Fashion and Performance/Bush Magic Romance was Born VAMFF
My two chosen events for the project and assignment areThe Bush Magic Show A/W 2015 which was part of VAMFF and presented by the design duo Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales from Romance was born. And The Fashion and Performance Exhibition which was held at the design hub in Melbourne. Which showcased works by Jessica Bugg, Anna Nicole Ziesche, Maria Blasse, Ulrik Martin Larsen, Charlotte Gyllenhamar, and Bart Hess just to name a few practitioners and artists who’s work was showcased and in some aspects performed on film or by using people within the exhibition space to be the work or to act as the work. The show had 21 established and emerging designers performers and artists from Europe and the Asia pacific region. This show presented work that used the idea and concept of performance, time based work, media garments, installation and live performances. The show was a group show and was presented in a way that showed the audience a different perspective of performance design and fashion.
The medium of work was presented in many ways that evoked and allowed the audience to view it in many different ways, furthermore the show draws on links in the community of contemporary practitioners who work with experimental fashion conceptual clothing and performances. The show highlights and investigates the growing field of fashion and performance and the new ways in which designers and artists are using the element of performance within their own work. And looks into the relationships of performance manors and ways of working in contemporary practise. On a broader context such designers as John Galliano and Alexander McQueen employ some of these methods within their own practise presenting work using theatrical staging methods and mechanics that move away from the central runway presentation.
This show gave great insight in to ways of working and process that established designer's use and allow their work to be previewed in different performative ways. It’s interesting to note that fashion is becoming more performative and designers are becoming more aware of space and different ways or using and presenting fashion in different mediums and an increase awareness of the body. Similarly if we look into the collection titled “Bush Magic” we can see and become aware of the narrative created for this work and collection. Romance work in a very conceptual manner using the body’s collections that expels a very theatrical and performance based approach.
What’s most notable and interesting is that they choose to present their work in different forms and ways. Romance also have different process and methods of working unlike commercial designers. Romance choose to be very thematic and conceptual when building or putting together a show. I have chosen to write about them because I think they relate to my own practise and use methods of working that appeal to my own ways of working with a big focus on performance and presentation furthermore the collection draws on and has links to nostalgia and childhood dreams and events. It also shows respect and fosters the iconic Australian reassures of the artist May Gibbbs who's work is referenced within the collection and pays favour to the beautiful land and freedom of growing up in Australia. Something interesting about the way Romance choose to show their work has a lot to do with the designers them self. The work is very much about creating atmosphere and has strong links to performance and interaction. The collection portrays strong iconic features and symbols. This is therefore the inspiration behind the collection.
It also has a strong features of colour texture clashing prints and strong hair and makeup references to create depth and a point of difference. It’s also really interesting to see and watch shows that really consider all these elements which bring together strong relationships and concepts to the clothing and the background of the collection presented throughout the final closing of the VAMFF show. I have chosen to talk about Bush Magic as I believe they have a very strong and appropriate way of presenting fashion to the audience and they really take their spectators on a journey and a story which can be extremely narrative and captivating. During the end of the show the designers used dancers from the Australian Ballet Company which complement the collection and also gave another element to the performance and show. The main hero for the show is centred on the two main charters in the story which are Snuggle pot and Cuddle pie. These two characters are all over the show nested in prints and embellished with sequins in the floor length gowns. and also appear in embroidery mascots over oversized bombers.
overall I have chosen these two shows to talk about as i believe these two resonate with me the most and really express a way of working and use methods and processes that suit my own practise and work. similarly I have taken much inspiration and knowledge from the show at the design hub and the the Bush Magic show at VAMFF.
http://www.designhub.rmit.edu.au/exhibitions-programs/fashion-performance-materiality-meaning-media
http://romancewasborn.com/
https://www.tumblr.com/dashboard
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