Úna Burke’s Medical Armor
Our next and final feature on Late-to-the-Party Sunday is this collection of prosthetics-inspired, insectlike body armor created by recent University of the Arts London graduate Úna Burke, blogged everywhere and recently rediscovered by Haute Macabre. On her site, Burke explains the rationale behind these creations: “This is a conceptual collection of wearable art pieces, depicting a series of eight human gestures associated with the cause, the physical and psychological effect and the healing stages of human trauma…in my research I have referred to the work of artists, photographers and designers such as Hans Bellmer, Anthony Gormley, Alexander McQueen, Erwin Olaf, as well as looking at the casts of the victims of Pompeii. The entire collection made from undyed vegetable tanned leather which is reminiscent of caucasian flesh.”
Burke’s pieces are reminiscent of fellow Londoner Paddy Hartley’s Project Facade in their sensual combination of sculpture and fashion to represent body trauma and the trappings of recovery.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
A lame rip of Peter Lorre’s gig in Mad Love.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Go team Rude Dismissive Wall-Pissing!
But thanks for the reminder that Coilhouse needs to give Mad Love a shout-out. Incredible film.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Hey Chris, never seen that movie, it sounds good! Thanks for the “tip”!!
Mer, thanks for the post on your website, the collection has gotten really nice feedback online thanks to people like you.
All the best,
Úna.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:35 am
You’re welcome, Una… but thank my co-editor, Nadya. She wrote this one, not me. I do think this collection is absolutely stunning, and I can’t wait to see what you do next. Cheers!
November 27th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Thank-you Nadya.
Ú x
May 27th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
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January 18th, 2013 at 11:39 am
Dear Una. I have just happened to stumble across this page when googling for “fashion in late Pompeii”as I am about to do a uni piece on it myself (I am studying Costume Design in Scotland.)
I love your work here in Medical Armor, so original. And, if you don’t mind me saying, it reminds me of something between Prometheus (the film coming after your design of course) and the mummified findings of ancient Egypt. Truly stunning! keep up the inspirational effect ;)
If you have any tips at all on where I can find ANY info/books/sites on the trends, fashions, available fabrics/styles of pre and post Vesuvius Pompeii, I would be most grateful. Many thanks, Andie.