As I write this towards the end of April I feel as though I’ve been stuck at home for the past four months, but in truth, I’ve still managed to do quite a bit – always in the third week of a chemotherapy round. Which is when, for the first three cycles anyway, I felt reasonably well. First outing was to the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the NGV. We went on the 6th of March 2023. Here are Pauline and I waiting to go in.
We were lucky to be there before the numbers grew. This was a members only viewing. We were the only people in most of the galleries which was great.
Here I am admiring these white and silver pieces. The exhibition was nicely laid out – plenty of space and light showing off the pieces to advantage. There were 120 garments and pieces showcased.
Lots of opportunities to take pictures unimpeded by people. Here’s a picture of me taking a picture. Alongside the fashion there were more than eighty artworks – paintings, sculptures, prints that were meant to illuminate the interdisciplinary impulse that defined McQueen’s career. Like the painting in this gallery. I couldn’t see the connection.
I was surprised that so many of the pieces on display were so fashionable. I’d have been happy to wear lots of them. This outfit was really gorgeous.
McQueen was apparently known for his use of leather and there were two great examples of his skills with respect to it. This brown jacket. He was proficient in tailoring which you can see here.
And also innovative in his use of materials like with this green leather top.
I was surprised at the lack of edginess to most of the pieces on display. I thought McQueen revelled in being the bad boy of fashion. Perhaps not. It certainly didn’t come across that way in the exhibition. Most of the pieces were timeless – and could just as easily be worn today.
I’m not sure that the pieces on display demonstrated that he pushed far beyond the bounds of conventional fashion design as claimed in the NGV notes on the exhibition.
Like these two items I thought most were quite conventional. The pieces displayed were from collections of the NGV and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
This pants suit looks straight out of the sixties but is absolutely wearable now. Again I couldn’t see the link between the clothing and the artwork displayed.
Some more swinging sixties! And maybe Japanese kimono material in the skirt.
You could easily wear this very beautiful silver and black outfit today.
It was often the fabrics that made the outfits memorable. Like this dress.
And this one. Beautiful fabric. The eery mask trying to be edgy but basically misogynist I thought.
I didn’t think there were any standout items as I’ve seen in other designer exhibitions. This evening dress was relatively modest.
Maybe this one could be classed as notable, but it’s mostly the accoutrements that make it stand out – the headgear and the boots.
McQueen was Scottish and was known for his use of tartan. The NGV owns quite a few pieces including this one.
And this one – as well a a couple of others that were on display. All eminently wearable.
The head gear on the mannequins was edgy. But I was disappointed to discover it was especially commissioned for the exhibition and was not McQueens own. Though he did include very edgy headgear in his runway shows.
McQueen was said to take inspiration from a wide range of sources including Indigenous peoples of different countries. I don’t know from where this style is drawn – maybe Iceland?
Even I had seen these ridiculous shoes for which McQueen was known – I have no idea where, when or how I knew about them. More misogyny – remind me of horrible bound feet. Even here the actual clothes are not edgy.
I liked this pottery was included in that last gallery – although couldn’t see a connection to the clothes.
Another piece.
They were quite striking.
Finally, another pic of Pauline and me – taken by a gay couple for whom I’d taken a picture.
After our time in the gallery we were treated to a conversation about McQueen and his impact on the fashion industry between the curators and a fellow who runs an Instagram account devoted to him which you can see here. This was okay but I prefer the curator’s talks which I find very informative.
But I was very pleased to see, after this conversation, a video of the complete runway experience of McQueen’s famous 2006 Widows of Culloden exhibition. This really captured his creativity and capacity for story-telling. Apparently his career was at a bit of a cross roads when this show was created and it restored him to favour. It was terrific and showed you why he was so influential – more so than the exhibition I felt. You can see it here.
Agree. An interesting exhibition which didn’t really live up to the marketing hype. The commissioned headpieces were by far the standout which is odd when, as you said, McQueen had nothing to do with them.
Not as interesting a fashion show as the NGV has exhibited in the past.
The clothes were not “edgy”…seriously? And the shoes remind you of misogyny. Clearly you know nothing about Mcqueen or the historical significance of most of his work. I suggest you read some of the books about McQueen and revisit his creations.