Lady Manhattan
A mask that represents my alter ego, Lady Manhattan; New York's most important hostess.
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In this introspective project, create a mask as a reflection of your artistic self. Participate in workshops where you find your Ikigai to guide you in finding an alter ego.
The final product must include the mask, a bio, and must be presented in class within 12 minutes alongside any other artifacts needed to express your persona.
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Graphic Designer | Art Director | Copy Writer
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Tutors
Angelo Palma | Soon in Tokyo
Noelia Morales | Anna Bonny
Bernard Arce
Lucia Colombo
The Presentation
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Lady Manhattan at home with wallpaper pattern Photoshopped into the background.
Original Image Credit: Iris Apfel photographed by Christopher Sturman -
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Alter Ego Bio
Bio of Lady Manhattan written out as an article from The New Yorker. I built an interactive online article fashioned after The New Yorker’s website using Figma which can be found here.
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Photo Credit: Iris Apfel photographed by Keith Major
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Image Credit: Karen Walker in “Magic Hands” by Ari Seth Cohen
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Mask Representation of Alter Ego
Instead of a traditional mask that covers the face, I opted to create a wallpaper which covers the walls of a home. The home Lady Manhattan inhabits is the aim of my creative goals more so than her physical being. Wallpapers are also a sign of stability whlie also being a storytelling medium.
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wallpaper layer 1 | Art Deco inspired pattern
The first layer of the wallpaper is this Art Deco inspired pattern I made using Illustrator. Art Deco is a huge part of New York City design and speaks to the fun and grandeur of the 1920s - the vibe Lady Manhattan seeks to create in her space. The pattern is inspired by peacock patterns. As a hostess, Lady Manhattan tends to peacock herself while hosting. The bird feature is replaced by a champagne flute and sparkling bubbles. As her drink of choice it also speaks to the events that are taking place in her home.
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wallpaper layer 2 | Flying Swans and Champagne silk fabric
To continue with the champagne theme, I added a layer of silk champagne fabric to the wallpaper. The flying swans are an homage to Swan Lake. The scene where Odette leaps towards her death, to me marks the end of her fate being defined by men and her taking charge of her destiny. In her home, Lady Manhattan is fully in charge in a way that many women can’t be in other circles. She’s learn to embrace the power of being herself and share it with others.
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wallpaper layer 3 | Forbidden fruit
Inspired by some chinoiserie wallpaper designs seen throughout the homes of NYC high society, I added these hand painted trees to the wallpaper. Each tree has seven apples with one of those apples having a bite taken out of it. The references to Eve here are not just a representation of the rebellious spirit Lady Manhattan carries with her, but also about the respect Lady Manhattan has towards Eve as a matriarch. The tree represents setting down your roots and creating generational wealth and history. As a woman of color, this is especially important to me.
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Gatherings at Lady Manhattan's Town House
Photoshopped images showing several gatherings at Lady Manhattan’s town house. The goals of these events is to share memories among people from a variety of backgrounds. People who are like-minded but circles do not cross come together in this space. Always the socialite though, there is bound to be a celebrity or two in the mix.
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THE CONCEPT
After completing the Ikigai workshop, I found that my creative goal is to create spaces for collaboration and to create spaces for different voices to be heard. In finding an alter ego that embodies these goals, I thought of the older socialite Lady Manhattan. Both of us are New York City natives, but unlike myself, she has been a socialite for decades. Her home is the space where she can create meaningful events and connections between people. Because of this, it seemed important for the mask to be a representation of the space instead the Lady herself which is why I created a wallpaper design.
I love the confidence, wisdom and eccentric nature of Lady Manhattan. Although seemingly out of touch with reality, her home and events make everyone feel at home. Creating comfort so we all flourish is my goal not just creatively but in life.