New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: China: Through the Looking Glass.

Both my sister and I absolutely adored this exhibition. It was both the way the garments were presented within the exhibition itself; alongside videos giving contextual reference and the original pattern inspirations alongside the designers work. It was so good to see this link between the inspiration and the catwalk garment. I love history and I think it's great to be presented with the co-operation between the influences of the Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion and how this country has fueled the creative imagination for centuries.

This collaboration between The Costume Institute and the Department of Asian Art combines high fashion with Chinese costumes, paintings and porcelains. The dress below was absolutely stunning and the craft behind it was breath taking, as was with all of the other incredible garments, however this one in particular stood out because of the juxtaposition with the heavy but precious material (porcelain) used and the function of a dress - however this was definitely a work of art rather than a functional garment to do the shopping in! It really played with the inspiration behind the design by using actual pottery - not just the painted design used on pottery- embracing the work of art behind this chinese craft of the pottery itself.

http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/post/128260773480/030915-amazed-by-this-dress-at-the-met-ny

The MET describes the exhibition: 

'From the earliest period of European contact with China in the sixteenth century, the West has been enchanted with enigmatic objects and imagery from the East, providing inspiration for fashion designers from Paul Poiret to Yves Saint Laurent, whose fashions are infused at every turn with romance, nostalgia, and make-believe. Through the looking glass of fashion, designers conjoin disparate stylistic references into a pastiche of Chinese aesthetic and cultural traditions.'

'The exhibition features more than 140 examples of haute couture and avante-garde ready-to-wear alongside Chinese art. Filmic representations of China are incorporated throughout to reveal how our visions of China are framed by narratives that draw upon popular culture, and also to recognise the importance of cinema as a medium through which to understand the richness of Chinese history.'

http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/post/128262584225/videos-related-to-the-exhibition-china-through

http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/post/129412634085/190915-sketchbook-work-in-response-to-china