Shadow Catchers at V&A

I went to see the exhibition 'Shadow Catchers' at V&A today.
Shadow Catchers: Camera-less Photography

Although, the exhibition was not directly related to textile study, there were so many works which had textile elements.
I especially liked Pierre Cordier's works which were made by using the techniquie called Chemigram.
The chemigram is his original technique using Nail Vanish with photographic paper.
The works didn't look like normal photographs:They appear more compliecate, delicate and maze-like works.
I imagined if I could use this technique as my textile works, that would be great.
In his video, he said he is quite happy other people try this teqnique.

There were many other great works in the exhibition as well.
I realized the subject of photograpy is not only about using camera, it is about to catch shadows.
I felt,sometimes, camera-LESS photography tells more things than these of pictures taken with camera, even though they have less information in the screens. It catches invisible information which are normaly more beautiful and natural.

I would like to use photographic images for my textile works in the future.

Mont Saint-Michel

Before christmas, I went to Paris and Mont Saint-Michel for short trip.It was good time to go there, because lots of christmas decorations were being there.

Inside of Mont Saint-Michel, I was especially inspired by the beautiful stained-glass windows of the church. Those were not too much decorated, but really warm but still slightly mysterious sunright was comming through the windows and illuminating the inside of the cloister.

Knitting Final Samples

Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion

I went to see the exhibition 'Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion' at Barbican exhibition center.

'Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion is the first exhibition in Europe to comprehensively survey avant-garde Japanese fashion, from the early 1980s to the present. Curated by the eminent Japanese fashion historian Akiko Fukai, Director of the Kyoto Costume Institute, the exhibition explores the unique sensibility of Japanese design, and its sense of beauty embodied in clothing.
Japanese fashion made an enormous impact on the world fashion scene in the late 20^th century and designers such as Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto redefined the very basis of fashion. Their works will be shown alongside Kawakubo’s protégé, the techno-couturier Junya Watanabe, together with the acclaimed Jun Takahashi, and the new generation of radical designers including Tao Kurihara, Fumito Ganryu, Matohu, Akira Naka, Mina Perhonen and Mintdesigns.'Quoted from Barbican website.

I was impressed by the use of space at the exhibition. Of course each of their works were amazing as well, the way of display gave a lot of help for the works. Tall ceiling, commodious floor, and wide space between each work. In addition, music also helped it.

I especially liked the 1st floor which displayed early japanese fashion pioneers' works such as Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. Their works were very simple but well considered patterns and tailored. Those were not decorative, but well expressed Japanese beauty. On the 2nd floor, there were more new generations' works such as Mintdesigns. Their works were more decorative and, in my opinion, therefore lack of the nice side of japanese fashion. But I think, I have to say it is the new generation of Japanese fashion. 

Image Photos for Popup Project2

These are for Popup Project2 which I will do Stich and Print.

I'm going to use the reflections for my motifs.

Visit of the exhibition:DIAGHILEV and the golden age of the ballets russes 1909-1929

I visited the exhibition after lunch today.

DIAGHILEV and the golden age of the ballets russes 1909-1929

'Diaghilev's dramatic performances transformed dance, reawakening interest in ballet across Europe and America. Celebrating the company's key period of activity, this major exhibition reveals Diaghilev's enduring  influence on 20th-century art, design and fashion and includes more than 300 objects including giant theatre cloths, original costumes, set designs, props and posters by artists and designers including Léon Bakst, Georges Braque and Natalia Goncharova. These tell the story of a company which began in the social and political upheaval of pre-Revolutionary Russia and went on to cause a sensation with exotic performances that had never been seen before.' quoted from V&A official website.

It was huge exhibition. I was bit surprised when I entered the room, because I couldn't expect how bit it was from outside the door. The exhibition was amazing. Especially for me, because I did my foundation in theatre class, it was quite interesting theme. Lots of cloths, costumes, set design models, and props.I really want to see it again before its end.

One of the reason I was amazed the exhibition is the 'Orientalism'.I have images for current russian ballet 'elegance, dignified, and sophisticated'. And it is true. But I was noticed that it was not from the first time. In the exhibition, I felt 'orientalism' because of the color of the costume and the style of the makeup rather than feeling of elegance. They used bright color and bizarre shapes for their costumes and ethnic landscape paints for the back grounds. In addition, people at the time did not look on the company as we know it today for example, elegance and high class entertaiment. I think, it was looked more unwashed-entertaiment.

Visit t V&A Trade between East and West

Today's visit to V&A with Dr. Clare was amazing. First, I have to show respect for her wide knowledge of Art and design history. I wonder if I knew those, it would be much much interesting being in museums!!! Anyway, the visit was about trade between East and West in textile and art works.
There were lots of textile works in the section and some of them had really interesting design. Even almost all of them were made in UK or India, they had lots of oriental elements in the design such as Japanese and Chinese pattern. For me, the design looked bit weird because those were not perfect Japanse or Chinese design, but interesting. It's alway good to mix these two countries senses in one design. It makes completely new pattern. And it was also good to know how the textile trading between india and west countries was growing up.