The turn of the 21st
century has seen the blurring of boundaries between fashion and art. Not only
has fashion assisted in the popularisation of art, but art has also assisted in
giving fashion cultural worth. Although the obvious parallelisms between
fashion and art lie within their aesthetic value, fashion like art, can have
depth and complexity in its form and meaning. And thus fashion should gain the
same artistic recognition and be regarded as of the same status as art. This
blogpost will take a brief glance at some of the most significant ways in which
fashion and art undeniably intersect.
Saint Laurent, Yves. 1965. “Yves Saint Laurent: Mondrian
Dress.” Image. Accessed 30 May 2016.
http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/12888984/cult-dresses-in-fashion-dressgate/
This image is of Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Mondrian dress
from his 1965 Autumn/Winter collection, of which was inspired by Dutch artist
Piet Mondrian. Mirroring Mondrian’s painting, the wool shift dress features
large blocks of primary colours. Just as art has looked to the underlying
themes of fashion, such as consumerism and materiality for bodies of work,
fashion also often draws inspiration from art. The borrowing of ideas from art to
fashion has more than just decorative use; it allows fashion to be viewed like art, as having underlying ideas, as being subjective and conceptually
rich. It is through this exchange and application of associated ideas that allows fashion and art to collide and encourages the relationship to blossom.
McQueen, Alexander. 1999. “Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer
1999
No 13.” Image. Accessed 28 May 2016.
https://astairwaytofashion.com/2013/09/21/dresses-that-changed-the-history-of-fashion-forever-part-1/
This image is of model Shalom Harlow in the finale look at
Alexander McQueen’s 1999 Spring/Summer collection. Harlow stood on a rotating
platform wearing a white cotton muslin dress whilst two live robots
spray-painted her with black and yellow spray paint. The use of theatrics and
performative art on the runway has vastly changed not only fashion, but the
visual spectacle of the fashion show as a whole. The fashion show has shifted
from being a display of clothes for consumption and purchase, to a conceptual
performance that constructs ideas around beauty, the body and identity, to
provoke thoughts about the self. The fashion show is a live performance of
visual art with clothing as the medium, and this continues to encourage fashion
and art to intersect.
Rolf, Viktor. 2011.“Viktor & Rolf Fall 2015: Wearable
Art.” Image. Accessed 12 June 2016. http://thelullablog.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/fashion-viktor-and-rolf-haute-couture.html
This image is of two models walking on the runway for Viktor
& Rolf’s 2015 Fall collection “Wearable Art.” The models were wearing blue
smocks covered by a canvas and frame, and the designers whom stood against the
white wall at the back proceeded to carefully remove each artwork from the
models bodies and hang them up on the wall. Fashion, more specifically Haute Couture, translates ideas and concepts through clothing on the body. a form of art is
less about the practicality and wearability of clothes and more about
translating ideas and concepts through material on the body. The 21st century has seen a shift toward fashion being less about the practicality and wearability of clothes and more about fashion as an artistic practice valuing innovation, experimentation and creativity.
Vuitton, Louis. 2012. “Louis Vuitton – Marc Jacobs: The
Exhibition” Image. Accessed 5 June 2016.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2012-03/09/content_14795810_3.htm
This image is of an onlooker admiring the Louis Vuitton and
Marc Jacobs exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris in 2012. The exhibition showcased and celebrated both
Jacobs’ and Vuitton’s contributions to not only the brand but to the fashion
industry as a whole. The turn of the 21st century has seen fashion
and more specifically haute couture, introduced into cultural institutions such
as museums. The introduction of fashion in museums especially, has been
extremely significant in dismissing the perceived notions of frivolity and
evanescence surrounding fashion as an art form. And thus, showing
exhibitions of fashion amongst the likes of great artists, has elevated the
status of designers and given cultural worth and artistic recognition to their
work. Fashion penetrating the places and spaces of art is
making the boundaries between fashion and art increasingly harder to see.
Vuitton, Louis. 2011.“Billie Achilleos Sculpture Series of
Australian Animals.” Image. Accessed 11 June 2016.
http://www.australiandesignreview.com/features/34832-the-art-of-fashion
This image is of one of the native
Australian animal sculptures that British artist Billie Achilleos created in
collaboration with Louis Vuitton for the launch of the Maison Sydney store.
These sculptures were made only from the parts of old Louis Vuitton handbags
and accessories. As the minds of great designer’s and artists come together in
collaboration, art begins to become popularised by fashion gaining interest and exposure from intellectuals in the fashion world. In making art more popular, this also makes art more commercial which in it's irony is something art ceases to strive to be, but is what makes it successful nonetheless.
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