Metamorphosis by Luca Bass

Defined as a more or less abrupt change of physical form, a metamorphosis can occur in any given circumstance. In association with Krebsliga Zurich and Zurich University of the Arts, ZHdK graduate Luca Bass gave young cancer patients a chance to discuss their hardships, and how fashion became a source of support during their chemotherapy. 

Society’s perception of cancer being marked by prejudice, often causes repulsive reactions towards people affected by the illness. The project’s objective is about creating an impartial and unbiased insight and access to a cancer patient’s fears, dealings and trouble – Showcasing the illness and its patients in a different light.

The aim is to thematize the patient’s illness in a way that shows the ones affected in dignity and respect instead of showing them in a stereotypical setting of hospital beds or nightgowns. 

Bass portrays and discusses three cancer survivors – Audrey Pérez Sixto, Dylan Gräzer and Tinka Lleshdedaj – working in the realms of fashion and the arts. Each one of the survivors uses fashion and clothing as a crutch during chemotherapy. Fashion being a source of control and comfort during a time in which the three survivors dealt with physical and mental changes during their illness.

At the age of 21, Audrey unexpectedly found herself diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. After immediate chemotherapy, Audrey is cancer free today. 

The disease impacted her greatly in various areas. Fashion is what helped Audrey gain back control over her body.

Audrey’s green eye make up stands for her support of other cancer patients, as green is considered the solidarity’s colour for all types of lymph cancer, including Non-Hodgkin. 

Styled in the Chameleon top by Closnea, a top in a fabric alternating in colour depending on the light, embraces Audrey’s versatility that clothes have provided during chemotherapy. Closnea’s Echo Pants were chosen to challenge beauty ideals and support the perspective of her new identity.

24 year old Dylan got diagnosed with lymph node cancer at the age of 22. At the time, he was working in fashion retail. Despite chemotherapy treatments in his last year of school, Dylan completed his planned graduation.

His head embellished by 218 iron nails, creating a hedgehog hairstyle, visually relates to punk culture and naturally stands for a sense of rebelliousness – rebelliousness that manifested itself in Dylan’s case as rebellion against cancer and an unwillingness to lose the battle against the illness.

Today, Dylan is cancer free pursuing his dream, currently admitted to a Fashion Business and Management program.

At the age of 19 Tinka unexpectedly was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Tinka was able to continue her studies part-time during her chemotherapy and found herself cancer free in spring 2024.

Fashion has grown more important for the musician during her illness since it gave her a space she was in control of.

Having studied human medicine at the University of Zurich, Bass then proceeded to dedicate himself to his passion for design and fashion by enrolling himself into Zurich’s University of Art. Being confronted with young tumour patients during his medical studies, Bass noticed the stigma associated with cancer and the difficulties for its patients as a result. 

With his final thesis at ZHdK as a medium, Luca Bass wanted to raise awareness around the prejudice, misrepresentation sufferings of young cancer patients.