In “Democracy Dies in Darkness”, Maurice van Schendel comments on the widespread erosion of democracy. Maurice uses the traditional format of the press conference to serve as context for a digital visualization of how power corrupts. As time progresses an official press conference spirals into madness, visualizing a descent into tyranny: an event that is rarely televised.

The concept of democratic backsliding refers to the erosion of democratic values, institutions and processes over time, often due to the influence of authoritarian leaders. This can take the form of an erosion of civil liberties, such as the right to free speech and assembly, the weakening of independent institutions, and the undermining of democracy through the manipulation of elections. Maurice van Schendel’s project, “Democracy Dies in Darkness”, uses the traditional format of the press conference to serve as context for a digital visualization of how power corrupts. As time progresses, an official press conference spirals into madness, visualizing a descent into tyranny: an event that is rarely televised. This project serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of democratic backsliding, and the importance of protecting democratic values, institutions and processes from authoritarian leaders.

Designing the Garments

I used patterns I collected from various vintage pattern guides, which I traced using photoshop and redesigned into the layouts pictured below. These served as the base of the patterns I later made in Clo3D. One example is the Mao suit, or Zhongshan suit (中山装), the pattern I found in an old Chinese tailoring manual, a friend of mine helped me translate it.

I used these patterns as a basis for the patterns in then proceeded to develop in CLO3D. I designed these patterns into 5 looks representing established power structures, which in the context of the installation I would later develop, become visually ‘corrupted’.