Vitruvian Mannequin no 3 Published by Faine Contemporary Art 2012
Leonardo ‘borrowed’ the Vitruvian Man from the first Century Roman Architect Marcus Vitruvius; when I was asked to produce a work for the Chelsea Arts Club fashion project called ‘The Body Clothed in Art I ‘borrowed’ the Vitruvian Man from Leonardo. I thought it would be interesting to adapt the brief and clothe the body in an A to Z of famous fashion designers. The names of Armani, Boss, Chanel, Dior etc. are spelt out in a modern version of the Illuminiarti text. The main text, which is printed in transparent grey over a facsimile of the Vitruvian Man drawing in Harlequin costume takes on a subtle colour change when it covers the body.. The usual alliterative back ground text in this case serves as a decorative border, in the manner of an illuminated manuscript that redresses the implied sycophancy of the collection of famous brand names, with a more critical A to Z of the elements of the fashion industry.
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