DESTE Foundation and TOILETPAPER

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Workwear, Exhibition in Milan

Designed to look both like a gallery and a boutique, the specially constructed installation inside the Triennale - created in collaboration with Italian designer Alberto Biagetti - features works created by 40 creatives hailing from the fields of art, architecture, design and fashion, many of whom have produced garments that are actually not meant to be worn. Instead, they serve a role as bizarre or indeed thought-provoking encounters, thereby transporting visitors away from their mere functionality as clothing.

Some of the ‘fashion artworks’ on display get straight to the point, as seen for example in Vivienne Westwood’s lumberjack ‘costume’ (complete with a shiny axe for wood chopping purposes). Others are more enigmatic or indeed surreal, such as Angela Missoni’s ‘uniform for a dreamer’ or the ‘cloud hunter’ dress by Antonio Marras. The most controversial piece in the entire exhibition however has to be Issey Miyake’s coat, pants and boots set, which is made out of gold foil and is meant for the exhausted African immigrants docking, in their infamous boats, at the Italian island of Lambedusa. 

A definite must-see before the frenzy of fashion-week month begins, the ‘Abiti di Lavoro - Workwear’ exhibition offers much food for thought for all fashion lovers out there and will be on display at the Triennale di Milano until 31 August 2014.

Text and image source Yatzer. Link here.

Evelyn Bencicova, Artist

We have come across many a story of fashion models turning towards other occupations, but that of 21-year-old photographer Evelyn Bencicova must be one of the most interesting (and successful at that). Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, the Berlin-based photographer decided to pursue her interest in fashion- and art-photography a couple of years ago, following her urge to create images and stories of her own. Back in her childhood, Bencicova wanted to be, amongst other things, a philosopher and a politician, aspirations which seem to have reemerged into her more recent creative work – since behind her impressively coherent and visually stunning work lies a healthy dose of thought and research, as well as the ambition to tackle some serious philosophical questions about human existence and, as she says, ''the true nature of things.''

For Evelyn Bencicova, the content of the picture is not just the person or the object that it depicts, but rather the thoughts or concepts the image evokes. Her images go beyond the apparent, without however being symbolic or representational: for her, a photograph is just a moment in a longer and multilayered creative process, since she sees herself more of a creator of scenes or sculptural compositions than ‘just’ a photographer, admitting that she is not really interested in the technical aspects of what she does. Through her treatment of the body as more of a sculptural or choreographic device (paired with the extensive use of props and materials such as melted wax, extravagant costumes, or even dead fish), Bencicova creates poignant visual gestures which do not ‘stand for’ something, but rather bring actual relationships into existence – relationships between the individuals who pose for her, the body and its environment, the viewer and Bencicova herself.

Text and image source Yatzer. Link here.

Brigette Heffernan, Artist

Clothes hanger modified with paper and charcoal to capture mark making in the wind.

Venetian blind modified with pencils to make a drawing.

Source link here.

Alice Fox, Artist

Source link here.

Nick Kennedy, Artist

Artist Statement:

Central to all my work is the conflict between chance and influence, order and chaos, success and failure, rules and irregularity. My practice has a very specific focus on drawing, which is largely due to its immediacy and flexibility as a medium for the exploration of ideas.

A key strand of my work involves the employment of systems or devices to disrupt or interfere with my control over the process of making. Through my practice I aim to explore the notions of chance, order, control and serendipity.

Link here to go to artist's website.

Making Marks. Students Made Their Own Drawing Tools.