The Armor Theaterkostüm by Samantha Chijona Garcia and Vladimir Cuenca

The Armor Theaterkostüm by Samantha Chijona Garcia and Vladimir Cuenca is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award an Sëlwer in Duerstellend Kënschten, Bühn, Stil an Dekor Design Competition Category.

SëlwerDuerstellend Kënschten· 2020

The Armor Theaterkostüm

by Samantha Chijona Garcia and Vladimir Cuenca

Client: Jazz Martinez Gamboa

A' Design Award an Sëlwer Winner in Duerstellend Kënschten Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About The Armor Theaterkostüm

D'Rüstung ass en Theaterkostüm, dat fir de Charakter Richard III. an enger Bühneopféierung vun engem Shakespeare-Stéck erstallt gouf. D'Kostüm ass aus recycléiertem an net méi benotztem Material hiergestallt. Metallлинnen sinn op eng Köperjackett gedréit, während iwwerlappend Liederguetteren eng separat Struktur bilden, déi duerch Liederrimm an Schnalen verbonne sinn. En Handschuel aus Kettenpanzer schléisst den Äermel of, an en Zylinder aus Samt, gefüddert mat Metallsträifen, déngt als Helm. Déi sechs Deeler kënne bäigefüügt oder ewechgeholl ginn, wéi de Charakter sech am Verlaf vum Stéck verännert. D'Design reflektéiert souwuel de Kinnek wéi och de verletzbaren Mann an him.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Sëlwer

The Armor Theaterkostüm ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Sëlwer, enger aussergewéinlech prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un Designe vun der héchster Qualitéit, prächteg a beandrockend vergi gëtt. Sëlwer-Gewënner si bemierkenswäert brillant a ganz kreativ Wierker, déi d'erausragend Expertise, d'Talent an d'Schaarfsënnegkeet vun hire Designer weisen. Et gëtt erwaart, datt The Armor Theaterkostüm e wonnerbart, mustergëlteg, bemierkenswäert professionellt an déif innovatiivt Wierk ass. Dëst mam Sëlwer ausgezeechent Design ass eng bemierkenswäert, bewonnert Erfindung, déi dozou bäidréit, d'Grenze vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie ze erweideren. The Armor Theaterkostüm ass eng Kreatioun, op déi vill neidesch sinn, déi Wënsch erweckt, positiv Gefiller bréngt an Erstaunen a Wonner erweckt.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This armor, made with fully recycled materials, mixes metallic corset nerves referring to the classic western armor, topped by a butcher's chainmail glove that evokes the bloodthirsty of the character with leather leggings overlapping layers denoting the various faces assumed by the character during the plot. From a modernist vision in terms of fabric, overlapping and weaving of pieces the structure refers to the vulnerability of the King and the man who lives at the same time in Richard III.
Dimensions & Packaging: Armor- 45cmx30cmx55cm
Helmet- diameter:57cm High: 23cm
Tags: Costume design, Shakespeare, Richard III, Armor, theater, cuban designer, Samantha Chijona Design, schijonag.
Production Technology: The armor is compound by 6 pieces. 1: The metal structure, it is metal lines sewn on a twill weave jerkin jacket, 2: the leather armor, leather gaiters overlapping forms an independent structure that joins the rest of the set with leather straps closed by buckles, 3: The metal glove, a chainmail glove closes the cuff to give the sleeve a shot, 4: The helmet,
a velvet hat lined with metal strips works as an armor helmet 5: The pants, a black twill pants and finally 6: Black leather boots to the knees.
Design Challenge: The development of the piece became a challenge, I wanted to do something great for the character but working in Cuba is always difficult due to the lack of resources, so while researching, I also located materials. Looking in an antique warehouse I found these old pieces of unused corsets bones and leather leggings and decided to use them. With only one month to prepare the entire theater play with more than 16 characters we were detained in this armor for a week, assembling, testing and sewing piece by piece in search of achieving an attractive but useful result.
Research: My research flew over two essential aspects, the historical and the technical. After having studied for years Western and Japanese armors, the challenge of creating one was wonderful. I had to solve how I should use the historical engineering structures in those garments with the modern materials I had in hand. I read and compiled images and information, of the western armor, I appropriated the metal and the order of the parts while from the Japanese I took overlays of leather pieces sewn with cord. The result was a very visual and modern armor that keeps its basic function, protection.
Inspiration: Having studied for years structures that we use when dressing and that have protected and distancing ourselves from the real world I choose one of my favorite, the armor. I took advantage of the study of Western and Japanese war pieces and modernized it with the use of materials and disused pieces. The text of Shakespeare's play emphasizes the two faces and the physical problem of the character I used it as inspiration to separate and show the two parts of Richard III.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2018 in Havana, Cuba and ended in September 2018 in Havana, Cuba.
Operation Flow: The piece is compound by 6 small parts, the main three, armor jacket, pant and boots are easy to put, also it has another leather structure which should be placed with buckles while the hat and the glove are closed by an elastic piece. the interaction between the actor and the piece is determined for the modular form of the main piece, the person can take off the leather part, the helmet, the glove and keep only the base jacket, pants and boots, in the same way he can add more pieces throught the evolution of the character inside the theater play.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Chijona, Samantha, 2018
Team Members: Designer and Creative Director: Samantha Chijona
Designer: Vladimir Cuenca
Image Credits: Image 1,2,3,4,5: Samantha Chijona Photographer/ Samantha Chijona Designer /Richard III/ The Armor /Model: Maria Gabriela Sanchez, 2018