The Etched Blank. (蝕刻的餘白)

Category: Apparel

This collection, titled "The Etched Blank," explores the narrative of cognitive decline and mental disorder, visually translating the fragmented and mottled consciousness of Alzheimer’s patients through the transformative textures of leather. The term "Etched" signifies the irreversible marks left by pathology on life, while "Blank" represents the mental chasms and disconnections formed in the wake of forgetting. In terms of material language, the central torso utilizes linen-colored leather, whose primitive and raw tactile quality symbolizes the initial pure and soft core of human consciousness. As the visual focus radiates outward, it transitions into eroded, mottled leather, a metaphor for the damage to neural circuits, creating chaotic and uncontrollable mutations. The exaggerated, asymmetrical wave-like sleeves simulate the visual noise generated by the brain's decaying neural pathways; these fluctuating curves intentionally shift the visual center of gravity, deeply echoing the patient's instability and psychological disorientation. The complex woven structure on the lower legs symbolizes the patient’s struggle to re-establish connections within broken thoughts; these grids, though tight, are filled with voids (blanks), embodying the inherent dignity and life value that remain even within a fractured soul. This work is dedicated to countering the disposable culture of fast fashion through the exceptional durability of leather. Just as leather develops a captivating patina over time, the life of a person with dementia—though disordered—possesses a narrative where every crease and mark is worthy of respect. Through this "memory-retaining" natural material, I have recorded the struggle and lingering warmth of a soul during the process of cognitive dissipation, bestowing the sustainable value of Slow Fashion and conveying a profound belief in honoring the full cycle of life.