S A F A R I
Just like animals use their patterns, spots and colors of their skins and furs to merge with the environment in order to prolong their fleeting life, humans mask every day in order to fit into social norms and stereotypes. However, clothes with wild animal patterns and designs are directly contrary to the norms and stereotypes for, unlike our most frequent, simple clothing choices, tigers, leopards, snakes and rabbits are easy targets for the looks of the people around. Animal prints, or better to say real animal skins and furs were something that was considered a status symbol in the tribal communities. It was a symbol of power, strength and experience of the ones wearing them, and often even, they evoked fear. Later on they became a symbol of prestige and elegance in "haute couture".
Today real animal skins are greatly substituted by various artificial, often cheap and accessible materials imitating them. This made it possibility for the majority to wear, and by wearing to feel, maybe exactly all the previously mentioned symbols, that were before reserved for the fortunate few.
Today real animal skins are greatly substituted by various artificial, often cheap and accessible materials imitating them. This made it possibility for the majority to wear, and by wearing to feel, maybe exactly all the previously mentioned symbols, that were before reserved for the fortunate few.
Safari is a series that explores the psychological background of the human desire for imitating certain animal species and also the human relationship to these species. These new beings presented in the series, yet unknown to biology, hold somewhat of their original models – people and animals.
Can it be that this is a new way we humans show solidarity and belonging to the animal world in hope that we will find our forgotten roots in nature, we so much alienated from in the past century? Or, is it yet another way of endless human tendency to tame, conquer and finally appropriate nature...
Can it be that this is a new way we humans show solidarity and belonging to the animal world in hope that we will find our forgotten roots in nature, we so much alienated from in the past century? Or, is it yet another way of endless human tendency to tame, conquer and finally appropriate nature...
(extract from the catalogue text written by Ivana Tomanovic)
*No animals were harmed for the purposes of this project.
All clothing items are faithful imitation of skins and furs of the presented animals
*No animals were harmed for the purposes of this project.
All clothing items are faithful imitation of skins and furs of the presented animals
Big thanks to all the models, contributors and friends, for all their help and support:
Jelena Matić, Vesna Danilović, Ivana Tomanović, Ćira, Manja Lekić, Mia Ćuk, Ivana Cvetko, Hruska Dóra, Bárdy Anna, Bense Mónika, Miklósvári Andrea, Csengeri Adrienn, Frey Orsi, Kormendi Csilla, Flanek Márton, Tüske Emma, Virágvölgyi Flóra, Virágvölgyi Gergő, Mihály Demeczky,Regina Bruckner, Annamária Strobl, Anđelka Janković, Mirjana Mrvić, Flanek Péter, Flashback Photostudio Budapest.
.....And thank you for watching ....
.....And thank you for watching ....
