Wonho Do
Fabric Sculptor • Visual Artist
School of the Art Institute of Chicago ‘22
Contact: winnodo94@gmail.com
PHISHE, Smoking Fish
Mood Board
PHISHE_Look#1, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
Innocent little fish running away from predators.
PHISHE_Look#2, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
Predator fish chasing for some preys. Fishes in the wool jacket has machines in it. Each of them have vibration sensor which makes them flip when the person is moving.
PHISHE_Look#3, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
Another predator fish. Water proof heavy duty canvas is used. There's a room for a backpack on the backside. So the garment actually goes over the backpack which makes it able to prevent the backpack form getting wet.
PHISHE_Look#4, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
Stingray. Stingray and puff fish are usually not a good guest to anglers.
PHISHE_Look#5, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
Puff fish. Waterproof polyester is used. Also waxed the cotton pants to make it waterproof.
PHISHE_Look#6, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
Angler trying to catch the fishes. But is getting distracted by puff fish and stingray. On the right side there's a pocket for cigarettes. No more than three cigs a day tho. Your body's not going to like it.
PHISHE_Look#7, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
Another angler. A lot of pockets are on the vest. Always put your lures as close as you can.
PHISHE_Look#8, 2022, photo by Katie Murray
A fisher with lots of nets. Lures are used as embellishment on the skirt. Now you can catch a fish with your skirt at anytime anywhere.
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.