2015 has already seen Live Archives dedicate exhibitions to Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto, as well as providing retail space to contemporary designers Claire Barrow, Ashley Williams and Ed Marler; now the Hackney gallery is tapping glamour.
Influenced by an essay from author and UAL visiting professor Elizabeth Wilson – ‘A Note on Glamour’ sees Wilson distinguish certain ideas of glamour as “eaten away by vulgarity” – The Circle explores the supernatural end of the spectrum: the kind of glamour that rejects paparazzi flash bulbs, red top endorsed red carpets and brash aesthetics.
Curated by Jeffrey Horsley, the new exhibition instead takes its cue from designers such as Alexander McQueen, Anne Demeulemeester, Boudicca, Dior Homme and Rick Owens – all labels that feature in the presentation. Elsewhere Cecil Beaton’s Deco era studio portraits prescribe the set design and accompanying imagery, above.
Open tomorrow (Friday 27th) until next Saturday (5th December), The Circle puts the spotlight on an interpretation of glamour that transcends the norm, the easy to read sequins-as-dressed up equation, and will likely challenge your own perceptions of a word used with such loose aspiration.
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