Heavy Petal
Tegan Whittaker
(she/her)
Interviewed by Mackenzie Stolp
Tegan Whittaker is a graduate from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia and is passionate about styling, photography & graphic design. This body of work is a social commentary on women's issues, identity, music subcultures and youth culture. Heavy Petal showcases the beauty in being aggressive, sensitive, angry and all things seen as unbecoming of women represented by the smudged makeup, dark eyeliner, studs and safety pins—while also showcasing these women in pearls, jewels, big dresses and pretty makeup, representing their vulnerable, feminine side.
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Tell me a bit about what was required for this project? My understanding is that it is a student project?
Yes! So basically, it’s my student graduate project for The Whitehouse Institute of Design, Sydney. It’s the final assignment before I graduate. It’s supposed to represent me, my style, what I stand for and what I love, which in my case is music, feminism, punk rock, femininity, and androgyny. I was required to do all my sourcing for clothes, garments and accessories, casting, photography, styling, photo editing, digital design, and so much more. It takes a lot of work, but that’s why this magazine is my baby, I’m so proud of it because I put so much work into it. It for sure required some blood, sweat and tears, and all my savings sadly.
How did you form your original concept?
What formed my concept was my own experiences. Being told that I’m too sensitive, too vulnerable, can’t take a joke, etc. but lately I’ve found that sensitivity is a strength. To be sensitive, vulnerable, even feminine is strength, whether that sensitivity is rage, empathy, sadness, etc. “You’re so sensitive” “It’s just a joke” To stand up for yourself and your beliefs is a sign of sensitivity & strength.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere. My own experiences, my mum, my partner, of course music, history, social movements, in this case riot grrls, my friends, people I see on the street, and people i admire.
How did you select the musicians to interview?
I’m friends with Ellen & the Ooroos, I’ve been to their gigs since they started out, and we all live in the same area, so I see their gigs quite a bit. Ellen and Eva really inspired me with my photography shown in the magazine, and they were both so encouraging and lovely. These girls are the girls that I needed when I was being told I was too sensitive. They inspire me to be better! I also decided to interview Ragdoll, mostly due to their style; their musical range is amazing, from screamo to mellow rock. These girls are so amazing to work with and their stage presence is so charming, their ability to create a mosh is just so good. The girls in Ragdoll; Rose, Alice, Liv and Hannah are all so different from each other, but they come together because of their love of music.
What are your goals as a creative director?
Hopefully to sell my magazine! and of course to get a job in the industry, (please hire me). No but seriously, it’s just to create space for others to thrive, like interviewing up & coming musicians, of course styling them, and creating that relationship with them, while allowing others who read the mag to also read more and have a relationship with the musician. Obviously, my end goal for my career is to work in magazine, but I love collaborating and creating with other creative people and putting their voice on loudspeaker essentially.
Are there any Melbourne designers that you’re excited by currently?
Sacreflux, Millie Savage, Amy Cottrell (also from Whitehouse)! I love, love, love their styles, their design style and how unique they all are. Some Sydney designers I’m also loving are Siren the Label, who helped me out a lot with this project & planet daft. All of these people are so amazing and inspiring.
Tell me more about the concept of the contrast between sensitive but strong, feminine but masculine!
It’s based on personal experience; always being told I was too sensitive. But this year I’ve found strength in my sensitivity, in my femininity, my rage, my sadness, and my anxiety. In the past I’ve been told to shove down my anger and sadness, my want to stand up for myself. I would be told that I’m being sensitive, or that I’m overreacting. Since an incident in high school, I have found that when push comes to shove, I will stand up for myself even if everyone perceived it as overreacting, and that I was being a “little girl”, as they would say, about it. That little girl is strong.
What’s next for you after you complete your studies?
I’m currently interning with a magazine, which will hopefully land me with something more permanent! I’m also starting up my own blog/website thanks to this graduate project, also named Heavy Petal which is where I’ll be selling the full physical version of the magazine/editorial, publishing op-eds, posting live gig photography, and hopefully publishing more interviews with musicians! Demure has defs inspired me with this as well!
