Wonho Do
Fabric Sculptor • Visual Artist
School of the Art Institute of Chicago ‘22
Contact: winnodo94@gmail.com
Wonho Do
Fabric Sculptor • Visual Artist
School of the Art Institute of Chicago ‘22
Contact: winnodo94@gmail.com
Phishe is a collection focusing on sharing the aesthetics and of joyfulness of fishing, and the pleasure when anglers catch a fish. A lot of people who can’t get out of fishing say it’s because they can’t forget the moment when the fish gets hooked. Nobody is going to forget the nervousness, when line gets tight and the float drowns down, and nobody is going to forget the moment, when they realized they really won the fish and caught it at last.
You don’t have to think anything while you’re waiting for a fish to bite your bait. I would say this is a brain clearing behavior. At that moment, you don’t have to deal with all the complicated situations you are confronted with. It’s totally the time to simplify your brain cells and focus on your most primitive sense of catch.
It’s funny that anglers just cannot get out of fishing even if they did not get any fish. No wonder how painful it is going to be to go back home with empty hands. However, nobody pushed them to be in that pain. It is themselves. The fact is, not the fishes but the anglers are hooked themselves. They cannot quit because they are actually hooked to the hope they are going to catch a big game fish someday.
Today’s fishing is closer to sports than survival, unless you are a fisherman. Likewise, the most important point of Phishe is joyfulness. Strong colors and funny shapes are used. The imagery of it is inspired by collaging vintage fishings photos. In my collages, I use not only vintage photos, but also cartoonish colored images to create fun vibes.
The garments use casual waterproof fabric, echoing which is used for a lot of fishing gear. Moreover, even none water proof fabric is waxed to emphasis the idea of practicality. Stiff feeling fabric, that can hold their shape tight, is also used to offer the strong image of fishermen. To add, requirements of fishing are not really different for the modern fishing too. Even if you are just an angler, not a fisherman, trying to have fun, you will be easily tired of staying there and winding the reel forever, unless you have a strong body and mentality. So to have fun, strength is indispensable.