Institute of Art Design + Technology
Dún Laoghaire

Louise Holohan 

BA [Hons] 3D Design Modelmaking + Digital Art

Miniature model making is a fond passion of mine, although I am also particularly drawn to creating digital cartoon style portraits, vibrant watercolour paintings, and fake food replicas. My art generally manifests itself as dainty and delicate designs conveyed through rich, brilliant colours and intriguing subject matters. My career objective is to work in a creative environment which will challenge my ability as a model maker. I am keen to enhance my skills, particularly in prop making, and to immerse myself in the design industry. I have a strong creative ability and thrive to work in a position where I can express my artistic flair.

The Shawafa's Sanctuary

The Shawafa’s Sanctuary is a 1:12 scale model which was heavily inspired by the intricate relationship the Moroccan culture has with witchcraft and sorcery. Although rituals of magic are banned under Islamic rule, the long-established practices of Moroccan witchcraft are covertly being performed to this day by fortune tellers known as Shawafa’s. This model explores the life of Shawafa, Amina, who performs her rituals in the living room of her unsuspecting Casablanca apartment. My intention was to create a model which conveys to the audience the beauty and complexity of the Moroccan culture, as well as the grandeur of miniature model making.



Beyond the Ruffles and Bows

Lolita fashion can be observed as an outrageous spectacle to the oblivious eye. To its dedicated participants, the fashion serves as a portal to a meticulously constructed dream world. It is a world of pretty pink petticoats and laced blouses adorned with decadent silk bows, a world where the notion of childhood is perfectly perpetuated as the ideal state of being. My final year thesis explores the cultural context of the Lolita figure and her importance in contemporary Japanese society. By examining the socio-cultural context in which the contemporary Lolita grew up in, this thesis examines the validity in calling the Lolita culture an act of rebellion against the traditional social structures present in Japanese society. The Lolita culture is a complex form of insurgence which challenges the traditional values of Japanese culture, and the societal expectations imposed particularly on young people in Japan. Armed with tulle skirts and frilled stockings, their ruffles act as a resistant but passive force. The Lolita fashion not only challenges the harsh social structures and degrading patriarchal norms present in traditional Japanese society, but it provides a deeper social commentary on the youth subcultures of Japan. Labeled as a ‘rebellion with frills on’, the Lolita fashion reflects women’s empowerment as much as it highlights the darker truth behind Japan’s kawaii façade.