Paris Olympia
(she/her)
Paris Olympia Art was created purely as a way to share my art with others - the joy creating brings me comes both from the creative process itself, but more-so from the reactions received from customers. Inspired by retrospective aesthetics from the 60s, 70s and 80s, I aim to contrast and combine contemporary practices with radical aesthetics in my garment making, alongside exploring the intricacies of medical sciences and anatomy in my artwork.
Naarm
Where did your passion for fashion and creating originate?
“Ever since I was little, I’ve been fascinated by fabrics and textures. It may sound cliché, but for as long as I can remember, my life has always been centred around creating. As for fashion, I was always frustrated with commercial designs and fabrics and had this overwhelming urge to change or add to the clothes I already owned. This indescribable feeling would rush over me when I saw rolls and bolts of fabric in stores, a mixture of inspiration, excitement and endless ideas. Over time, my love for fashion matured to being part of my identity. I view clothing as an escape and a rebellion from conformity/society. Clothing defines us, defines our lives, the eras, and generations we experience. I’ve never felt that I particularly fit in, so I’ve always done my best to challenge trends and perceptions to purposely stand out”
What inspires you and your work?
Art and science inspire me most. Music, films, and books all contribute to the aesthetics and concepts I create. I have a fascination with the bizarre intricacies of life, art and science, juxtaposed alongside a passion for all things 60s psychedelia, 70s glam rock, 70s/80s punk and the subcultures that come from these generations I can only wish to experience.
Both in conjunction with, but quite analogous to these inspirations; my non-textile based artwork is heavily influenced by medical imagery and human anatomy. There are so many fascinating aspects of the human body, and the complexity of its composition, anatomical forms, and tissues. I have always been drawn to medical textbooks and similar depictions of the multiplicity of distortions, both in physical form and on cellular levels, that the body can endure or adapt to. My preferred aesthetics, on the contrary to my clinical interests, are usually retrospective, sometimes a bit radical, and incorporate combinations and experimentation with colour, texture, and pattern.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement to date?
Creating work that my audience, a customer, or a viewer finds joy or inspiration in is something I consider a great achievement. I believe that accomplishment lies in how you feel, or make others feel, rather than a physical form of praise. Something I am proud of having physically achieved, however, was exhibiting my artwork at the National Gallery of Victoria for Top Arts 2021 alongside so many intricate and thoughtful works.
Being only eighteen, just starting my second year of university, I truly do feel that the best is yet to come.
How has your practice changed over time?
My brand is still new, having only officially establishing it at the beginning of 2021, so my practice is still evolving and I’m still growing as an artist. A change I can pinpoint though, is that my works is more refined but more experimental at the same time, I tend to work as I go and embrace imperfections a lot more, especially in my artwork. My biggest drive for creativity has always been my experiences and the way I perceive life around me. So, reflectively, a major shift in my creative process (though quite subtle) emulates my feelings, inspirations, or fascinations at different points in time.
What do you hope your audience gains from your work?
My garments are made with the intention of sparking joy in others, this is a true passion of mine, and one of the main reasons I decided to create my brand. I love creating detailed pieces, yet flexible ones that can be worn in a multitude of ways, but that also stand-alone to allow for complete freedom in styling, leaving the possibilities up to customer creativity. Utilising custom orders as a means of allowing audience creativity has also become a major aspect of my brand. Creating unique, tailored designs is so important to me, as it allows those who interact with my work to embody their best selves – who they want to be and who they are in something they had voice in designing.
The garments I create, though quite colourful and ‘pretty’, are constructed with the idea of contrast in mind – taking something beautiful and styling it with clashing colours or an opposite aesthetic – pairing femininity with rebellion. I really hope to encourage this in future collections, I hope that my audience will utilise my pieces for pure self-expression and to be their true selves.
With my artwork, I also have the intention of creating pieces that are somewhat confronting, and open to interpretation. I don’t hold strict concepts to the things I create, I do this to encourage audience interpretation – take it literally or conjure up a theory.
What is next for you?
So many exciting things! I’m planning to more intensely combine my ‘formal’ artwork within my garment-making. I want to create pieces that truly embody ‘wearable artwork’. I’d also love to complement my current collections with garments that embody more experimentation with texture and contrast, overlaying fabrics like tulle, creating structure, embroidering, painting, and pinning (I have an obsession with safety pins!). I want to challenge in-trend aesthetics, as well as my own. Fashion and art are so modular. Creating works that can be perceived as a combination of both would be such an excellent way to unify the perceptively distinct processes and form artwork that can be explored, viewed, and contemplated and worn anywhere and on anyone.