Nature Nurture
Retrospective consideration of a type of glossary typically used within fashion; touching on the friction between language that finds its origin in natural phenomena such as the budding of flowers, later on to be appropriated within an artificial context of seasonal trends.
Retrospective consideration of a type of glossary typically used within fashion; touching on the friction between language that finds its origin in natural phenomena such as the budding of flowers, later on to be appropriated within an artificial context of seasonal trends.
Fashion’s turn of phrase,
by nature or in fact nurture?
Held at S.M.A.K. (Ghent), I saw a series of works titled OUT NOW, COW PARSLEY AND JAPONICA, Feb 5, 2022 and OUT NOW, GARDEN FLOWERS, Feb 5, 2022 whereby I couldn’t help but notice a link with fashion’s strategies to sell the next new trend, whatever that may be at that given moment in time. With the use of words and phrases along the lines of ‘out now’, those in control of fashion try to influence and steer the puppets of their fashion puppet-show in the direction of a ‘need’ mindset, a desire for the new.
Something as natural as the seasonal budding of certain plants as depicted by Rose Wylie, somehow made the artificiality of fashion even more apparent and in turn appalling. Or perhaps the alienating aspect of it all is explained better the other way around. With the connotation of certain phrases such as ‘out now’ to (fashion)consumption, these canvases almost seem to entail a contradiction when those same exact words are used in relation to natural phenomena. Looking at Wylie’s triptych, a friction between nature and nurture arose within me.
Rose Wylie . OUT NOW, COW PARSLEY AND JAPONICA, Feb 5, 2022 [2022]
Rose Wylie . OUT NOW, GARDEN FLOWERS, Feb 5, 2022 [2022]
OCTOBER.2024