There are many ubiquitous topics that flutter around the “art-world” consciousness that never seem to land. Every once in a while those ideas can be reinterpreted in a way that just “clicks”. It may feel right because it feels new, or because someone else (who is totally genius) “gets it”! This can be really satisfying if you can successfully put your own spin or perspective on something people were previously interested in or with which they are in some way already familiar.
I gotta tell you, I was feeling pretty good when I realized last month that we (the team behind EX – a show inspired by the surrealist movement in the arts) had drawn from the same stream as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who are currently exhibiting garments and accessories by Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada. What an interesting conversation the work of these two women have! And what a wonderful opportunity we had to educate a few New Yorkers on the history of Schiaparelli in advance of the exhibit opening. We wanted to look at the connection between the Surrealists (one of those ideas floating around just above our heads) and how their forms played out in Fashion, and the MET is just being the BOSS, per usual.
If you were unable to attend the conversation about Schiaparelli, IAM has graciously provided video documentation [here] and if you do not live in New York, you may visit the exhibit at the MET’s website [here]. Enjoy.