shirts and
shambles


exhibition

shown at
Gallery Haidgasse 2A
1020 Vienna, AT
02 03 – 03 03 22 




Night shifts, cigarette breaks, tears, fun, energy drinks, piles of fabrics on our tables and snacks stored beneath. Research that was abandoned and crumbled, thrown aside – files rotting in folders titled “shirt_researchsfadvjk8” or impressions of studio time from the camera roll. A candid representation of our working process laid out, to be freely pieced together by the viewer. Including emotional artefacts that influenced the steps from brief, research to design, toiles, pattern making and the finishing of each shirt. Three different approaches, that are connected to their time being and the experience of the work in the studio, which can be best described as ‘messy’. 







Like a fever dream or worn out from lack of sleep the lights blur sight, of working tables, fabrics and notes. Laid out, to be freely pieced together the exhibition is showing emotional artefacts that influenced the steps from brief, research to design, toiles, pattern making and the finishing of each shirt.





In the exhibition “Shirts and Shambles”, the first year students of Modeklasse are presenting their project from the brief ‘the shirting project’. By baring the bones of their process, they want to offer insights in their work. The exhibition offers views into the mess that was made in the episodes of work that were left unseen in crit sessions and by supervisors, but was crucial in the becoming of the final shirt.

We draw on ‘My Bed’ by Tracey Emin or the work of Jon Rafman ‘Still Life Betamale’: while Emin’s iconic piece represents an intimate look onto a depressive phase of an artist, the second collages obscure imagery from gamer culture. These works address the mess that was made while creating art. 

The motivation in showing the mess that was made, is to visualise the struggles and advances in a way that could not have (or only accidentally) be shown in crit sessions. It depicts a more raw, authentic and less academically bound part of the students’ experience and influence on the final outcome. While the tutoring sessions, research and toiles assured us of being on the ”right track” – the mess actually represents a fuller spectrum of  work. The undisciplined work transferred us into a modi operandi, that did allow for mistakes and also ways of fixing them. Motivation and feedback from colleagues at 3:00 a.m. helped us back on our feet and persuaded us to continue.

The artefacts we draw from that process are unlike clean fashion drawings or presentations, but we believe they will represent our visions and draw the audience into the experience of creation and our efforts on this project.

Shirts and materialsby Maximilian Prag, Ilija Nestorović, Benedikt Götz.

Exhibition concept and design by Maximilian Prag

Modeklasse, supported by Grace Wales Bonner and Markus Pires Mata

Installation shots by Maria Belova