Artist statement

*Nomadic* is an ode to my childhood living in Mongolia, a place I called home for nearly half my life. The work is a series of personal recordings of the Mongolian landscape from when my family and I would travel around the countryside. These recordings are projected onto a Mongolian *deel*, a traditional gown, adorned with silver beads along the sleeves, cuffs and clasps. The final product is a contemporary design combining elements of traditional Mongolian life with my own. As the images of horses running, steams flowing and the sun setting project on the dress, audiences reflect on their own memories and how they are connected to their lives now. 

Process

I started with an initial sketch of how I wanted the dress to look. I created patterns, sewed the dress together, then hemmed the frayed edges down. I sewed the collar and the waistband onto the dress, completing the structure and base of the dress. Deciding to add more detail I beaded silver glass beads to the collar and sleeves, then creating the clasps. I then compiled home videos of life in Mongolia and placed them underneath a digital stencil I created in Adobe Photoshop. This would ensure that the recording would project perfectly onto the dress.

About the artist

My name is Owen Seaborn, I am an Australian born designer who grew up in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. My practices and designs reflect my life living in Mongolia as well as influences from contemporary fashion design. In my final year of studying art in grade 12, I have explored ideas of art being functional and wearable, creating garments that restrict and control the wearer, and work that reflects my childhood. After finishing school, I plan to study and work in the fashion industry.