MONICA DRAGUT
CREATIVE BIO:
Monica Dragut is an emerging Creative Director, Stylist, and Photographer based in Melbourne, known for her striking blend of beauty and the macabre. Drawing inspiration from fashion, personal experiences, and the surreal, she creates conceptual work that challenges traditional notions of fashion styling and photography. Through muted color palettes and intense contrasts, Dragut explores the tension between the familiar and the unknown, merging the elegance of couture with unsettling, surreal elements. Her images transport viewers to a realm where ordinary turns bizarre, inspiring reflection and challenging how the mind interprets the outside world. Each piece of Dragut’s art is an immersive experience, capturing the intricacies of the subconscious with an attention to detail and a preference for striking visual contrasts. Her style challenges preconceptions, inspiring viewers to think more deeply about fashion and the blurred lines between the real and the imagined.
DESIGN STATEMENT
‘Vestige’ is a conceptual high fashion editorial that explores the notion of the brain’s attempt to remember the details of a dream, often fleeting from their mind as they scramble to complete the imagery.
By incorporating current trends of surrealism through exaggerated forms, the editorial positions the reader to be immersed within the dream in an attempt to decipher the meaning. The kaleidoscope of visuals promotes further imagination of the characters within this milieu. ‘Vestige’ aims to subvert the audience with images appearing almost banal before the movement draws the eye to the oddities littered throughout questioning the mind’s perception of the norm. The juxtaposition of the familiar and the bizarre creates a dissonance that captivates the viewer, prompting introspection. Through the use of a muted color palette, with a weighted distribution towards the shades, it alludes to that the mind is struggling to match the dreamlike qualities of visuals previously within focus. Despite this, the mind still matches the likeness of the surreal nature of the subconscious meticulously depicted within this editorial. ‘Vestige’ offers exclusive pieces that embody the spirit of surrealism, allowing fashion enthusiasts to wear art that reflects the complexities of their own dreams. This editorial is not just a visual experience; it’s an invitation to engage with high fashion on a deeper level, making each piece a statement of individuality and imagination. This interplay of memory and imagination invites viewers to ponder their own dreamscapes, challenging them to find meaning amid the chaos.
