From the beginning of Projection1, my project has focused on creating a series of conceptual wearable products that functioned as body implants for controlling and physically and mentally transforming females to serve the needs of patriarchy. I have developed three body implants with mixed materials such as plastic, ceramic and wires.
To make my project available to the public, the first action I took was to create user instructions, including safety warnings for each implant. I took reference from vacuum cleaner instructions and several medicine user instructions and developed several versions of Important Safety Instructions. The goal is to present believable products to the public. As for the contents of the instructions, I added some more sarcastic twists by adding sections about side effects and warnings. For example, I included “This implant is not considered a lifetime device”.
The feedback from audiences about the user instructions indicates that the information about each product is clear and convincing due to the choice of formats and material. However, my position is not delivered, and the visual language does not show much sarcasm toward the patriarchy. The intention of this project, according to the audiences, remains unclear and has even been read as the opposite position from my enquiry. Adopting the “scientific” and “medical” impression of visual language certainly makes the project more believable but also removes elements that suggest my position. Furthermore, the instructions only reveal parts of my project; in other words, presenting the products with instructions is not enough for viewers to understand the whole picture of this project.
The following are the plans addressing the problems above. First, I will create more pieces, such as pamphlets, advertisements, and publications, that provide more details about the project. The content of publications would include background information on this project, along with each product. The audiences, then, would have access to the concept behind the project. The second is to alter the visual language of this project to reinforce the sarcastic tone. For example, I could take references from sports and fitness brands that target male customers and develop a similar visual identity for the body implants. The project could provide an impression of development by a male-dominated manufacturer that serves the needs of patriarchy. Last but not least is to create scenarios and narratives of characters adopting body implants in their daily actions. The narratives would provide more messages than safety instructions. For example, a narrative could suggest when and why the body implants were used.