Awarded 2019 Gehry Prize for Best Graduate Thesis Project
For over two decades, cosmetics have been linked to the notions of eroticism, allure, and theatrical performance. Today, cosmetics are aligned with notions of individuality, self expression, and play an essential role in empowering self-construction. Shaping Face is a project that aims to re-establish cosmetics in architecture, as including thickness, feature enhancement, exaggeration, ornamentation, and other transformational effects that empower individual expression of identity. Through a study of material culture of makeup, tools of application, and the techniques of various makeup artists, this project works to develop a cross-design vocabulary for a contemporary architectural cosmetics, one influenced by the vernacular architecture of South Los Angeles.
Done with a certain level of curation and play, and working from the same material palette powdery, glossy, matte, shimmery, metallic, and skin-like, each house was given a different look to accentuate or alter its features. Just as the production of a makeup look requires a specific order of application and layering of products, the houses are constructed of multiple layers of material. Using various kinds of silicone, (a material that behaves in a fugitive way similar to cosmetics), paper, wood, and paint, the houses were re-skinned on both the exterior and interior, producing a layered system. To challenge the assumed whiteness in classical notions of ideal beauty both in art and architecture, the houses are done up in different complexions to explore the depth and luminosity of the color brown.
The only two storey house, it has the loudest look revolved around its second level. The exterior is accentuated by feathered gold product, made of foiled gold pigment, all framed by a baby blue built up shadow, (which drapes across the pitched roof like a hat or a crown), two toned purple eyeliner, gold glitter glass, a shimmery purple lip stair, and gold accessories. Its interior is made up with dark and sparse graphic drywall, for an effect that “bears it all,” in complementary opposition to the “in your face” application on exterior.
Has an exterior characterized by its blown out blunt bob roof, asymmetrical eyes (glitter liner on one and bold lower lashes on the other), navy blue glitter glass, a black glitter lip stair, and silver accessories. The interior, subdued, filled with cool tones and hints of blush with graphic drywall applied to frame the large windows, revealing a small portion of untreated surface.
The house with a punchy exterior, done up with a sharp bright pink built-up shadow (a texture produced through baking several layers of spray adhesive and paint mains baby powder), bright green eyeliner, neon pink glitter glass, a dusty nude lip stair, rose gold accessories, and a bald head. The interior, bright and neutral, filled with light coming through the bare translucent roof, and graphic drywall applied with angled cutouts to mirror to the shadow layer on the exterior.
The installation featured a 7’0” tall triangular mirror and a presentation of the process and a makeup dictionary. Photos taken by Emmanuel Angulo