Sculpture - pleated materials

 

I have chosen a ball gown of black velvet and pleated linen. The black velvet bodice with petalled waistline, the full skirt of finely pleated linen gauze.

This dress is from the wardrobe of Anne Bullitt designed by Sybil Connolly and is in the museum of style icons in the Newbridge Silverwear visitor centre.

I began my project by researching the fashion history of the 50's glamour and the use of the pleat within the clothing styles. I then focused on Sybil Connolly's creations.

Sybil Connolly was a pioneering designer in Ireland and one of the first to have international success. She was among a group of Irish designers in the 1950's and 60's  who's designs were inspired by native fabric's turning them into high fashion garments.

Firstly I started by analysing the dress I had chosen and I wanted to focus on the pleat's as a starting point. I decided to create the pleat's using different materials which hold certain aesthetics of the dress.

I thought about what materials would fold, pleat, hold its form and how I could manipulate each material. I started by pleating tinfoil. I believe this was the most successful as it held  it's form and allowed me to transform easily into a 3 dimensional piece.

 

 

I continued using paper, which pleated easily. Paper tears easy so there's no stretch, so I felt restricted.

I also used black sacks which allowed for flex and bend.

I researched artists such as Richard Sweeney, Deepa Panchamia and David Orozco. I was interested in how each artist captures a sense of movement and elegant curve's.