tutu? tootoo? tutoo?

During the summer I had a dream that I was wearing an luminous green dress made out of tutu material and it completely encompassed my body in its tulle. Since this dream I have been thinking about the tutu and how they are relatively quick and simple to make as they require little materials and no stitching. Tutus also have strong connections with ballet and dancing which 

I began making tutus out of brightly coloured netting by looping and tying strips round rope and ribbon. My idea is to make multiple tutus (must think of another name for to me they aren't tutus), that tie around different parts of the body in order to completely cover it in netting to create a sort of mad colourful tutu-suit! For the first green one I had I two slightly different colours of green that were also slightly different in texture. One was netting and the other was alot tighter weave so it has a less fluid movement. The different materials add a depth and texture that help it to look fuller. One of the reasons I like working with netting is because it is the sort of material that has a life of its own; even when you have stopped moving it continues to move of its own will making it kind of ethereal, which is why I made the pink piece purely out of netting and not the thicker weave material. 

I hung them up on my studio wall with drawn arms coming out the sides for the 2nd and 3rd year group crit and its interesting to see them hung and not on a body like this. I drew the arms partly to be slightly funny and also because I don't have a mannequin I thought this might be a good way to visualise it on a person as it very difficult to see things on yourself when you are not in possession of a mirror. I think that they work as a hanging sculpture as well as on the body although I definitely prefer them on a body as they begin to move and dance and have fluidity. Each 'tutu' ties around a different part of the body, but when you move around they are prone to falling down so maybe there is a better way to attach them to the body. 

My intention is to create multiple 'tutus' that cover the body from the neck down and to really push the idea of extremes - more is more is more! Then to wear this costume in a variety of situations - not so much a performance just wearing it doing everyday things. Going back to last years works I would still love to wear a costume in a gallery environment - an art work looking at an artwork. I love the idea of inhibiting movement or restricting the senses which is something I want to play with in future work. In the 2nd and 3rd year group crit it was suggested that instead of a mannequin I could use the greek sculptures around uni which I think would be hilarious. Imagine walking past a beautiful and flawless greek sculpture only it was covered in brightly coloured tutus and a crazy hat or something? It would definitely make you smile at least. I think thats what I want my work to bring to the audience. If not a sense of fun a smile at least! Harriet also suggested in the group crit wearing it at the private view of her group exhibtion responding to colour 100 Levels at Nunns Yard in November, as she has invited the audience to wear bright colours to compliment the show. I also think it would be funny to wear it in really mundane and everyday situations like going to macdonalds or going clothes shopping.