Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
As you walk through the doors you are greeted by an unnerving projection of Alexander McQueen which in time morphs into something more unsettling, a skull. This prepared me for bewilderment and wonder of what was lurking around the corners of the exhibition. The ambience in that room was in a sense of awe and discompose. You carry on through and entered into a room with a movie of a specific runway he curated with his designs on display with brown leather masks, giving the same perplex feeling and the idea of being watched. The runway that was projected were of crude and primitive models with their womanly features on display. An archway separated two rooms and as you walked through you are confronted with displays of General jackets and period fashion. These pieces were much more detailed and well tailored to fit the era he was trying to portray. I called this room 'the Adam Ant room' as the military jacket's resembled that of which he wore. Each room brought amazement and wonder but the room that I remember most was the room of curiosities. There was a collection of different designs, headpieces and shoes with one of his most adventurous pieces centred in the room on a rotary podium. The garment displayed on the podium was the design which let robotic arms spray yellow and black ink onto a white dress which made this piece a one of a kind because no two designs would ever match if this was to be recreated. One of my favourite designs featured at the exhibition was his wedding style with antlers, giving it a more mystical and whimsical feel to the design. The loosely fitted fabric draped onto the horns added more of a natural feel to the design and not as though it should have been perfectly placed.
Personally I found his work to be quite messy and unfinished on most designs, especially for someone with such a prestigious reign in the fashion industry and his many features in magazines. I feel like his designs could be seen somewhere else by a different designer but still there was a sense of 'je ne sais quoi' running throughout the exhibition. I would recommend this exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum because it is a collection that must be seen but only for those with a passion for his work.
