The literary and fashion worlds are set to collide at the newest MET Exhibition where the history of couture will be ‘narrated’ by late English writer, Virginia Woolf. By Bayar Jain
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In honour of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)’s 150th anniversary, a novel exhibition tracing fashion’s history has been curated featuring a ghost ‘narration’ by English writer, Virginia Woolf — states the museum’s official website. Titled About Time: Fashion and Duration, the novel exhibition relies on French philosopher Henri Bergson’s concept of la durée, or duration, to explore the connection of clothes and time.
Unravelling itself in two adjacent galleries dressed as clock faces, each ‘minute’ of the 60-minute display features a pair of garments representing the linearity of fashion juxtaposed with its cyclical character. Shape, motif, material, pattern, technique, and even decoration all come to life during this display. Each garment—all in black, barring the culminating piece—serves as a depiction of silhouette artworks. The final display—depicting community, collaboration, and sustainability—is that of an upcycled white patchwork dress from fashion house Viktor & Rolf’s spring/summer 2020 haute couture collection. Tying these 60 pieces together are the writings of the acclaimed late author, Virginia Woolf.
From her first novel The Voyage Out to her last, Between the Acts, Woolf’s quotations serve as an insight into the modernist writer’s progression in understanding time. Once viewed in a progressional form, her understanding eventually meanders into realms of inner duration or durée.
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Works on display include an 1870 American mourning dress; Italian designer, Elsa Schiaparelli’s evening dress from 1939; Alexander McQueen’s ‘Bumster’ Skirt from 1995; Japanese artist’s Junya Watanabe’s black polyester plain weave; Christian Dior’s ‘Bar’ suit; a dress each by Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Marc Jacobs; ‘Broken Mirrors’ ensemble by Yves Saint Laurent, and more.
About Time: Fashion and Duration is on public display every day until February 7, 2021, except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as the museum stays closed on those days. To ensure social distancing, a cap of 50 visitors at a time has been imposed. The tickets to the show can be bought online at a price for USD 25 (approximately INR 1,870) for adults; USD 17 (approximately INR 1,270) for senior citizens; and USD 12 (approximately INR 895) for students. For members, patrons, and children under 12, the exhibition stands free. Alternatively, the tickets can also be bought at the venue by furbishing a valid ID.
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