Andreea Ronaldina Tataru

Andreea is a holistic creative practitioner specialising in fashion/costume design and illustration, who enjoys experimental approaches that push the boundaries of what is already known. Drawing most of her inspiration from books, films and performances, theatricality is at the core of her aesthetic. Through her work, Andreea intends to take the audience to the realm of unbounded imagination, a door to absolute totality.

During the time working on her Final Major Project, Andreea has explored the machiavellian side of fantasy and illusion by conducting written, visual and experiential research on the circus and Victorian freak shows, ultimately creating a costume based on the book "Geek Love". Her concept was based around the idea of empathising and eventually becoming the narrator and creating her own freak - a peek inside a fictional sequel to the original book following the protagonist on her trauma-induced psychotic break.

Andreea has worked with London based sustainable brand Peggy's Room, designer Liberty Rose, Casablanca Paris and Romanian brand Ramelle. A collection of publications that featured her work ranges from Unrtun, Art and Type Magazine, SHOWstudio, GQ to Hypebeast, Okay Cool Magazine, Vogue and Collectible Dry Magazine

Freakshake Laboratory Research Page – Researching "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn and drawing inspiration from the book to expand knowledge of magic, illusion, the circus and Victorian freak shows. The experiential and experimental research conducted for the project strengthened the ability to empathise with the darker themes that the project consists of, allowing exposure to a new kind of humanity.

Freakshake Laboratory Concept Page – Building on the concept of creating a freak inspired by "Geek Love" and its protagonist, Olympia, who is presented as terribly human - a soft spoken, fragile, rejected freak who turned into a vindictive, feral master manipulator, now on a quest to cater to all nearly human geeks and circus masters who are in need of psychotic freak show performers, by breeding her own army of freaks at The Freakshake Laboratory.

Freakshake Laboratory Development Page – Developing the shape, colour, texture, scent, composition and ambience of a freak. Making and experimenting with unconventional fabrics and materials, that seek to define geek body parts, has been of utmost importance to ensure a deeper psychological and physical connection between the costume and the concept of creating one's own performance perfect freak.

Freakshake Laboratory Illustration Page – A collection of life drawings from a performance illustrations workshop organised by the Sarabande Foundation, and developmental illustrations created through a mix of drawing and collaging.

Freakshake Laboratory Photoshoot – A collage of the final Freakshake Laboratory costume, presenting a laboratory bred, circus ready, true geek.