Savage Beauty was a Bittersweet Experience

Just like McQueen's runway shows, Savage Beauty transported you to an alternate universe. Everything was impeccably presented, from the custom wallpaper, to the wooden curio cabinets displaying garments, to the select music playing in each room. One of the most memorable display cases held pieces from McQueen's Spring 2001 collection, the collection whose runway show took place inside a mirrored cube, displaying guests' reflections until the inside was lit. A video of the runway show (specifically, the nude woman laying in a second cube surrounded by moths) was projected onto the back wall of the display case. When the video was over, the case went dark and its seemingly transparent glass walls became mirrors. You found yourself staring back at your reflection, and that of the crowd behind you. Videos of various McQueen runway shows were displayed on the walls, scattered among butterfly headdresses and intricately carved platform heels. In one room, a black case held a 3-D video projection, almost a hologram image, of a model (apparently Kate Moss) wearing a McQueen dress, twisting and turning underwater. The theme from Schindler's List played in the background and as the song came to an end, the projection faded into misty nothingness. A similar video was played on the ceiling of a subsequent room.

The exhibition was a truly bittersweet experience. Surrounded by McQueen's art and vision, awe and respect swelled inside of you as you admired every hand-sewn stitch and seam. But at the same time, beholding the garments that McQueen put his heart and soul into enveloped you in melancholy aching, wondering why such an extraordinary man chose to take his life far too soon.

I bought a set of pencils featuring prints from Plato's Atlantis from the gift store. They were supremely expensive but I needed something to hang onto from the exhibition.

I encourage everyone to see the exhibit. Go during your weekday lunch break, go early on a weekend, go once school is over. It's worth it. To be exposed to a world in which fantasy comes to life is a priceless experience.

In Preparation for the McQueen Exhibit...

Here are photos from the exhibition catalogue of pieces I'm most excited to see. But first, please admire the cover. It's a hologram that changes from a liquidly metallic-looking skull to McQueen's face.

Nihilism, Spring 1994. Click to enlarge quote.

click.

Fall 2010

Fall 2010. Apparently, actual models are wearing the garments in this book. The photos were edited to make them look like mannequins. It makes sense because if you look closely, the finger/toe/arm/knee joints all look way too realistic and fluid to be a piece of plastic.

Plato's Atlantis, Spring 2010 (McQueen's last collection; one of my absolute favorites and not because Lady Gaga wears a number of the pieces in her music video for Bad Romance.)

Plato's Atlantis 

Plato's Atlantis

Highland Rape, Fall 1995

Spring 1998

P.S. I would make this post much more extensive, but I gotta go — hosting some pre-Rapture festivities in light of tomorrow's fun! luv ya god xoxo!

Wonderlust

It's interesting how a photograph can be described in one word at first glance. And it's funny/interesting how photography is constantly categorized by this one word, attributed by a tradition of closed minds and the need to constantly label things to assure ourselves that we "know." Maybe I sound pretentious...? It's okay. I'm seeing the Alexander McQueen exhibit next Saturday and I am completely excited. The thought of spending hours wandering through halls full of McQueen's art will get me through the week until then. I respect McQueen so much — his work was never one dimensional; there was always a fantastical story, or a political message behind each collection. And he put just as much work into the runway shows as the garments themselves. The end result allowed his guests to escape to a dream-like world where rain was liquid gold and the peril of humanity lay in the hands of womankind, at least for fifteen minutes.

Darla Baker

New York Dolls

If anyone has original sources for these photos do post the link!

The Big Screens, The Plastic-Made Dreams

I'm cringing at myself for composing a title of song lyrics, nonetheless lyrics written by One Night Only. But I couldn't help it; I've been listening to "Say You Don't Want It" on repeat for the past 48 hours (see previous post for music video).

10 points for Gryffindor! If you know what I mean.

;)

But I digress. I received my March issues of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue in the mail on Tuesday, finally, and I took some a few photos of the stuff I found interesting (I'm still too lazy to use the scanner).

 More Balenciaga Spring 2011 with Yuri and Gisele.

Why is Crystal Renn still considered "plus size?" (Also, to any of you who watched America's Next Top Model last night, why does Tyra feel the need to replace the term "plus size" with "fiercely real?" I understand that she is trying to encourage others to realize that plus size models are just as gorgeous as those who wear a size zero, but honestly? It comes off as very contrived. Can't straight-size models be "fiercely real" too? They're all human beings.)

STOP. These campaigns are not tasteful, and they do not make me want to go out and buy that sooper cyute tied crop top with the plunging neckline.

Also, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will be hosting an exhibition featuring 100 of Alexander McQueen's greatest designs! Read more about it HERE (ooh shameless self promotion). I'm really hoping the exhibition will include videos and/or pieces from McQueen's early collection, Highland Rape. The collection was shown in 1996; therefore, I was one year old and too worried about drinking baby formula and burping to appreciate McQueen's artistry. I also can't find photos or videos of it anywhere.