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Massey Research Online

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Recent Submissions

Predator egg-induced non-consumptive effects suppress spider mite survival and reproductive performance
(Wiley, 2026-06-03) He XZ
Real-Time Cavity Volumetry via Helmholtz Resonance Using Pressure Amplitude: Proof of Concept
(Springer, 2026-05-29) Barzegar M; Davies C; Grafton M
Investor-Enterprise Interactions and Corporate Risk-Taking
(Elsevier, 2026-07-01) Liu H; Jiang Y; Kan Y; Kong D; Wu G
Bearing witness to the unwatchable : expressing compassion from afar through a visual art practice : an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Pinson, Helen
Photographic images depicting the death, destruction, and chaos caused by armed conflicts are alarming and are being transmitted across the globe at an astonishing rate. The tragic consequence of these conflicts is a humanitarian crisis of mass displacement, as we witness domicide on an unprecedented scale. My photocollage-paintings are made in response to news reports and media photographs of certain of these conflicts and the immense suffering they inflict on civilian populations. I consider the mediating effect of the screen on the ways we see events from a distance. How can I address these horrors for a longer period than the short moment they appear on my screen? I actively question the entangled ethics and aesthetics of using art as a tool to express my response and ask what my practice can offer.
A design exploration of the contemporary anti-fashion paradox : taste, rebellion, and digital distortion : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master in Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Zhao, Ruohan
Fashion rebellion manifests differently in the age of mass information and algorithmic influence. This thesis examines the paradox of anti-fashion, exploring how digital platforms simultaneously enable personal expression while accelerating the commodification of rebellion within the fashion system. Drawing on fashion theory and cultural studies on status and taste, the research considers how constant social media exposure shapes taste, influences decision-making, and distorts self-image. The research aims to reveal that anti-fashion is not solely about avant-garde aesthetics, fashion rebellion and deconstruction, but also about the designer’s intention, authenticity, and resistance to external pressures like consumer expectations. The design component investigates these ideas through a metaphorical design language informed by the four stages of a caterpillar’s metamorphosis. Victorian mourning wear is also examined as a historical reference as a symbol for the ‘death’ of traditional anti-fashion and its rebirth within contemporary culture. Draping experiments, fabric manipulations, and print development translate the forms, colours, and textures of the caterpillar and mourning garments into material explorations that reflect transformation and adaptation in contemporary society. The final design outcome synthesizes research, material experimentation, and print development into two looks, each corresponding to one stage of the caterpillar’s lifecycle. These works articulate an alternative vision of anti-fashion which is rooted in cyclical transformation, creative intention, and the negotiation between individuality and systemic influence. The thesis demonstrates how anti-fashion can continue to function as a tool of self-expression and resistance, even in a culture where rebellion is rapidly absorbed, commodified, and normalized.