2024 - LIVE IN THE SUN

”We have chosen a hot topic of the moment—appearance anxiety. Appearance anxiety has become a major concern in recent years, especially among women. The underlying cause is that when we strive to look beautiful, we are actually pursuing a perpetual state of disempowerment. Those who judge based on their own aesthetic standards hold the power, while those being judged cannot resist this standard—creating an inherent imbalance of power. When we shift this power dynamic to gender relations, we find the dilemma faced by women in the context of appearance anxiety.
From a light perspective, ultraviolet rays in sunlight can cause various skin issues. When we search for solutions to sun exposure, recommendations often focus on restoring fair skin. In the distorted Asian beauty ideal of pale, slender features, whiteness takes precedence. Appearance anxiety thus turns sunlight into an enemy for women. Consequently, many Asian women carry umbrellas even in sunny weather, and using an umbrella in the sun has become a gendered stereotype, perpetuating biases and aesthetic shifts.
Considering this background, we propose our design concept: ‘Live in the Sun.’ Women fear sunlight because it might imperfect their skin or leave UV marks on their faces. This led us to ponder: How can we help women discard their umbrellas, break free from constraints, and confidently embrace themselves in the sunlight?