The Tamesis
Long before fashion was officially recognized as a curatorial department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1946, a challenging question surrounded the profound, everyday act of dressing: Is fashion art? Can art become fashion?
At the heart of this provocative question is the text—you know, where you read this sentence. The human form is perhaps the most important and fundamental aspect of our existence, and as such plays a crucial role in the annals of art, stretching from Venus of Willendorf to Cindy Sherman’s twisted and witty self-portraits.
“Fashion is very much an art form, not in spite of the body but because of it,” says Andrew Bolton, OBE director and director of the Costume Institute. This year’s exhibition “The Art of Costume” not only seeks to address this extremely complex issue, but explores it from all sides. The central thesis is as simple as it is exciting: pair existing art with corresponding clothing or accessories to get your synapses burning. The layout of the show – divided into sections ranging from Biblical nudity to latest news The idea of body diversity combined with the way we have long used clothes not just to decorate but to subvert and distort the body – shows how rich this subject is and why it has fascinated artists since ancient times.
Additionally, the exhibition will be the first at Galerie Conde Nast, the costume department’s new home. The department, once housed in a small 4,500-square-foot space in the museum’s basement, will now take off in a grand 12,000-square-foot display room on the first floor near the central lobby. Max Hollein, the museum’s director, said it symbolizes the importance of costume to the Met’s mission of exploring all aspects of modern art. “We collect paintings, sculptures, textiles, weapons and armor, and especially all fashion,” he said. “We want to make sure people understand that fashion is an amazing art form.”
In the video above, Bolton, Holhein and members of the host committee offer their thoughts on this very special exhibition, and you’ll get an exclusive first look at the items on display. While the show may not forever resolve the question of whether fashion is art (or vice versa), it will certainly make you think. After all, isn’t that the real point?
Director: Nina Legetti
Director of Photography: Michael Lopez, Henry Gill
Editor: Evan Allen
Senior Producer: Betty Dreger
Producer: Rashida Josiah
Associate Producers: Anissa Kenard, Justin Ramirez, Leah Doberg
Photographer: Chanthila Phaophanit
Assistant Videographers: Kahdeem Prosper Jefferson, Gordan Wong
Lighting Designers: Billy Voermann, Mary Kalecinska
Swing: Alex Frischman
Audio: Maria Chulikova, Joanna Hunter
Set designers: Ilana Portney, Dana Keren
Production Assistants: Quinton Johnson, Miles Haywood
Runners: Edie Chesters, Rachel Admeton
Andrew Bolton’s Beautician: Shin Arima
Makeup artist for Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani: Ai Yokomizo
Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani’s hairstylist: Sonny Molina
Misty Copeland Makeup artist: Victor Henao
Misty Copeland’s hairstylist: Nai’vasha Grace
Aariana Philip’s makeup artist: Meadow Soleil Cloud
Gwendoline Christie’s makeup artist: Daniel Kolarik
Gwendoline Christie’s hairstylist: Joe Kelly
Aimee Mullins Hair and Makeup Artist: Stèfan Jemeel
Production Coordinator: Tania Jones
Production Manager: Christine Helmick
Senior Production Manager: Venita Singh-Warner
Producer: Natasha Soto-Olbers
Assistant Editors: Andy Morrell, Fionn Lithgow
Senior Motion Graphics Designer: Samuel Fuller
Post-production coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Cameron Key
Post-production supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Entertainment Director: Sergio Kletnoi
Directors of Global Talent Casting: Ignacio Murillo, Morgan Senesi
Executive Producer: Rahel Gebryes
Senior Director Digital Video: Romy van den Broeke
Senior Director of Programming: Linda Gittleson
Vice President of Video Programming: Thespena Guatieri
Florist: Blooming Haus, London
Photography: Paul Westlake
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Special thanks to: Metropolitan Museum of Art
