A UBC costume design professor has collaborated with a Faculty of Medicine neuroscientist and cancer cell biologist to create a collection of ball gowns inspired by microscopic photos of cancer cells and cellular systems.
The project aims to create alternative imagery for discussions of cancer, to complement existing examples such the pink ribbon, which is an important symbol for cancer awareness, but may not accurately represent women’s experience with the disease.
“Many women who have battled cancer express a disconnect with the fashion imagery that commonly represents the disease,” says Jacqueline Firkins, Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Film, who designed the collection of 10 dresses and dubbed the work “Fashioning Cancer: The Correlation between Destruction and Beauty.”
Inspired by cellular images captured by researchers in the lab of Christian Naus, a Professor of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and a Peter Wall Distinguished Scholar in Residence, the project seeks to create artistic imagery based on the disease itself.
“Jacqueline was looking for something more tangible than the pink ribbon image associated with breast cancer,” Dr. Naus recalls.
The former Director of UBC’s Life Sciences Institute initially thought she was going to print these images on clothing. But used the images as the basis for the entire design of each gown.
“While some of the microscopic images are of cancer cells, many involve “normal” cells,” Dr. Naus says. “This reflects that fact that cancer does not invade our bodies from outside, but our normal cells become ‘transformed’ during the disease process. In many cases, cancers hijack the normal cellular processes, diverting them into disease pathways.”
“Interdisciplinary projects linking art and science such as this provide an ideal forum for an inclusive engagement between cancer survivors, cancer researchers and the general public,” he says.
“My hope is that somehow through fashion, I more closely tap into what a woman might be feeling about her body as she undergoes the disease, but simultaneously reflect a strength, beauty, and resilience,” says Firkins, who will use the collection to raise money for cancer research, patients and survivors.
A free public presentation and discussion of the ‘Fashioning Cancer’ collection will take place March 25 at noon.
“This will be an opportunity for people to share their thoughts about the gowns,” Firkins says. “Are they too pretty to reflect something as destructive as cancer? Do they encourage you to tell your own story? Do they evoke any emotions related to your own experience?”
Event: Fashioning Cancer: The Correlation between Destruction and Beauty
- Date: Tue. March 25, 2014 | Time: 12-1pm
- Location: UBC’s Frederic Wood Theatre, 6354 Crescent Rd.
- Map: http://bit.ly/1fZ4bC8
- Contact: Deb Pickman | deb.pickman@ubc.ca | 604.319.7656
The public event is supported by a Research Mentorship Grant from UBC’s Peter Wall Institute For Advanced Studies.