lorrin liang

Starting from the title of the collection, MEN-TAL-ENT, which derives from
the combination between “MENTAL” and “TALENT”, it is possible to
understand the core stimuli behind the concept.
My inspiration comes from a 1926 Japanese avant-garde movie named
“A Page of Madness”, directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa, revolving around
the story of a family living inside/outside an asylum.
The movie used surreal illusions and masks to translate the transformation
and the connection between patients and normal people, not only to
reveal two different personalities under one person but also to show the
talents hidden inside every patient, their deepest inner side.
For me, so-called mentally-ill people have amazing interior world, although
this wonder comes with huge pain. Some of them want to escape from
their bewilderment, others are able to adapt to it and even enjoy it,
because they don’t know this is a sort of replica.
We see things the way they are, but these sensitive minds have a distorted,
yet much more personal and incredible perception of these things. At the
same time, normal people would like to create a fancier, more elusive
world, while mental patients are keen to recognize the real scene of the
real world… Who knows then who is the real insane?!
The collection’s silhouette combines asylum uniforms with Japanese
kimonos. Also the selection of fabrics alternates hospital-related cottons
and kimono’s silks.
By playing with the inspiration of this black&white old movie, I have tried
to create an innovative, modern, bright narration, expressed by colors
taken from Kimonos. The print pattern merges and repeats Japanese
flowers, traditional masks and surreal graphs.