Art Fashion Identity Exhibition @ Royal Academy

Clothing can represent individual and social identity.  Clothing can be effective in celebrating identity and indicating allegiance or highlighting importance and status of the individual. This exhibition brings together a group of contemporary artists and innovative fashion designers who share common interests by responding to contemporary issues and needs and yet are rooted in history. The artist’s particular interpretation uses clothing to explore identity. This exhibition explores the different interpretations, beginning with recognizing the role of clothing in personal and cultural histories, examining clothing as a form of protection, clothing as a form of political conflict and questions of nationality.

Gillian Wearing RA – “Sixty Minute Silence” 1996
Video piece examining the authority of clothing and dynamic of the group. People wearing police uniforms are arranged in a formal photograph. As time passes by, the individuality of each person begins to emerge as they begin to fidget, diminishing the authority of their uniforms that conceals their individual identity.

Yohji Yamamoto – “Autumn/Winter” from the Yohji Yamamoto Femme Collection (1991-2)
A wooden framework is moulded into the form of a dress, suggesting a human skeleton, an architectural structure and armour. Its shape also recalls the constraining corsets that women used to wear, as well as assorts the strength of the person that might wear it. Here Yamamoto feels the need to regain respect for clothing and promote women’s independence.

 Mella Jaarsma – “Shelter Me” 2005

interesting structural form consisting of a temple shape and mobile protective covering, inspired by the lifestyle and traditions of Indonesia, reflecting the culture of the place in which it was made.  This highlights the symbols of individuality and social identity – clothing and habitat.