EXPRESSIVE INTERPRETATION IN DESIGNING COSTUME FOR AN EXHIBITION. A STUDY OF “BECOMING THE ELEMENT”

Costume design is a vital element of the theatre, where ideas are communicated through a visual narrative. Traditionally, costume has been associated primarily with character interpretation, but in contemporary practice, its expressive nature extends beyond giving a character depth. It functions as an interpretative art that breaks the boundaries of creativity, allowing even abstract ideas to be expressed visually through costume. The aim of this project is to investigate the expressive nature of costume in bringing abstract ideas to life and to examine the processes involved in designing costumes that express not only aesthetic appeal but also conceptual depth. It seeks to conduct a practical investigation of costume as a medium of non-character-based expression in innovative platforms such as exhibitions, using Becoming the Element as a case study. The research adopts a qualitative approach, employing both primary and secondary methods of data collection. The primary method involves participant observation and interviews, while the secondary method draws on relevant literature analyzed in relation to the study. Findings reveal that expressive design relies not only on technical skill but on the
designer’s ability to interpret concepts and translate them into visual form. However, designers’ expressive abilities can be limited by material constraints and inadequate resources, often leading to improvisation.