Hussein Chalayan
Hussein uses very little colour in his work, the focus is on
the shapes and design. The wooden table that transforms into a dress is part of
a range that can be carried away easily or on the body itself. Although, as a
photograph, these pieces can be confusing, seen as a film or demonstrated on a
catwalk, they are intriguing and explanatory. The issue being that as a
photograph you only see part of the transformation. You could only see a table,
or a dress; not both. A similar issue would be found with another piece of his
work, where chairs fold up into brief cases, and the covers are part of the
dresses.
The lack of colour means that the viewer’s eye is drawn more
to the shape of the pieces, and what they are for. The monochromatic, pale
colour scheme allows the shape of the piece to be defined, and also emphasises
where the shapes form shadows on the rest of the garment.
Where the piece is not a functional object that transforms,
Hussein’s work is very striking when photographed alone, on a stand with a
simple background. This, again, emphasises the shape of the dress and allows
you to see all the small design features easily. When a model is used, there is
the distraction of the person themselves, and they can also obscure the shapes
of the dress itself.
The dresses that Hussein has produced are made from quite
firm materials that hold their shape. This allows him to add more detailed
shapes, as the material will hold them. If a softer, more flowing material had
been used, the folds and careful curves of the garments would be lost and it
would be less striking.
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