Glitch And Garments: Artist Blurs The Line Between Tech And Couture

Images via Jake Stollery's website

Melbourne-based artist Jake Stoller creates digital pieces consisting of a collection of work that blend technology, 80s/90s inspiration without succumbing to Web 1.0 kitsch, and most obviously, fashion. Though his images are riddled with trends of the last three years and runway influences, his style is unwaveringly consistent throughout his short-yet-blooming career.

Composite, a portraiture series, features over-pixelated models and explores digital and organic identity. The fragmented profiles, like 'E (above), provoke questions, such as do the images of an anonymous, pixelated babe reflect the ongoing and ever-popular discussion of how real women should look versus the Photoshop-enhanced ladies of high fashion magazines? Is she a blank slate? Can she be every woman, or is this commentary on the over-edited models we see every time we open up a Tumblr?  The images do not offer a succinct answer, but they do provide an tasty warp of the fashion magazine identity we are all familiar with.

He Made She Made Gallery, located in Sydney, recently played host to Stollery’s newest ventures in 3D printing. For the gallery’s Masked Intentions exhibition, twenty-one artist recreated twenty-one 3D-printed masks. Stollery’s Oracle (above) was crafted using a Kinect depth sensor as a 3D scanner and laser printed using nylon polymer. It's the kind of piece that wouldn't look out of place at a Telfar or Hood By Air runway premiere.

Stollery follows in the footsteps of many who’ve dabbled in the emerging 3D format, notably Catherine Wales, whose Project DNA collection received its fair share of deserved press. Fashion has been quick to jump on the 3D trend, something it does best, and with Stollery’s fashion and technology obsession, he’d be wise to continue to pursue the technology to enhance his artistic sensibilities.

Stollery’s other work includes a pop art-influenced image of video game Fallout 3’s Vault Boy for Hyper Magazine (above), album covers, and a Tron-inspired projection piece that brings to mind Alexander Wang’s spring 2013 show:

With a steady onslaught of exhibitions, including one titled ORGNL.TV  that took place in New York last year, Stollery is steadily gaining exposure. His Dis Mag-friendly style may be in tune with the fashion-art-internet zeitgeist, but his work is so unwaveringly pretty, so consistent, that he's an emerging creator to keep our eyes (and browsers) focused on.

You can view more of Jake's fantasy fashion at Jake Stollery.com.