Ideas for the exhibition.

Considering the theme of my exhibition I would like an environment to suit that. So now to think of the set up/environment of the show and the location to put it in. I want something to reflect the theme and I'd rather not put the pieces in a white cube space as I'm not sure the artworks would make sense or flow in such an environment. As the artworks are inspired by or intended for fashion I could put them into a similar environment that you might find them, for example a retail shop or a super models bedroom/closet. However I might not be able to find out what the interior of a supermodels bedroom/closet looks like. This idea reminds me of Dexter Dalwood's paintings where he sometimes imagines the settings of murdered celebrities.

Dexter Dalwood's 'The queen's bedroom'

 Perhaps my staging doesn't have to be realistic of an actual place, it could be catered and designed to fit the pieces in my exhibition and create some sort of organisation of the work.

John Currin.

As I've looked at quite a few photographers for this exhibition I thought I'd look at another painter. John Currin has previous looked at the model and shown them as they would in magazine, but with the not so subtle symbolism of  cut out heart in 'heartless' and the walking stick in 'the cripple'. he would always elongate the neck making the person look like a characterture and appear on nature, which would unnerve the viewer, making you unsure of the person in the paintings true feelings and emotions. this could add another  element to my exhibition, looking at the model as well as the clothes and questioning how we depict women in the fashion industry.

Aware: Art Fashion Identity.

I found an article about Royal Academy of Art’s GSK Contemporary ‘Aware: art fashion identity’ exhibition. It’s interesting getting a review on an exhibition close to the idea I have.  One of the comments I found most important was how the exhibition, although amusing in part, was bitty and wasn't consistent.  This is something to keep in mind when placing my artworks around the space I chose as this could influence the flow of the exhibition. some of the pieces I found most interesting from the exhibition were the following:

Grayson Perry
Artist's Robe, 2004'This grand and elaborate robe combines historical references to the traditional kimono and the notion of clothing as an indicator of learning. It also refers to the uniforms associated with societies, clubs or academies, while commenting on the position and perception of the artist in contemporary society. The eye connotes wisdom and the artist’s role as an interrogator of the visual world.'

Gillian Wearing
Sixty Second Silence, 1996

'This video piece examines the authority of clothing and the dynamic of the group. People dressed in police uniforms are arranged in the ranked pose of a formal photograph. As time elapses they start to fidget and the individuality of each participant emerges, diminishing the authority of their uniform, with all its associations of state and power.'

Yohji Yamamoto
From the Yohji Yamamoto Femme Collection, Autumn/Winter 1991–92'The fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto has clearly articulated his position on the industry in which he works – he dislikes fashion and feels that his role is to regain respect for clothing and promote women’s independence. In this seminal piece, a wooden framework is moulded into the form of a dress, suggesting a human skeleton, an architectural structure and armour. While in shape it recalls the constraining corsets that women used to wear, its robust appearance also asserts the strength of the person that might wear it. In Yamamoto’s hands a prosaic material becomes an unlikely adornment.'

Susie MacMurray
Widow, 2009

'The elegance and feminine beauty of this dress is seductive, but on closer examination the aggression of its form becomes clear. Pins have strong associations with female craft, as well as connotations of pain. The leather replaces traditional dress fabric and represents skin, which is both sensitive and protective. Based on the human (and in this case female) reaction to grief, the work articulates the isolation that such an experience can bring about, how such extreme emotion can cause someone to repel the empathy or intimacy of others.'

I found Susie MacMurray's work the most exciting so looked at some of her other pieces. I like the use of unusual materials like pins and balloons for the material of an elegant, expensive looking dress.

Fashion Photographers.

Seeing as I’ve just looked photographers whose work relates to fashion, I thought it’d be appropriate to include some actual fashion photographers whose work is exciting enough to be put into an art exhibiton.

The first that I looked at was John Rankin. His photos of women come across as very dark and powerful, sometimes aggressive. I found an interesting interview with Rankin on his influences and thoughts of his own work. What I found most interesting was when ask if his work was fashionable his answered with ‘No - I think the most important thing in photography is that your work survives the test of time.’ It seems ironic that someone who works predominately in fashion wouldn’t want their work to be fashionable; however I think this idea of ‘standing the test of time’ would be a good one to strengthen my exhibition.

Another famous fashion photographer is Perou. His photos are more striking and simple. i especially like his portraits as they have a lot of character and are unconvential:

When photographers do fashion.

A key part of fashion is the recording of it, so I’ve decided to look at some art photography that is related to or inspired by fashion.

Helmo are a pair of French artists called Thomas Couderc and Clément Vauchez. Together they created a series of portraits under the title “Bêtes de mode” (fashion animals) for Lafayette Galleries in Paris. The protraits are layered with an animal that suits that image. Using a system of different coloured gels you  can see the portrait, in blue, and the animal, in red, very clearly. On the black background these images along with the colour choice are very strong and intriguing, you want to look in further to see where the portrait starts and the animal begins.  Here are my favourites:

Christophe Gilbert is a Belgian artist that works with photo manipulated images, creating interesting illusions and pictures used mainly in advertising.  He calls himself a perfectionist; this is clear in the detail and believability of the photo. I also like the humour he uses in some pictures that make them all the more attractive:

Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week

This fashion week, also known as FAT (Fashion.Art.Toronto) is another alternative approach I have found to the well-known fashion weeks throughout the world. It includes fashion design, music, photography and film, installation art and performance. It is described as a ‘a platform for inventive, pioneering and contemporary expression. This annual multi-arts event features 200 national and international fashion designers, visual artists, bands and performers each year’.

Each day at the exhibition has a different theme related to fashion and art, I could consider these ideas in my own exhibition. These include:

Fashion narratives: this night showcases the mythological, theatrical and imaginative realm of fashion. Designers and artists communicate ideas, concepts, stories and messages through visual dialogues and narratives.

Fashion/unfashion: the night battles between two opposing directions in art, performance design and music: the commercial versus the rebellious. Artists explore the ever-changing cycle of trends inherent in fashion and highlight the contradictory concepts of what’s in vogue.

Dress codes: the theme explores work that is influenced by different cultural groups, subcultures, demographics, sex and gender identities. The night will showcase designers and artists whose work looks at the social significance of clothing and who we are, define by what we wear.

Dressing room project: artists transform seven spaces within the 99 Sudbury Street complex. Reflecting on fashion, clothing and vanity these installations, performances and multi-media art works invite the audience to experience the intimate settings of an artist’s environment.

I like the versatility of the exhibition itself, that there are performances and the inclusion of art alongside the fashion show. From this I could include a fashion show to compliment the work. However I would only include it if it benefited the exhibition rather than taking away from the work or the focus of it being an ‘Art exhibition’. Also if there isn’t enough space for it to take place it would probably become too crowded and so less appealing. If there is room it might be an idea to have it as part of the private viewing but not a permanent feature.

Williamsburg Fashion Weekend

‘WFW provides a platform for young and emerging fashion designers who push the boundaries of design, presentation, production, ultimately re-evaluating the fashion industry as a whole.’

I like the idea of allowing using the youth to bring forward new ideas and not restrict people to a label of ‘art’ or ‘fashion’. The WFW exhibition was also displayed in a different way to the normal white cube space. The rough and urban space provides a modern feel but also makes the work appear less serious, less pretentious and more down to earth. They also combine the exhibition with performances and music adding a new depth to the show.

I also liked the posters they have made to publicise the event. They could be good to draw inspiration on if I were to make a poster for my own exhibition.