Helen Storey, ‘Say Goodbye’ 2010
Celebrating the third season of contemporary art, the RA’s Aware: Art Fashion Identity exhibition explores clothing, and its ability to communicate and reveal elements of personal identity. Pulling in the expected roster of emerging and established practitioners – from Yohji Yamamoto to Grayson Perry, Yoko Ono to Susie MacMurray – the exhibition provides an authoritative overview and investigation into the analytical aspects of fashion. Hussein Chalayan’s dress, inspired by the Japanese tradition of Banraku puppet theatre, and Yinka Shonibare’s bespoke wall mural has been commissioned especially for the exhibition.
Divided into four distinct sections, the exhibition covers Storytelling, Building, Belonging and Confronting and Performance, each area a comprehensive study of aspects of culture and dress. From Grayson Perry’s ‘Artist’s Robe’ – a comment on the artist’s role in contemporary society – to ‘Chic Point’, Sharif Waked’s video installation that juxtaposes high-fashion and self imprisonment – each has examined and utilized clothing as a means of artistic expression, commenting on individuality and social identity.
GSK Contemporary – Aware: Art Fashion Identity is on at the Royal Academy of Arts, 6 Burlington Gardens, until 30 January 2010.
Hussein Chalayan, ‘Son’ of Sonzai Suru, 2010
