example of making science fiction as visual practice.
