Year Archive for 2008
DESIGN FESTA: LOLITA ART EXHIBITION, TOKYO DECADANCE GOTH BODY PAINTING.
Anyone else here a raving fan of the Garfield and Friends cartoon (1988-1994)? From the third to seventh season, the theme song went a little bit like this:
“Dancing, fiesta! Romancing, siesta! Samba, la bamba… aie caramba!”
That’s what I was humming to myself (okay, singing aloud) as I moseyed around Tokyo’s Design Festa. The two-day, twice-yearly event attracts over 7000 crazy persons (a.k.a. artists), who are given a sliver of floor space to express their inner animal. For some, this means dragging random attendees onto a stage and crowning them Mushroom King/Queen (top right).
Crazy persons, you say? No wonder the J-Goth crew came out to Design Festa, along with a number of cyber / Gothic / Lolita types.
The Tokyo Decadance regulars re-staged their Halloween performance, but made it longer and less kinky. Basically, they went Jackson Pollock on each other to the soundtrack of EBM (electronic body music). Entwining limbs created a living painting of blood, kabuki, and death.
The more hardcore performers got acrylic paints down their throats and on their eyeballs!
Many Gothic and Lolita independent fashion designers had booths at Design Festa. I’m overly familiar with the major brands, so it was nice to see something both different and handmade.
The sweet accessories are truly works of art.
Over a dozen exhibitors specialized in creepy dolls, along with Lolita-fied Blythes.
Now I have the “Abu Dhabi” song from Garfield and Friends stuck in my head… What were your favorite childhood cartoons?
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GOTHLOLI OF THE WEEK #47: KAREN.
† Name/URL: Karen O’Keeffe.
† Age: I’m 39 years OLD (40 on January 30th).
† Location: I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
† How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
I was introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion in February 2006. I was on MySpace, clicking around when I found a page that had many Malice Mizer videos. I had never heard of them before. Their way of presenting music was completly facinating to me. I am part of the Gothic community here in Toronto and was dressing goth and although I liked the clothes there was something about sporting the trad-goth look that didn’t sit right with me. When I saw how Mana was dressed I thought “perfect-this is ME” and I made the transition. Dressing Gothic Lolita is just a very comfortable place for me to be.
† What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
I have always liked dressing in a way that is “well put together” and this ethic is simply able to thrive within the realm of Gothic Lolita! The same can be said for the culture. There are so many rude, pushy and inconsiderate people out there and I want nothing to do with that. I do believe it is part of GL culture to be above that-to present ourselves as decent ladies. I believe that when you adopt the GL style one should adopt this attitude as well.
† What are your favorite GL clothing brands?
My favouite brand is Moi Meme Moitie. But I suppose I am an equal opportunity brand lover! I like Metamorphose and there are some black dresses from Baby and Alice and the Pirates that I would really love to own!
† Any other comments?
I wear Lolita pretty much on a daily basis but my favourire place to wear it is onstage! I wear the look with pride and hope that I am being a good ambassador for our scene.
If you would like to be the next Gothloli of the Week, please read the submission instructions here. For all your Lolita shopping needs, check out the links to clothing brands on the right column of my blog.
LA CARMINA
