Vanguard

Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: Fine Arts

"Contexture: Fabric, Fashion and Fantasy" opened during Friday night's LODA ArtWalk at Mobile's Space 301. "Contexture" is defined as "an arrangement of interconnected parts; a structure." Space 301's "Contexture," curated by Clayton Colvin, provides much more than mere arrangements -- the works are tangible analogies of our universe. The artists of "Contexture" have investigated our relationship with fabric and have used a variety of fibers to convey how the texture, color and arrangement of such fibrous materials can be viewed as art.
New Orleans artist and UAB student Matt Posey displayed his piece "What I Foresaw." This work incorporated two figures made from sealant, each connected by an umbilical-like chord made from textile material. Two small monitors, both playing videos, composed each figure's head. One video appeared to be of a male figure unwrapping himself from mummy-like cloth. The other video was almost unrecognizable and somewhat disturbing; it portrayed what appeared to be a video montage of various scenes, including images from a telescopic video operation. Though its content is obvious, this anatomical work leaves much interpretation up to the viewer. Much of Posey's work evolves by "personifying intangible experience."
"Fabric NOA (Nation of Angela)" was a digital print by Parisian artist Sophie Toulouse. Toulouse bases many of her illustrations around Nation of Angela, a "poetic lost paradise" where no visa is needed and the philosophy of a permanent revolution takes hold. In addition to the NOA and other exhibitions, Toulouse has created campaigns and commercials for companies such as IBM, Nike and Hugo Boss. "Fabric NOA," along with many of Toulouse's works, are inspired by postmodern literature, philosophy and our society's increasing globalization and totalitarian capitalist system. "Fabric NOA" embraces the values of beauty, purity and innocence. With fashion as an inspiration, rather than the actual medium of fabric, Toulouse takes a more modern, digitalized approach than Posey.
New York artist Stina Persson also embraces fashion through her work. "Cosima" and "Concetta," both pieces from her "Sicilian Women" series, are paper collages combined with watercolor and ink. Persson was inspired to create this Italian themed series as a result of the fascination with the Saints, corruption and beauty of Sicily. Persson presents the women of her work as is, "embracing rather than correcting their imperfections." In addition to cut paper, Persson also creates images from photos, acrylics and other mediums. She has created work for various corporations including Coca Cola, Absolut Vodka, Sony Music and Godiva Chocolate. Editorial clients of hers include but are not limited to Vogue, Harper's Bizaar and Marie Claire. Here again, the ever-changing inspiration of the fashion world has allowed for the creation of contemporary art.
Many artists incorporated the actual use of textiles in their work, including Alex Podesta's "Self Portrait as Bunnies." Podesta clothes two mannequin-like figures, perhaps resembling himself, in life-size bunny suits. Artist Xiang Yang's works "Speed Skater" and "Powerline" make use of embroidered silk. Linear formations of the silk fill the diameter of clear, plastic containers. These formations create an image of a skater and of a power pole flush against the clear container.
Each artist has taken an individual approach toward his or her subject, addressing such either through inspiration from the world of fashion, the patterns and texture of textiles or the ever-present fascination with fantasy. "Contexture" will be on display at Space 301 until Jan. 6, 2008.

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