FLEETING DREAMS
Book Design & PhotographyINSTRUCTOR: Ramone Munoz
MODEL: Aiqi Zhang
PHOTOGRAPHY DOCUMENTATION: Juan Román
UNHEARD VOICES
Geishas are professional traditional Japanese artists and are masters at communication. They are often misunderstood as prostitutes, especially in the western culture. As primary clients, men understand and appreciate the artistic allure of geisha, while women are more likely to misunderstand. Fleeting Dreams introduces a geisha’s art, their way of life, and honor, but ultimately the purpose is to humanize geishas so readers can relate and empathize. Seeing the profession from a different and deeper perspective.
Not just geishas, but women in general are often judged by their sexual appeal. Building connections with the readers by creating visuals and words that humanizes geisha. Utilizing the negative space, playing with the contrasting size and colors as way to portray depth and motion even in flat, static prints.
CINDERELLA OF THE EAST
The misconception is heavily engrained in the western cultures. Fleeting Dreams fused Cinderella’s story as a way to help western readers relate more to the geisha’s way of life.
THE FLAWLESS MASK
People wish fairytales are real, but it is all just a fantasy. A geisha’s job is to act as the ideal helpless women and make customers feel like they are prince charming. During the day a geisha’s life is full of struggles, only when they transform into a geisha can they forget their pain: just like Cinderella’s one night ball dance.
EVIL STEP SISTERS
Often misunderstood as prostitutes, due to complicated system of having patrons and the presence of the fake geishas. Using a familiar object, the egg, as a metaphor to clear the misconception.
Playing with typography that narrates the hidden dark reality of how society tends to objectify women, but breaking that convention through the testimonial stories that showcases a geisha’s pride. Meant to empower women to find their self-esteem.
THE MAGIC
Overwrite their history, and surpressing their pain as they transforms into a geisha. Depicting their frustrations through raw expressive movements.
DREAMS DO COME TRUE... TEMPORARILY
“It is a game we all agree to play. We are buying and selling dreams.”