Beyond the Dress Code – this exhibition explores the deeper meanings of fashion
Whether you regularly dress to impress or are a devotee to the same core items of a capsule wardrobe, there is no denying that what you choose to wear has a great impact on how you are perceived. Like it or not, most of us carry biases (unconscious or otherwise) towards all kinds of items – from fur coats to hi-vis vests, clothing has the ability to instantly signify someone’s style, status or intentions. Coming to the Museum of Brisbane from November 3, Dress Code is an exhibition that draws upon the collective talents of five artists to explore the intrinsic links between fashion, identity and culture – and you’d best believe we have a lot to learn.
Dress Code brings together a breadth of artists who are as diverse in background and medium as they are talented. Contemporary creatives Gerwyn Davies, Hannah Gartside, Lisa Hilli, Grace Lillian Lee and Emily McGuire each have connections to Brisbane, collectively working across art, design, fashion and craft to investigate the inner workings of the sartorial system. The exhibition holds a beautiful microscope up to the fashion world, unravelling the constructs of gender, culture and identity in the process. Dress Code is the perfect complement to the Museum’s major summer exhibition The Designers’ Guide: Easton Pearson Archive, as it provides a sterling context for the current and future attitudes of the fashion industry.
When it comes to the content of Dress Code, the exhibition presents a curated collection across various mediums to explore the themes of fashion and identity. Visitors will be treated to a range of artistic interpretations from the five featured artists that delve deep into the issues surrounding ethical and slow fashion, all done in a way that is visually captivating (but still makes you think). The Museum has commissioned brand-new works from Emily, Hannah and Grace, each of which is an extension of the artists’ continued exploration of collaboration, consumerism and identity within the realms of fashion. These pieces are joined by a stunning installation from Lisa as well as Gerwyn’s eye-popping photographs, creating a mixed-media collaborative exhibition that will make you sit up and pay attention.
Ready to explore Dress Code? The exhibition is free to enter and is running at the Museum of Brisbane from November 3, 2018 until January 28, 2019. For more information, head to our Events Guide.
Image credits:
Gerwyn Davies, Prawn 2016. Archival inkjet print. Image courtesy the artist.
Emily McGuire, Calvin Klein 2017. Embroidery thread, second- hand garment, interfacing, adhesive. Image courtesy the artist.
Lisa Hilli, Value Systems (detail) 2018. Mixed media installation. Image courtesy the artist.
Hannah Gartside, Sophia as a herald 2017. Digital photograph. Image courtesy the artist.
To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.
