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Fashion is lovely

Sacred Geometry

By jennine ⋅ October 30, 2007 ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ Post a comment

Every now and then, and not as often as I’d like, I’ll draw the connection to two unrelated things and get really excited. A few weeks ago, I went to see the Olafur Eliasson exhibiton at the SFMOMA it was an expereince… for sure.

I don’t think my work is about my work. My work is about you.
~Olafur Eliasson.

[Eliasson] challeng[es] the passive nature of traditional art-viewing, he engages the observer as an active participant, using tangible elements such as temperature, moisture, aroma, and light to generate physical sensations. from SFMOMA.org

Engaging in Eliasson’s work of light and form, also conjured up images and thoughts I’d been having about the state of fashion. How pleats, ruffles, ruching, extravagant silhouettes, push the boundary of function in attire. It made me wonder if as a race we had become bored of our human bodies and desire something more, something more substantial, intellectual.
The 20th Century was for the most part dominated by Modernist theory, favoring form/function over surface/ornament. Lately I’ve noticing been noticing there are lots of shapes in art and design that have no apparent function, except to dazzle, to engage, to stimulate one’s imagination. From Eliasson’s, prickly geometric sculptures, to Frank Gehry’s crazy architecture to the silhouette of Rodarte’s Fall collection, mere function isn’t enough, what ever inspires the imagination will ultimately carry us through.

Examples of expressive fashion this season, Rodarte, Preen, Christopher Kane, Hussien Chalayan, Alexander McQueen.

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Discussion

5 comments for “Sacred Geometry”

  1. another interesting, thought-provoking post. i love these!

    Posted by thealchemist | October 30, 2007, 5:42 pm

  2. As soon as i saw this post i thought of the geometric sweater of Sandra Backlund.
    I saw an exhibition of Eliasson years ago in London and was one of those experiences you never forget: A big “sun” in the middle of The Tate! It was fantastic.

    Posted by Bobble Bee | October 30, 2007, 8:24 pm

  3. I still haven’t had the chance to see an Olafur Eliasson’s exhibit, but I’d really love to.
    I also love Frank Gehry’s “fairy-tale-like” buildings!
    I think geometry, architecture and fashion have a nice relationship! :-)

    Posted by wendygital | October 31, 2007, 4:32 am

  4. Very interesting indeed. You might want to check out Leonard Shlain’s Art and Physics

    http://www.artandphysics.com/

    it Talks about the linkings between science and art in the context of modernism. I think it is a really neat parallel to what you are working on here.

    Posted by Julie Fredrickson | October 31, 2007, 4:11 pm

  5. oh my gosh, i love sandra bucklund… she uses so many interesting shapes!

    i wish i could have seen the sun at the tate modern. it looked incredbile.

    @julie~ thanks for thin link, i find this kinds of stuff really interesting….
    :)

    Posted by jennine | October 31, 2007, 4:33 pm

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