Despite the mixed reviews, the McQueen exhibit at the Met was a stunning display of the designers showmanship, artistry and endless creativity. McQueen's signature "dark romanticism" was complimented by the gothic backdrops and hazy mirrored set displays. The layout and spacing could have used some work, but with a little patience and care, you found yourself standing within inches of Lee's handcrafted pieces of art.
My favorite piece of all time was the finale look at the S/S 99 collection and seeing it in person brought so many emotions to the surface. On the night of McQueen's death, I found myself watching and rewatching the video footage of Shalom Harlow battling the robots. Human versus machine. Nature versus the manmade. The former ballerina spins as the robots shoot colored paint at her dress and in the end, she walks away- a human piece of art. The symbolism in this show isn't hard to see and the parallel to Lee's life is now more clear than ever. A subtle man who's genius was as sought after as the garments he produced, Lee was both a product and, some say, a casulty of the big machine. A man who died more from a broken heart than anything else, McQueen seemed to be a kind soul in a world that can be so dark. His avant-garde creations and boundary pushing shows will be mourned by the fashion community forever, but like the paint that has long since dried, Mcqueen's mark on this world can never be washed out.
No comments:
Post a Comment