April 2008 Archives

Both fashion and architecture express ideas of personal, social and cultural identity, reflecting the needs of the user and the spirit of the times. The relationship between fashion and architecture is a symbiotic one, and throughout history clothing and buildings have echoed one another in form and appearance. This symbiosis is only natural as they share the primary function of providing shelter and protecting the body but also because they both create space and volume out of flat two-dimensional materials. While fashion and architecture share many traits, they are also fundamentally different. Both realms address the human scale, but the proportions, sizes and shapes they adopt differ enourmously. A piece of fashion design is often intended to be used by an individual whereas architecture is often intended for use by multiple people at a given moment. Also, while fashion is by its very nature ephemeral or 'of the moment', architecture traditionally has a more solid, monumental and permanent presence.  

To be glamorous, a thing has to be in part inaccessible, difficult to possess - whether through rarity or expense.                                                                                     
                                                                     
Reference:
Alexandra Shulman, Editor, British Vogue - The Glamour Issue, December 2007, p. 17.

Paid a visit to the Skin and Bones show that just opened at Somerset House. It investigates the relationship between fashion and architecture. Lots of beautiful dresses and great architectural models on display!

Zaha wins.

I'm experimenting with casting some jigs to place my cast fabric models in while they are being vacuum-formed. These should work to ensure that perfect edge condition that provides a guaranteed interlock.

For the final plates I want to set up a kind of fashion shoot with my models as the well...models :)

I am going to use Inez van Lambsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin (photographers) who collaborate often with M/M Paris (graphic/art director dudes) as a precedent. I love the sensuous way they combine line drawings with photos. I will keep that in mind as I prepare the plates.