Tiarma balances art and fashion<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java<\/p>\n
Fashion and art is like two sides of one coin for fashion
\ndesigner cum artist Tiarma Dame Ruth Sirait.<\/p>\n
Both are complimentary to each other like day and night, yin
\nand yang.<\/p>\n
Her work has been displayed prominently on catwalks and in art
\ngalleries.<\/p>\n
The mix of fashion design and fine art makes Tiarma's
\ncreations quite unique, many times wild and out of the mainstream
\ndue to her boldness to explore all possibilities.<\/p>\n
Even with this balanced philosophy, Tiarma named her fashion
\nstudio in North Bandung, Poleng. Poleng is a black-and-white
\ncheckered cloth used by the traditional Balinese dancers.<\/p>\n
\"Being in the fashion industry is tough. You face tough
\ncompetition, problems with budget and human resources and many,
\nmany other things,\" Tiarma told The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
\"Art keeps me balanced. It maintains my spirit to work and
\nexplore as well as to train my analytical side and my
\nimagination,\" she added.<\/p>\n
One striking feature about Tiarma's designs is that they
\nreflect her perspectives and surroundings. They might be too
\ncynical for many people, but they also bear truths.<\/p>\n
This gives her designs an inner strength so to speak.<\/p>\n
\"Fashion is a presentation of one's self. It is a personal
\nstatement,\" the words printed on her website at:
\nwww.geocities.com\/FashionAvenue\/Catwalk\/1798.html.<\/p>\n
Her recent work entitled Synthetic Love was currently
\ndisplayed at Pameran Seni Rupa Perempuan (Women's Fine Arts
\nExhibition) from April 5 to April 11 at Taman Ismail Marzuki
\nalong with 48 other female artists.<\/p>\n
Synthetic Love features a bright, thick pink synthetic fur
\ncoat and long pants, with a silvery corset made of glow-in-the
\ndark fitted plastic, and topped off with an outrageous, hot pink
\nfeather-laden helmet, or is it a wig?<\/p>\n
It comes with a heart-shaped fur bag and clear plastic water-
\nhose gloves, creating a bizarre, imaginative design.<\/p>\n
The sleeves, supported by a stainless steel structure, form
\nwing-like shoulders, making the model appear like an angelic
\ncarnival dancer who stumbled into a giant vat of shocking pink
\npaint.<\/p>\n
\"The design shows that nowadays there is hardly anyone who
\ntruly loves or gives something for nothing. Everything is fake,\"
\nthe 33-year-old designer explains.<\/p>\n
The design also shows how people tend to go overboard on
\neverything, she said.<\/p>\n
When worn by a 180-centimeter tall model, Synthetic Love can
\nreach 2.45 meter tall, thanks to the 20 centimeter fur-laden high
\nheel shoes and the 45-centimeter high headgear.<\/p>\n
Previously, Tiarma's Synthetic Love was one of the designs
\nentered during the annual Concours International des Jeunes
\nCreateurs de Mode fashion designer competition in December 2002
\nin Paris.<\/p>\n
Her 1999 Anti-Rape installation and fashion performance for
\nWearable Touring featured a line of sexy lingerie. Using light
\nfabric such as chiffon to accentuates female curves and lines,
\nsprinkled with beads and paillettes and finished with a lining of
\nsynthetic furs.<\/p>\n
The combination creates a sexy, warm, yet sly look.<\/p>\n
Her Anti-Rape line was very self-explanatory.<\/p>\n
\"Rape is a crime ... What women wear, does not justify rape,\"
\nsays Tiarma who graduated from the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology (ITB) after majoring in textile design in 1994 and the
\nRoyal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) for fashion design
\nin 1997.<\/p>\n
Exploration is another strong feature of Tiarma's designs.
\nWhile it is easy to pinpoint a fashion designer's signature,
\nTiarma's designs are so varied from contemporary to eccentric to
\nethnic, that it is often hard to spot her.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is too early for a young designer to settle on one
\ncertain style or design. Such a waste. They should explore as
\nmuch as they can,\" the energetic designer remarked.<\/p>\n
Fabric used in her designs also reflects her adventurous
\nspirit. From lycra to fiber to fur and plastic. Tiarma's designs
\ntry out many new things.<\/p>\n
Before starting her work as a independent designer, the
\ndaughter of German and Batak parents had been working as an
\nintern in several garment companies in Germany, Austria and
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
As one of top 10 during a Fashion Designer Competition in 1997
\n(LPM) organized by women's magazine Femina, she marked her debut
\nin the fashion industry.<\/p>\n
While many of Tiarma's creations often tend toward her artsy,
\neccentric side, as a fashion designer, she also provides
\nready-to-wear designs to meet market demands.<\/p>\n
Most of her ready-to-wear lines are have a 70's and 80's retro
\nlook. But, it still goes with the philosophy that fashion is a
\npersonal statement.<\/p>\n
One style, one individual is the motto of her Poleng Studio.
\nPoleng provides fashion design according to one personal
\ncharacter.<\/p>\n
Her educational background in textile design expanded her
\nexploration to design traditional cloth into modern designs.<\/p>\n
Tiarma's design on Batik Indramayu received many kudos during
\nthe Klondike Days 2000 fashion show in Edmonton, Canada.<\/p>\n
At present, Tiarma is preparing her future fashion
\nperformance. Taking local versus global theme, the performance
\nexpresses her growing concern over the strong domination of
\nglobal culture over local.<\/p>\n
\"When we looked at traditional clothing, we questioned whether
\nthey would become a part of history, as many teenagers are
\nreluctant to wear them,\" Tiarma explained.<\/p>\n
For the event, Tiarma is preparing around 40 Barbie dolls to
\nbe dressed in traditional costumes from Asian countries as a
\nrepresentation of local culture.<\/p>\n
It will be accompanied by a human fashion show to represent
\nthe global culture.<\/p>\n
\"I make my protests through fashion,\" she says with a chuckle.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tiarma-balances-art-and-fashion-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }