#Chris Rong
2017.02.17
Chapter 1. Vivienne Westwood: Get a Life and Monument of the Peach Blossom Valley
Introducing the columns written by member of Amorepacific Group
ColumnistChris Rong
APC innisfree TM Team
Hello! I will introduce you to exhibitions taking place in Shanghai, China throughout this year. I wish that my columns will help you develop artistic sensibility while you are leading a very busy life. In this column, I'd like to share what I have felt at Vivienne Westwood exhibition.
Vivienne Westwood, 1941~
"I have spent my life trying to understand the world – by following not just my deep interest but also through compassion."
Vivienne Westwood is a famous British fashion designer and environmental activist. She uses her artistic design and fashion show as a stage for social movement and through art, she has expressed her view of culture and environment.
Here is a summary of this exhibition.
The Tree of Life, Who Are Our Rulers, Environmental Campaign, Vivienne's Life and Art and Environmental Protection: Monument of the Peach Blossom Valley
The exhibition presented a series of art works around the theme of Environmental Protection, Nature and Art. And I'd like to share what impressed me most at the exhibition.
# Part 1. Fashion
Vivienne Westwood collection for Autumn/Winter 2016-17 was titled "Sexercise". It was inspired by Vivienne Westwood's former assistant Sharon Lishman who became a Buddhist nun. The collection was a mix of punk and Buddhist monk's robe, which perfectly blended frivolity and luxury.
-
Vivienne Westwood collection inspired by Buddhism
# Part 2. Venice Carnival
Vivienne Westwood took part in Venice Carnival with her Spring/Summer 2016 collection titled "Gold Label". Through her collection, she presented her fashion work and at the same time, brought attention to climate change.
(Venice Carnival is one of the world's 10 best carnivals. It hosts various glamorous events.)
(Venice Carnival is one of the world's 10 best carnivals. It hosts various glamorous events.)
-
Vivienne Westwood collection presented at Venice Carnival
Vivienne Westwood claims that politicians should be watched. That is because every move and action of politicians greatly affects the whole world. Her message is clear: they cause climate change and war but they pretend everything is okay when in fact the world is in danger.
She calls for an action, instead of preach to stop the destruction of the beautiful world and keeps saying that politicians are criminals and that we all are being misled by them.
She calls for an action, instead of preach to stop the destruction of the beautiful world and keeps saying that politicians are criminals and that we all are being misled by them.
"A 'good life' is one which 'mirrors the world'. You're like a little tiny shard of mirror glass that's exactly a copy of the whole world. You understand the genius of the human race and you understand yourself in relation to it. You're very beautiful because you understand the beauty of the world and you understand the human race and you want to do your best."
- Vivienne Westwood
- Vivienne Westwood
-
Climate Revolution campaign
# Part 3. Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI)
Vivienne Westwood has partnered with the International Trade Center's Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) for the new collection. She made an EFI bag handmade in Nairobi, Kenya to support the work of African women.
-
Vivienne Westwood collection in collaboration with EFI
Vivienne Westwood and her team members used reused canvas, unused leather off-cuts, recycled brass and roadside banners to create styles. Moreover, they made bags for both men and women, rucksacks, totes, patchwork drawstring bags, beaded clutches and key rings using metals collected from locks and parts of automobile. These all are inspired by African fabrics and surroundings. The collection not only ended in success, but also provided jobs to people in Nairobi and surrounding slums.
Furthermore, Vivienne Westwood suggested to launch the Climate Revolution. The main message of Climate Revolution is that the rotten financial system is the cause of poverty and climate change and that it's time to break away from it for the existence of the human race.
Furthermore, Vivienne Westwood suggested to launch the Climate Revolution. The main message of Climate Revolution is that the rotten financial system is the cause of poverty and climate change and that it's time to break away from it for the existence of the human race.
Kate Moss in her Climate Revolution T-shirt, photo taken by Juergen Teller
"Economic crisis and climate crisis are the cause & effect of each other;
they are like serpents who eat each other's tails;
The only way out of this double crisis is to fight the Climate Revolution."
# Part 4. Monument of the Peach Blossom Valley
I believe that the exhibition is not about display of artworks and their descriptions. It's built upon careful observation of the environment, nature of human, legacy and society.
Human greed has caused the collapse of civilizations. It is our responsibility to put things right again; find the meaning of life from Mother Nature, recover natural alignment between human and environment, and restructure the world order.
In conclusion, I'd like to share my favorite pieces of works from the Monument of the Peach Blossom Valley.
-
Like
1 -
Recommend
0 -
Thumbs up
0 -
Supporting
0 -
Want follow-up article
0