FASHION MIX_ Museum of the History of Immigration

FASHION MIX_ Museum of the History of Immigration

This visit created a bit of drama, as the exhibition was held in a different place to the one we were told. so we had to travel across to the other side of Paris! (almost). My first thought was why was it at a museum about the history of immigration? Surely a fashion exhibition will not have any relevance. But I was very wrong, as it was a very cultural and history lead exhibition. Although the exhibition space itself was, in my opinion, set out in a very boring and disappointing way (there was no sense of space, and it didn't relate to the exhibition. It was like a supermarket aisle) the garments did make up for it. It started off with early fashion, such as the corset and how fashion gradually changed the way people looked at it- it wasn’t merely a form of protection, but perhaps a work of art. Elsa Schiaparelli’s A/W 1949 haute couture evening coat in shocking pink was on display, and showed the playful connection between fashion and art. The exhibition lead round, almost like a time line. Towards the end was my favourite part, as it included the works of the Japanese designers such as Yohji Yammamoto and Issey Miyake. I felt their work really appealed to me because of the artistic quality, the garments were almost unwearable. It was an interesting exhibition, and was nice to see the history of fashion ‘broken down’ into the key moments.

PARIS TRIP

Having never been to paris before, one could say I was incredibly excited. In fact, I've never really ventured outside of the uk, except from Bulgaria, Finland and Belgium. Yep, a strange array of counties.  So for me this a new experience, and I was intrigued to see one of the worlds most glamorous cities. 
Everything played part in the inspiration process, from the food to the lifestyles, and even the tacky souvenirs that littered the streets. The landscape and architecture was spectacular, the city from the sacré-course went on for miles. 
The shopping experience was one to remember, with high end designers shops to wonderful small vintage shops. There were also shops, such as Colette, that were more concept stores, inviting students and aspiring creatives into the shop with their wonderful displays.

I really did enjoy my visit there, and I take inspiration from the strangest of things. My favourite shop was a quirky little place containing all sorts of bits and bobs, mostly vintage toys and finds. I loved the contents but I also loved the atmosphere. It felt like I had stepped back in time, it was a cosy, wood panelled place, I stayed there for a long time.

The things that made the trip for me were the little finds, such as a bar we liked, or a place that had a nice atmosphere. I will definitely be making a trip back to find more hidden gems.   

ESSAY SYNOPSIS_

Which essay title have you chosen to answer?

15. Is design (fashion or graphic) an art, if so why has it been increasingly viewed as such in the postmodern art world? Use examples to discuss this statement.

Why have you chosen this title? 
I chose to respond to this essay question as I carry a real passion toward the relationship between Fashion and Art. Through answering this title, I will be able to explore why fashion is viewed as an art form in this postmodern art world, and increasingly so. The fine area between said 'design' and 'art' is a debate that will always be continued, and I wish to come to my own conclusion about fashion as an art form, and explore peoples views.

Why does it interest you?
As a fashion and textiles student, the fine line between Fashion and Art interests me thoroughly. The Art and Fashion world are very similarly connected, and I feel its important for me to research and understand this as it can affect all matter of aspects, such as target audience, materials and designs used, or even where the garment will be displayed. Is an art form only allowed to be displayed in a gallery? A garment only to be shown on a catwalk? I hope through writing this essay I will gain further knowledge of the similarities and differences between Fashion and Art.

How will you answer this question?

In no more than 300 words, write a brief summary of your essay:  

Fashion and Art- there are many similarities between them both. But is Fashion an Art form? In this post modern art world, the boundaries have become blurred and fashion is becoming increasingly viewed as a form of art. Fashion requires a creative mind, and skilled craftsmanship meaning the bond between the visual arts and fashion is undeniable.

Fashion is for the consumer. 'Art is art. Fashion is fashion.' - Karl Lagerfeld. It is clear there are rather distinct differences between fashion and art. The rise of social capitalism and mass production have made the latest trends available on a large scale, for everyone. Style and brand names serve to  convey a social status, having to consider commerciality and function. Fashion is ever evolving to keep up with the high demand of the latest trend, whereas art exceeds time and modernism. Its aesthetics and self expression are timeless in fact, something that perhaps fashion could never achieve. I believe that few other art forms have the power to inspire everyday life the way fashion does. However to some, fashion is seen as an industrial machine, allowing people to spend extortionate amounts of money on throwaway, non-essential items. But could the same be said for art?

Fashion enables art. Elsa Schiaparelli regarded her designs not as 'a profession. But an art'. Although many designers reject this merging, such as Prada, Lagerfeld and Marc Jacobs. In the avant garde fashion, their designs and intentions are becoming blurred. Designers such as Comme des garçons have rebelled against typical fashion and have rejected the human form, cutting their garments in unusual ways, suggesting other possibilities for the garments use. Maybe this is the designers intention, as we perhaps have to consider it art. After all, it no longer carries wearable, commercial value. 
Fashion has began to appear in fine art museums, for example: the metropolitan museum of art in 2011 held Alexander McQueens 'Savage Beauty', which was one of the most popular and widely attended exhibitions in the museums history. But is fashion just following art? I believe art is beginning to adopt characteristics of fashion,and as art economist Claire Mc Andrew noted, 'no matter how highly valued art is in society, there is no escaping the fact that it is produced, bought, and sold by individuals and institutions working within an economic framework inescapable from material and market constraints.'      
Although we do not always look at fashion the same way we do art (whether it be in a frame or in a museum), Fashion accomplishes many of the same things as art: self expression, reflection of culture, and creative design. Fashion is how many express their individuality, how the designer gets theirselves across to people. Fashion shows have become performances exploring art forms and conceptual ideas. However it doesn't have to be typically beautiful to everyone, as art forms always hold criticism. 

