Construction Knitting Workshops and Walter Van Beirendonck

In Melbourne this week to set up for workshops at Harvest.  My first stop was the Walter Van Berendonck exhibition at RMIT's new Design Hub building.  I exhibited alongside WVB in 2010, at the Endless Garment Exhibition, amongst 9 other designers in this show but I recall being drawn to his work the most.  Seeing a whole body of his work again in this new show, now I know why it speaks to me.  It's that Antwerp culture of independent small practice creative communities, as quoted by Robyn Healy, "known for distinctive creative designs, marketed with little or no advertising.......... a way of thinking about fashion which is highly experimental and speculative design".

Film for 3 Jumpers Project

Film For 3 Jumpers Project from Antuong Nguyen on Vimeo.

Featuring works by myself for the The Endless Garment Exhibition.

3 Jumpers Project

These garments were created for the 3 Jumpers Project; Wholegarment Design exploration for the The Endless Garment Exhibition. The project was set up to present the design dialogue between designer and technician. In the exhibition catalogue the email conversations are recorded over 5 pages; which very interestingly (and candidly) reveals the process from idea to outcome in this project. My intention with these pieces was to reduce the knitted form to just thread in 3 processes.

Endless Garment Catalogue

Finally have an exhibition catalogue in my hands.

New Selvedge

New Selvedge issue has arrived with a nice little article on the The Endless Garment Exhibition. It features Issy Miyake's APOC piece which was exhibited. Theres a good reference to the APOC concept on
Design Boom. Apparently Dai Fujiwara's lecture at RMIT filled a theatre of 700 people. A complete sell-out. Overall the exhibition showcased a really broad range of designers using new machine technology. It closes this week, and there's been loads of reviews; but my favourite one is from Real Time Magazine. I think the machine component created a very interestng and different perspective for the viewer; and a very favourable one too.

Works at the Exhibition

I gave an artists floor talk on 12 February for the The Endless Garment Exhibition at RMIT Gallery. During the lecture, I got asked questions like… "so now your clothes are hanging in a gallery space; do we call it art?” Disappointingly to some, I didn’t care to make the distinction (between art and fashion); I’m not fussed about the word ‘art’ as a reference for a higher culture; or as an improvement on a culture. Art happens everyday, like fashion. Fashion is an interesting communication tool; a creative visual language. It’s a system of symbols much the same as graphics, or even music for that matter. And within that communication system there will be parameters of complexity and layers that averse, repel, delight and inspire to aspire to broad audiences with differing receptivity; it records a moment in time; an historical imprint. One must find their own meaning in it; that’s what’s interesting about fashion exhibitions.




The 3 Jumpers Project: whole garment knitting machine technology.



The 3 jumpers project I saw as an opportunity to create 2 pieces that progressed from form to thread; where thread was used to exploit or benefit the garment rather than used in the absence of stitches; this could only develop during the process of knitting. Once the first swatch was knitted it was easy to determine the forms based on the movement and integrity of the fabric. The technician was pivotal in that decision making process; and in the recommendation of structure to hold its integrity and for me to then decide where to push the disintegration of the fabric; to create movement, and to balance light and density; and then to decide on shape – where to increase and decrease stitches in the garment to determine its manouver over the body.

The New Craft of Machine Knitting

The Endless Garment Exhibition opens at RMIT Gallery on 12 February. A few of my archive pieces will be on exhibit. I feel very honored to be making a special address on the opening night 11 Feb; and being the only Australian designer amongst a line up of some very awesome internationals: Issey Miyake, Sandra Backlund,
Walter Van Beirendonck, Cooperative Designs, Mark Fast, Yoshiki Hishinuma, Saverio Palatella, Freddie Robins, Sibling.... WOW!! Don't miss lecture by Dai Fujiwara Creative Director of Issey Miyake, Wed 17 March, part of the Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program. I will be conducting an artists floor talk on 12 February from 12 - 1 at RMIT Gallery.