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The exquisite images of legendary photographer Edward Steichen helped to elevate clothing to the realm of art. As the NGV celebrates a transformative time, the glamour of old seduces us still.
"[...] Curating Edward Steichen and Art Deco Fashion for the NGV with photography curator Susan Van Wyk has meant contextualising the history of the 30 exquisite garments in the show against Steichen's 200 photographs - drawing parallels between the NGV's impressive fashion collection from the period and the clothing Steichen photographed and which was often worn by stage and Hollywood screen stars of the day.
What we get is not just a lot of pretty dresses and photographs - although it is clearly all sumptuous, gorgeous and thrilling to behold; we are also exposed to a coherent argument about legacy, origins and how the art deco clothing on the mannequins and in the Steichen photographs surrounding them tell us enormous amounts about human cultures at the time, against a fascinating backdrop of changing gender balances, evolving leisure activities, industrialisation and interaction with other ''exotic'' cultures. [...]"
Edward Steichen and Art Deco Fashion is at NGV International from October 18, 2013 to March 2, 2014.
http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/edward-steichen-and-art-deco-fashion
