thermal vision hats
2023
hand-painted headwear that rethinks the baseball cap through thermal imaging aesthetics. each piece explores surveillance, visibility, and material transformation.
concept
baseball caps are everywhere, practically invisible despite their presence. this project intervenes in that familiarity. the thermal goggle motif transforms ordinary headwear into a statement on surveillance culture. it’s wearable commentary that questions how we see and how we’re seen.
process
each piece starts with a found cap, selected for its particular wear patterns. the process involves deliberate distressing to enhance existing texture, followed by precise hand-painting. the thermal vision graphics emerge from this dialogue between the existing object and the applied intervention.
approach
the work emphasizes the hand of the maker and material response. each intervention is unique, with painted elements adapting to the contours and wear patterns of individual caps. this highlights the tension between mass production and handmade intervention, between standardized form and unique artifact.
selection
choosing caps based on material qualities and existing wear
distressing
enhancing natural wear and creating intentional texture
painting
applying thermal vision graphics that respond to the form
meaning
these pieces operate where utility meets symbolism. the thermal goggle motif references surveillance tech while drawing attention to the materiality of the cap itself. each piece becomes a study in perception; how we see and how we’re seen through the objects we wear. the work speaks to visibility in an era of constant observation.
inquiry
for project inquiries, commissioning, or collaborative research, please contact via email.
about
jason guillard’s practice examines the lifecycle of material forms. through deconstruction, replication, and recontextualization, spanning garments, art objects, publications, and public spaces. his work explores themes of utility, memory, and the embedded narratives of objects.