To conclude my brief summary, it is clear there are rather distinct connections between the art and fashion world. But I do not believe all fashion is art. Fashion has become too broad for the statement to be true, especially when both haute couture and mass produced items are involved. Fashion and art-  still a very debatable subject.

Which artists and authors will help you answer the question?

Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, McQueen, Paul Poiret, Rei Kawakubo, Comme Des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Elsa Schiaparelli, Vivianne Westwood, Cindy Sherman, Valentino, Annie Leibovitz, Art Nouveau Period, Valerie Steele, Gilles Lipovetsky, Claire McAndrew, Damien Hirst, Takisha Murakami, Viktor and Rolf, Hussien Chalayan, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Zandra Rhodes, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Give an example of how you will correctly reference them? 

Text: Art economist Claire McAndrew noted  “no matter how highly valued art is in society, there is no escaping the fact that it is produced, bought, and sold by individuals and institutions working within an economic framework inescapable from material and market constraints.” (The Art Economy, 2009)

Bibliography: McAndrew, C (2009). The Art Economy: An Investors Guide to the Art Market. Revised Edition. Liffey Press.

What do you need to say to answer the question successfully?

To answer this question successfully, I need to elaborate and explain both sides of the debate, using information and quotes from different designers and artists sharing their views on fashion and art to support my essay. I will also include my strong personal response to whether Fashion is an art, and include this to help me come to a final conclusion.    

HAND IN/ SEMESTER 2_

It was my first real experience of a university hand in, and it was a stressful/ daunting time. I really enjoyed the first semester, and learnt a lot in such a short period of time. However getting into the swing of the course and coping with the work load proved difficult for me, as it was such a huge step up from what I was previously doing. I managed to keep on top of my work throughout the module, and this really helped as I wasn't swamped with unfinished work towards hand in day. Of course I feel I could have submitted a better standard of work, but overall I was happy with the body of work I produced.
The hand in felt a lot more professional than what I was used to. I was nervous about submitting my critical appraisal which was done online. What if it didn't upload, or I placed it in the wrong area? It would be my fault and I wouldn't have passed the module, but a conformation email  was sent which was very helpful. I also uploaded it a couple of days earlier than the required date, incase any problems arose. 
As quickly as the first semester ended the second semester started, and we were thrown in and building up research. The brief for this semester was rather exciting. The first task was of course to visit first site and its surroundings, and chose a building that you took an interest in. I chose shoe world, a 70s building. We were to incorporate this era and firstsite into the jumpsuits which will be created in pairs. These finished garments will then be shown in our fashion show on the 15th May. During this project, we will also be designing a print collection which will then be presented to a team at firstsite, with the view to use the print on their products.
It seems an ideal brief for me, I have always been interested in the relationship between fashion and art, and feel its a very good starting point for research. Although I am nervous about working with a partner to create the jumpsuit, in some ways it will really help me and build my confidence working in a team.  

WORK IN PROGRESS EXHIBITION_

I recently visited the 3rd years 'work in progress' exhibition situated in the hay gallery. This exhibition featured a selection of students pre collection work, and Roz Morrison from Paul Smith came to give feedback. Three students were then shortlisted, and would proceed to show their work and portfolios to Paul Smith. The winner would receive a mentoring scheme from Smith, an amazing opportunity..

The standard of work by all the students was high, and at first it was overwhelming as i was amazed by all the work. How it was narrowed down to three students baffles me. There was an array of different techniques, colours, motifs and inspiration that made every students work desirable. 

Of course it was nearly impossible to choose my favourites, however I gave it a go. My first choice was Beth Caney, who was actually shortlisted. Her architecture inspired prints from a trip to venice were soft and beautiful, and the use of careful foiling accentuated that. The way she had displayed her prints was something of an art from too, with shapes cascading down to work in unison with the  calming prints. Another favourite of mine was Rachel Hughe's collection. Almost a complete opposite to Beth's work, Rachel incorporated wonderfully dark colours, to build up a sinister print collection. I loved the way she layered dark colour on top of dark colour, it was very subtle but worked really well. My last choice was Lucy Day's collection. I was immediately drawn to this body of work due to  the variety of different fabrics, and the native theme. She had printed onto fleece and blanket, all heavy materials- a refreshing approach i  thought. The colours were somewhat nature themed, and this was very well reflected in the painted on a screen prints she included, featuring pine trees and animals.   

It was a wonderfully set out and inspiring exhibition, and made me think off different and exciting ways to display my work, as that gives a huge visual impact. After seeing the students rushing around the previous few days, it was nice to see it all come together and that their hard work had paid off.