Madame Nicole aka Nicole Dextras gave free makeovers to shoppers as part of the StoreFront, objects of desire project at the Lansdowne Centre. Madame N was dressed in a white lad coat to emaulate the clean fresh authority of science of cosmetics and to mimic the free makeovers offered in shopping areas, which serve as a guise for selling products. Instead of makeup i applied flowers and leaves to embrace beauty plus the service was free with no strings attached. The intervention was staged in the middle of the atrium beside a white vanity with an ornate frame with no mirror. The participants ranged in age and cultural background, from shoppers to cleaning staff and it enabled intimate conversations and broke the new modern taboo of touching. This work is based on the concept that adorning the body is a healthy and natural thing to do. Working with plant material allowed me to pay tribute to the many cultures past and present that practice the art of body adornment with botanicals. I hope continue to explore the modern implications of beauty and adornment in future works.
- Madame Nicole sets up her free MakeOver station in the centre of the mall’s atrium
- Unlike the cosmetics counter mine was filled with flowers and pruners.
- Even Mall staff got into the action. I was so happy to brighten up her day.
- Rose petal and leaf sleeve edging
- Collar MakeOver with leaves and ferns
- A natural beauty.
- Did a whole family! Had to position the flowers so they would not interfere with their bike helmets as they were later going to the Lantern Festival.
- Once she say her mum get a MakeOver she wanted one too.
- A collar of red Heliconia flowers is a sure way to spruce up any black outfit.
- Even men can enjoy MakeOvers
- She said i could do something with her earrings, so i did!
- TShe said i could do something with her earrings, so i did!