2021.09.10
Viktoria Modesta "Technology Innovation & Identity: Exploring Fashion"
In this special feature "Body/Clothing & Function," we bring you insights from researchers of robots and prosthetics, featuring Ken Endo from Xiborg Inc. This time, our guest is Viktoria Modesta, a pop star with a prosthetic leg who gained attention for her performance at the 2012 London Paralympics closing ceremony and continues to appear at events related to the Paralympics and technology.
We'll deliver the interview conducted by Endo himself, exploring the intersection of prosthetics and fashion, and the identity therein.
PROFILE
Viktoria Modesta
Born in Latvia in 1988 and raised in London, Viktoria Modesta is a pop star and creative director. She has held roles as a model and Director's Fellow at MIT Media Lab. Notable music works include "Only You" (2012), "Prototype" (2014), and "One With The Ray of Light" (2021).
As a "Bionic Artist"
Influences from Disney and Hollywood
ModestaI spent a lot of my childhood in hospitals, where I watched many Disney and Hollywood movies. These movies inspired me significantly, showing me that creativity could reimagine any situation or world. I loved the idea of building my own body, life, and surrounding world. The expression methods I encountered growing up felt immensely fulfilling. Intentional art and art activism are among the most powerful forces for cultural evolution, often impacting society more than politicians.
EndoYou were born in Latvia and later moved to Europe. How did you start your career as an artist?
ModestaI attended music school at a young age, experiencing stage performances that laid the groundwork for my present self. During my mid-teens in London, I developed an interest in subcultures and underground fashion and music. I was particularly drawn to avant-garde performances, films, and fashion. I found it incredibly fascinating to see artists and others dedicated to creating completely different images. In my late teens, I began modeling, art direction, and styling. After surgery, I resumed my music activities, expressing myself by creating and immersing in my preferred world through event art direction, photography, video art direction, and music production.
Overcoming Challenges with Creativity
EndoInteresting. What were some of the challenges or obstacles you faced along the way?
ModestaThe most difficult was overcoming how society treated me during my childhood. This is why I've always been a strong supporter of the Paralympics. Growing up in post-Soviet Latvia, the society back then did not accept differentness. They didn't understand or believe in my big dreams and didn't think it was possible for me to achieve such things. Therefore, I felt I always had to make a special effort to prove myself. However, years have passed, and now I finally feel that just being myself and expressing myself honestly is enough. Many people find it very difficult to embrace their creative individuality and identity, and I don't think I'm an exception in that regard.
EndoInteresting. I remember we discussed at an event four years ago how education for people with disabilities is inadequate. You mentioned the challenge of educating people to overcome the boundaries imposed by disabilities. How have you managed to progress?
ModestaTo be honest, I feel like I've learned through struggles. When I was a child, I felt like an alien, but looking at today's young people, there seems to be a lot of information and awareness, and it looks quite normalized within pop culture. That's because we're currently in a time when we're trying to overturn the ideas about what is considered a 'normal' body and what is not, which have been taboo for centuries. In other words, people are beginning to understand that the body, human intelligence, capability, and qualities are not the same thing.
Surely, it has been very difficult so far, but I also feel that creativity has saved me. Imaginative industries such as fashion, performing arts, and architecture have supported me very professionally. I feel that I needed to go through the process I experienced. Sometimes, I reflect, "Has it really been 15 years since I started my career? It was tough." But, on the other hand, I am very proud of myself. And with the normalization progressing, I wish to live not as a spokesperson or role model, but just as an artist, Viktoria Modesta. Furthermore, I sincerely hope that what I have done will lead people—both with and without disabilities—to understand issues positively and make people like me realize, "Oh, I can actually do anything."
EndoAside from prosthetics and your own body, what do you think makes you unique?
ModestaI feel that my worldview, ways of dealing with things, and attitude are unique. When you strip it down to the basics without considering whether someone has a prosthetic leg, age, or origin, there is nothing special. What I've been practicing is continuously recreating worlds and situations, taking people into my imagination, and hopefully creating unexpected opportunities. Therefore, I am very positive, and my work often has an edgy and aggressive touch. It's somewhat philosophical, but while positivity is generally thought of as very gentle and soft, I believe otherwise. On the contrary, I think attention needs to be drawn to positive topics and directions. I believe that aggressive positivity is what this world needs, and that is my direction.
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