My research, Shape Shifter, takes place within the Learning Laboratory at UDK Art University in Berlin, where I focus on the intersection of fashion, culture, and identity through the dynamic lenses of art and performance. In this project, I explore how rituals, materials, and symbols in fashion and textile design embody cultural narratives and shape both identity and self-representation in a rapidly changing world.
Throughout this research, I engage with several core questions: How is culture expressed in fashion and textiles through rituals, materials, and symbols? What roles do fashion and performance play in shaping identity and self-representation? And how do contemporary designers and artists translate these cultural elements into form and textile?
At the heart of Shape Shifter is my investigation into how contemporary African designers and artists use fashion to connect cultural expression with personal identity. By looking at how cultural heritage and innovation are translated into tangible forms, my research aims to deepen the understanding of how fashion becomes a powerful tool for personal and collective storytelling.
I approach fashion as a medium for cultural narrative, examining how clothing and textiles serve as expressions of heritage, respond to cultural shifts, and engage with identity politics. Through case studies of specific designers and artists, I reveal how fashion communicates cultural histories and responds to the complexities of modern identity.
