A particular word inspires my theme this time, juxtaposition.
Like the juxtaposition of these two images?
His images are described as "jarring juxtapositions of prosperity and conflict", as the split images emphasise the differences between war-torn countries and privileged peaceful societies.
To see more of his work, view this link:
Juxtaposition, "The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect."
Like this Come des Garcons Comme des Garcons split image
Comme des Garcons S/S 2005 collection 'Ballerina Motorbikes' utilised this concept.
Rei Kawakubo said, "I thought about the power of the motorbike and the strength of a ballet dancer's arms."
Sarah Mower described the collection as "the startling collision of disparate elements"
Juxtaposition, stiff leather jackets paired with tulle tutu skirts. Even the colours of the jackets, black, tan, orange seemed a tough contrast with the more fragile pinks and whites of the tutus.
The head pieces always fascinated me.
This ensemble is delivered in pink gingham, both skirt and jacket. Pink gingham seems so "sweet and girlie". Here it is delivered in something tougher, bulkier, and look no back section.
Demonstrated delightfully in this shoot. A rounder derriere shows it off perfectly!
Costume National S/S 2010 presented a collection entitled "Tender heart, tough exterior". Maybe a similar reflection as CdG's above, but quite a different delivery.
When I read "Tender heart, tough exterior" I think "Cold hands, warm heart".
This is a good graphic for that expression
"The lives of two teenage girls become literally connected after 14-year-old Amanda unexpectedly dies during a gymnastics meet and Dani receives Amanda's heart. Fourteen-year-old Amanda is a competitive gymnast, sleek-muscled and in perfect health. Fifteen-year-old Dani was born with her heart on the wrong side of her body; she's been in and out of hospital all her life. The two girls don't know each other - and never will. Yet their lives are about to collide. Amanda suffers a haematoma - a blood clot - during a gymnastics competition, and dies. The donation of her heart means renewed life for Dani and several other donor recipients. This is a fascinating and unputdownable story on an important and topical issue. "Cold Hands, Warm Heart" is Jill Wolfson's third book for teenagers. She lives in Santa Cruz, California."
Juxtaposition in literature is used as a device to create deliberate differences for the reader to compare and contrast.
A classic one is
CHAPTER I.
The Period
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.
and from Mr Turner's English
What about some contemporary "literature", language used on social media, for example, memes...
Viktor & Rolf worked with memes in their S/S2019 Couture collection, and it was described as "the juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated elements resulting in a typical V&R expression of surreal beauty."
I also read "banality juxtaposed with over-the-top shimmery romantic".
There is something about these that makes me think of this t-shirt, that came attached to a magazine purchase I made,
I just had to screen print this on the other side.
In the art world, Rene Magritte (1898 - 1967), the Belgian surrealist, often displayed a juxtaposition of objects in an unusual context, giving a new meaning to something ordinary.
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| Umbrella Water Glass Still Life |
Recently, I have worked on a fabric wall hanging, which came from a rather child-like painting I did years ago, and do you know, I wonder, originally, was I inspired by Magritte's 'Golconda', and 'Umbrella Water Glass Still Life'?
My fabric hanging tribute to Rene Magritte, in a roundabout way! Wellington Blues.
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/11/dress-and-tool-paintings-kelly-reemtsen/
One final connection with the art world, Alyson Khan's work demonstrates a juxtaposition of patterns and blocks of colour, the strangeness of some of the shapes, and allowing it all to exist together. She says "In a lot of my paintings there are large areas of dark, leaving room for uncertainty, contemplation and paradox."
I include this work, as I would like to take compositions like this and create some patchwork quilts. I like the dimensions plus perspective, it's like some strange shaped building floating in space.
Interested in Khan's work...
To create juxtaposition in photography, photographers use composition, forced perspectives or props to convey the contrasts in an image. This link provides wonderful images demonstrating juxtaposed compositions.
Some of the images reminded me of the time in Book Club, when some of us played with juxtaposition.
Fun!
And, the way my brain works, that one takes me to this one. It's titled 'How to detect a wolf in sheep's clothing'
I was given a piece of faux lamb's wool, so I created my version of 'A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing'. A juxtaposed head piece.
Kawakubo worked with some juxtaposing of gender wear. Skirts combining with trousers in the most fabulous way.
Another view, showing one of the garments in full stride!
I guess for the general public, it is more "unusual" when seen in menswear, but RK has never shied away from that.
CdG Homme Plus Fall 2021
As Sarah Mower wrote, "She's been hacking and dismantling tailoring for so long that her shapes have become classics.....like the things she does with motorcycle jackets." (Reference to Motorcycles and Ballerinas jackets, maybe?)
Mower also made a comment that Rei Kawakubo has been carrying out "Non-gendering of clothing and fabrics for a long time." Plus, Ibrahim Kamara did the headpieces (reference to my previous blog).
Lewis Hamilton wore a Kenneth Nicholson designed suit with a lace 3/4 length skirt, when he attended the 2021 Met Gala.
Here he is attired in CdG Homme Plus kilted skirt
Check out this site for images of Reed Harris Graduate Collection. They are astounding, and apparently Reed hadn't used a sewing machine until getting into Central Saint Martins.
One article I read described one of his garments having "trouser legs as wide as sails", and I immediately thought of an overall pattern I have, which has such legs.
I made it up in a suiting type fabric, delivered some gender fluidity, then played with a computer programme to give it an accessory that echoes Reed's outsized effect.
Juxtaposed images from Ilka Gilvesy's brand book for Comme des Garcons.
I remembered I have this lovely book,
Cool to see the CdG Homme Plus S/S 2022 had overalls in their collection.
As stated earlier Rei Kawakubo is into juxtaposition. It is obvious in these images from a CdG Furniture catalogue. Yes, she also designs chairs and the like, however comfort factor may not be a top specification.
Compare right and left, all the chairs are juxtaposed with natural, unfinished and broken details.
And, I leave you with my own juxtaposed image.
Two ordinary everyday food products together create a new meaning.
SLTSLTBsigning off!
P.S.
One last beautiful juxtaposition
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