Celebrating the joint and community-based side of art and design, Style Collab was an exhibit that embraced variety. 5 mannequins were embellished with garments developed by participants, and many more in attendance wore their styles, producing the environment of an online exhibition and fashion program. The apparel offered was created with a collection of workshops in cooperation with artists, including Ehud Joseph, Soraya del Castillo, Dr. Lenine Bourke, Annika Hair, Sophiaan Subhan, and Kristy Power. These workshops were open to all at no charge and created to be safe, innovative rooms for LGBTIQAX+ and neurodivergent areas and their allies. This ease of access indicated the creatives entailed were diverse in their lived experience, and this came with in styles commemorating what makes each specific one-of-a-kind.
The event opening took place prior to The Stitchery Collective’s Bowerytopia, with the mannequins staying on display for the whole evening. Boweytopia is an annual occasion themed around the late Australian style symbol Leigh Bowery. A lot of the clothing developed for Fashion Collab plainly referenced Bowery’s love of lavish outfits. Masks were a common motif throughout apparel used by both guests and mannequins. Unlike lots of event openings I have actually gone to, Fashion Collab was not an official and stale affair. The state of mind of the night was just one of area in which people can freely share their originality. Clothing is a vital component of self-expression, and the freedom in attire, including masks, appeared to be a means for many in attendance to uncover and be themselves.
The fixed components of the exhibit, the five mannequins, were curated by musician Annika Strand. As an artist living with Cerebral Palsy, Annika checks out the appeal of nature, variety, and liberty as she aims to produce significant links with her audience. Annika’s curatorial vision was clear at Style Collab. The identical mannequins were dressed in matching smocks and masks. These straightforward pieces of material were separated through their patterns, colours, and design. With this unity, the musicians had the ability to imprint their distinct vision onto a blank canvas. The displayed attire were joint, with musicians and workshop guests working together to develop the striking items. The variety in layouts was tremendous, ranging from a beetroot-inspired want to a smock covered in detailed drawings of faces and dance figures covered with a rainbow mask.
The sense of area and happiness existing in Fashion Collab highlighted to me the relevance of obtainable creative outlets. A number of participants I talked to emphasised the rarity of complimentary and comprehensive workshops. Everyone entailed appeared to have actually benefited in some way through their participation, and I hope to see similar workshops and events in the future.
Originally released on nothingeverhappensinbrisbane.com on October 3, 2023