unIDENTIFIED  -  this seemingly simple word can have multiple meanings by emphasizing it differently. At first, my intention was to describe someone or something, who grew up in different cultures searching for his own belonging and way of lifestyle. Be it culture-wise, look-wise or even social-wise. Someone, who feels unidentified.

I was born in Germany, but raised in an Iranian household. A literal culture clash, if you view it that way. So i‘ve been, and sometimes am, in the phase of asking myself „Who am I?“ or „Where do I really come from?“. A more or less called identity crisis, while categorizing myself into one or another culture and wondering, how it would feel without this type of clash.

While working on this project I quickly realized, that I‘m not that unidentified as I always thought I was. Why do we have to choose between one option? Why can‘t we just except the fact, that it will always be a niche between both cultures and embrace the best of both worlds? With the help of experimenting with old family pictures I discovered, who I am.

„unIDENTIFIED“ shows how my families past formed my future and the person I‘m identifying with today. Along with three designs forming one collection, I emphasized the feeling of an identity crisis, a blurry perception, the feeling of a bi-cultural identity and how both cultures working together to form one.

Material:

100% denim cotton                                                                                                                                   

Technology:

In cooperation with Kornit Digital, printed with Kornit Presto Max; direct to fabric print

Special quality:

Camouflage on the first hand, specially because of it‘s history, has nothing really to do with „unIDENTIFIED“. But the aspect of “blending in”goes hand in hand with it.
At first, this method of designing sounds brutal, but I promised, no family pictures were harmed in this procedure.
Burning family pictures printed on transparent paper is extremely fascinating.
Depending on its thickness, transparent paper is made out of two sheets pressed together. Because of it‘s two layers, the heat of the fire gets stuck in between the sheets and bubbles appear on the surface. It could be a metaphor of „being in the air“.
Something similar to not knowing where to go. Blending in, being in the air and embracing it. That‘s what this is about.

Contact:

Email: whoisnaahal(at)gmail.com
Instagram: whoisnaahal