I love surrealism art and its philosophy, and I’m lucky to see this exhibition in Tokyo.
Surrealism was a great art movement of the 20th century, and its philosophy is deeply related to consciousness about extending beyond the bounds of expression.
This exhibit starts from the jewelry motif of insects and accessories with human hairs. These fashion items are somewhat frightening. With an aesthetic sense, these items look very cool and fine-looking.
Surrealistic way of thinking brought new ideas to the fashion industry like these weird fashion items. Surrealism artists mixed some unexpected goods in daily life. An umbrella and iron on an operating table, for example.
A fashion designer, Elsa Schiaparelli, who had some surrealism artist friends, produced much unique and innovative fashion.
She preferred to use a vivid fresh pink color called “shocking pink” for the dresses she designed, and her style was very decorative and architectural.
She also produced unique-shaped or material jewels and accessories inspired by artworks by her friends and artist, like Dali, Man Ray, Giacometti.
These kinds of fashion, at a glance, seem very strange and rather disgusting from the authentic viewpoint. Something bizarre has a new attraction to change people’s perceptions. Then, for a change, it becomes an expression of the cutting edge.
In this exhibition, not only the artworks at the beginning of 20c, but we can also see the high-class European ladies fashion in middle-age and French royal court in 18c described in some books. Very high head accessories, sharply pointed shoes, and volumes raised hairstyles, they look very freaky and eccentric now. However, in each era, those styles were the most fashionable.
In the last part, Japanese fashion is displayed from the Edo period to the latest. 200years ago, Geisha girls were like the top models in Japan, and their fashion style was excessively decorative and distinguished. They looked completely different from the average woman. In a way, geisha were the object of admiration.
Moreover, we can find the influence of surrealism art when we see the shoes with bird wings or trousers look like horse legs by Japanese contemporary fashion designers. Even today, surrealism gives still influences fashion.
Not a bad idea to check out the latest fashion and enjoy the beautiful cultural scene in historical and authentic architecture in Meguro!
About the detail of this exhibition, please see the site below.