Printed on 310g Hahnemuhler German Etching Paper.
Paper Size: 430mm x 606mm
Print Size: 420mm x 594mm
Each print comes signed and dated by the artist.
Limited Edition of 75 only.
I can't quite imagine what it must be like to wear this extraordinary 1991 outfit by Thierry Mugler. From my theatre work I know a well made corset doesn't restrict all movement but it can make simple things like sitting down or bending over a little tricky. It sort of imposes a certain type of movement, I guess what was traditionally deemed (usually by men) as 'feminine'. I kind of think this outfit is more like a piece or sculpture in that it seems to objectify or idealise the female form. It reminds me of those Renaissance portraits painted as a way of showing the women of rich and powerful families as desirable objects usually in regard to making advantageous marriage alliances. The slightly sullen young woman depicted here is from a 16th century portrait by Boltraffio. It's like she knows why she is being painted and is having none of it. She really just wants to take off the outfit and fo hang with her friends.
'Mugler 1510' is part of an ongoing series of works that juxtapose portraits of women from art with images of modern day couture as a way of questioning the external forces that exist within both art and fashion which shape and enforce our understanding of the ideals around women’s status in society.