Welcome to the fifth insertion of DEMUR®, a series where we will be highlighting some of the most interesting topics in the artistic realm. This week we’ll be stepping foot into the daunting world of Alexander McQueen一specifically his 1999 performance art showpiece, the spray paint dress.
To fully comprehend the Spring Summer 1999 collection, the context behind the runway show is vital. Seven years prior, the 23 year old designer had merely begun his daunting journey through the industry. Sprouting within the era of diversification and rebellion, the young artist traversed a period of harsh self-expression through media arts. He frequented theatrics that tested the boundaries of fashion, renowned for his unworldly performances atop the runway. McQueen swiftly established himself as a creative genius, marrying the parallels between romance and melancholy.
McQueen revolutionized the modern expectation for fashion, turning the base form of wearable proclamation into an experience. He executed this feat by inciting physical emotion into the audience, using theater as his vessel. This is precisely what made the ‘99 show so memorable, Alexander McQueen imposed feeling upon those who sat within the stadium seating. He strategically did such towards the end of a rather bland fashion show, intentionally catching the audience off guard with paint spewing, freestanding robots. Ballerina and renown model, Shalom Harlow, stood atop a revolving wooden plate, keeping her center whilst coated in a hue of neon yellow and black spray paint. Programmed by McQueen himself, the robots worked autonomously to disrupt the dull beauty of tailored hems and precise cuts, pinning human vs. machine at the forefront of attention.
Alexander McQueen was punctual in setting a scene for his onlookers, locating the show in an industrial warehouse and using automobile droids to coat his subject. His attention to detail destined the artist for greatness, setting a precedent to never constrain one’s self within societal standards, and work tirelessly in the name of art. Lee Alexander McQueen will be cemented as a triton in his field, prospering through the legends of today, and the future.
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