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DA INSPIRE LIVE Finalist Interview

Keep on challenging, keep on learning.

中国台湾エリア・グランプリ：

Little Secret

王怡文

(WANG, I-WEN)

/ DESIGNER / 1990.5.8 Born

TAIWAN(CHINA) Area

WANG, I-WEN, who nicely won the championship in TAIWAN(CHINA) area. This is her fourth participation. Beautifully grasped the essence of the theme "Realitive", Wang has learnt a lot about fashion and hair styles in her victory indeed. This time, we have Wang to talk about her victory and all previous preparation- she said it's a chance for her to gain confidence.

Ⅰ．The Preparation before the DA Area Competition

--have heard that this is your fourth participation in the competition, could you share some stories about that?

I first participated the previous championship in 2015 as an assistant. I was amazed by the experience of meeting so many designers; they gathered and shared about their great ideas, I was like "Wow!", then I started dreaming participating as a designer myself. Then, DA-Inspire started in Taiwan in the following year, I was just a junior designer at that time but lucky me I have got the nomination from my salon.

--What was the result at that time?

I didn't have any skills and confidence, so I was not surprised to know I couldn't get into the next round.

--Oh, really. So, you continued to participate in three other consecutive years in the competition. What made you participate this year?

I had a taste of the professional world and I really learnt a lot in the preparation process so I decided to join the competition in 2018. It's so different from my daily routine work in salon that I could talk and communicate with many other designers, it's really a wonderful experience, I love it. And, this is already my fourth time so I talked to myself- I will make it.

Ⅱ．The Preparation before the Area Competition

--What did you learn and aim to have in your continuous participation every year?

It's the forth year since my first participation. As I have different roles every year, I gained different things. Every year I get something from the competition so I can put them into next year- I think of how to make my work better and what should I do.

--Could you give some examples?

Regarding fashion, a designer in my salon won the competition at the first time I helped as an assistant. The model was actually wearing my clothes. Then, in the next year when I joined as a designer, I also made my model wear my clothes but that time I realized many other candidates specifically made clothes for the DA. Their designs were all well-balanced.

--So, you learn from your participation.

Right, from my continuous failure though. [Laughter] In 2017 I prepared a stylish outfit for my model but I think I have tried too much. I think I eventually knew the idea of "Realitive" when I looked at the work of the winner of the final DA championship that time. That's not merely something what the designer wants but something suits the model that you feel like she can walk on the streets perfectly. Hence, I learnt to strike a balance between the outfit and the image, and tried to match them with different hair styles.

--I see. Were there any hard time then?

This time, the characteristics of my model is really strong that she suits every one of the hairstyle. Of course, I started preparing months before and tried to look at different things to stimulate my own thinking, other than just the clothes. I also joined some workshops to strengthen my skills, simply tried my best to think of different recipes of the hairstyles.

--How do you interpret "Realitive", the theme of the competition?

The creative designs for competitions are always difficult for real lives, so I think "Realitive" is like something very unique to yourself, like the essential elements to be put in the hair design. To me, I think creating a unique style is the crucial point for designers.

Ⅲ．About the work

--Could you talk about your works Area Competition starting from Panel A?

Nowadays, people's lives are inseparable from technologies. I just want to convey this message in my work- that's " coldness in technologies", that's the separation of people and weak human relationship along the development of technologies. For instance, everyone just looks into his or her phone when dining out with friends; no one talks. That's inspired by the movie "Chungking Express". In metropolitan cities human relationships are all weakened, they have no care towards each other so the city is so cold and I want to pass this message through the color, the atmosphere, and the facial expression of the model.

--What a deep message. What about panel B?

Panel B is about the other side of the message of the weakened bonding between humans stemmed from the development of technologies. The theme of the design is "a robotic girl with artificial consciousness". I want to say that robots are getting more and more human-like along the development of technologies. Thus, I made use of the combination of grey, purple, and blue to show the coldness of technologies. The make up blurs the boundary between humans and robots so you can't tell what she is.

--What bout model C?

Model C is cool in person so I tried using red, a warm color, and merge her with A and B. Bangs are put behind her ears and hair is left open down to the costume so it looks like everything's connected/ It's like the blood flow in the cold human relationship. I aim to tell the bonding of human emotions through this image.

--Everything is unified. Do you think there are any particular parts that showed your originality?

Actually, I am very much into the colorful, cute street fashion in Japan so I think I do always draw audiences' attention through bright colors. But, in fact, I didn't plan everything ahead, I love having unexpected at the end that can work beyond my original standard. You can't go beyond your own boundary if you have thought too much right from the beginning. (P)

Ⅳ．Becoming an Area Representative

--How did you feel when your name is called as a finalist?

The three previous time I was like merely experiencing what the competition is. But this forth time, I wanted it so bad. When I compared myself with others, I found that I have studied a lot, I have done a lot , and I have experienced a lot but I am not competible enough. So, it was really great and touching when i know I have won after so many trials. That's a great milestone and confirmation of my ability, for the me who have had no confidence. As the Japanese proverb goes, you have to sit on the stone for three years for something, hard work does bring returns.

--So, you did a really great job this time. The Grand Prix Final is just around the corner, can you share with us what you are doing as preparation?

Keep learning and improving myself, and be confident. It would be great if I could achieve something as a Taiwan representative. And I also look forward to the communication with the representatives from other areas.

--Finally, let's share your enthusiasm for the game.

That's the lines I always hear from my boss- "Go beyond the boundaries in front of you, and aim at something higher!"

--Please keep on your hard work! Thank you very much for today!

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