Assignment1

Africa Fashion – Exhibition at South Kensington · V&A

Spanning iconic mid-20th century to contemporary, Africa Fashion provides me a chance to explore a new self-defining art form that reveals the richness and diversity of African histories and cultures.

throughout this exhibition, we can see irresistible creative and unstoppable global impact on contemporary Africa arts in an extensive display of garments, textiles, personal testimonies, photographs, sketches, film and catwalk footage. Many of the garments on show hail from the archives of iconic mid-twentieth century African designers – Shade Thomas-Fahm, Chris Seydou, Kofi Ansah and Alphadi. Alongside these are personal insights from influential contemporary African fashion creatives, including Imane Ayissi, IAMISIGO, Moshions, Thebe Magugu and Sindiso Khumalo, as well as highlights from fashion trends of the day, which are on display for the first time.

Thebe Magugu said: “so many facts of what we have been as a continent that people don’t actually understand. Now, more than ever, African designers are taking charge of their own narrative and telling people authentic stories, not the imagined utopias.” This passage really leaves me a deep impression that there must be some marginalized groups to be discovered in our really life. How to present their unique art with digital background is really an interesting topic.

Chasing Evil’ collection, IAMISIGO

this textile references ancient West African masquerade costumes and traditional West African abstract performance art, it presents the unique visual identity and traditions of adornment that have been created by different individual cultural groups.

DAKALA CLOTH ensemble, ‘Who Knew’ collection.

cooperate with small-scale artisan makers in Africa who are specialize in crafts such as hand dyeing, weaving, beading and embroidery This textile explores the use of traditional textile techniques based on the use of waste materials.