Exploration and design of gas masks seen in the body of work "PROTEST FASHION: THE CYBERPUNK REVOLUTIONARIES." This body of work draws upon imagery of the infamous 3M respirator that has exploded into the public conciousness as a result of recent political turmoil around the world. (Raymond Lam, Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, After Effects, 2020)
Created in Autodesk Maya, my piece virtual installation WELCOME TO THE CITY OF EXPIRED TEAR GAS, I explore the aftermath of a cyberpunk conflict. Here the Flower Respirator is placed among a pile of rubble, framed by toppled crowd control barriers. Expired tear gas canisters and simple weaponry like a metal bat and knife are placed around the respirator as a sign of reverence.
The lotus flower and cherry blossom proved to be a powerful throughline between all of the works in PROTEST BY DESIGN. In East Asian culture, the cherry blossom represents love, passion, and peace. The lotus flower represents the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The juxtaposition of the soft pinks and whites of both flowers and how they combined with the militaristic mask implied that the conflict against injustice required more than a wish for peace.
Mask Early Sketches and graphic designs
(Raymond Lam, Photoshop, 2020)
I sought to chase the mechanical and militaristic shapes of rectangular plates in early sketches, boxy filters of chemical gas masks, and gaping air ducts instead - combining them with the delicate curves of the cherry blossom flower.
