A reflection on the use of clothing in my practice with reference to Object, Art, Image & Concept.

Art and Fashion are human experiences and can operate beyond these industries. Dressing can be a part of one’s personal expression, a means of liberation and can inform art practice. Art can inspire Fashion and Fashion can inspire art, Fashion can be used to question or explore identity and the way we are seen (Porter, C. 2021)

Object

Part of my work involves reforming garments into stored forms & objects. By using certain attributes of the clothing I can draw attention to certain figurative elements highlighted by wearing clothes. These may include cuffs & pockets which can make us think of hands or the hoods & drawstrings, which reference the head or face.

There is an added sense of personal details with the garments that I use as names are often written in the collars or things left in the pockets. Because the garments are donated to me or reclaimed they come with their own story of use. I do not clean them. This is one of the key elements that enrich them as objects for me.

Finer details become interesting during the making process & are exposed as the material is used in a different way to its intent. The work begins to show interesting folds & bunches where parts of the garment are scrunched together. Often, surface dirt highlights the change in the way in which Im using the material.

The forms are a reflection of ways in which the original garment could have been used or stored but also reflect how, as an artist they can be reused & manipulated to show an idea or narrative.

Art

Elements to consider when thinking about art may include the following,

Display - a major consideration for any art practice. For my objects modes of display play a key role in presenting the details in the work while entering a discussion around class, spaces, tradition & materiality.

Collections - Most of the materials I use exist in a similar real world context. They are usually used materials from places of labour, a building site or public space. They are often utilitarian objects or materials, made for one specific purpose. For me they work in higher volumes, so, I often I collect multiples of similar things.

Details - Materials & construction reveal a lot about my making process so they are often intentionally shown. I will keep dirt or damage on show, retain the materials original features, such a grommets & show construction techniques such as stitching.

These 3 things help to highlight the original wearer & their activities, the material & how it has worn or stressed & the artist, through reforming, labour & preservation.

Image

Image has the ability to show instantly recognisable elements. For my work the colour & to some extent the material are the link to clothing. This might trigger a journey for the viewer. Maybe they start to think about the kinda of people that wear these clothes, what jobs they might be carrying out, the connotations of having to wear hi-vis.

Image can also be about producing documentation for future reference, cataloguing or to share on social media. I am a print maker so I often make prints of garment forms on other materials. This allows me to mass produce something & be like the labourer that once wore what I am reproducing in the image. This also feeds into the repetitious nature of my practice & the environment that I take cues from in terms of activity & object.

Concept

The concept always comes first when I discuss my work, or rather it unfolds in conversation. But when i’m in the process of making or bringing together strands of my practice the concept evolves more fully. Often all the elements are present but don’t completely align. This can be because ideas & references take a while to collate. They come from different spaces & at different times. However, one thing can lead to another & eventually you have to be selective as not to introduce too much.

Conceptually for me the materials & place of collection is the through line. I like flat surfaces to print onto, materials that can be sewn together & a selection of materials that can pack into a small space but also expand into galleries.