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September is here and that is one of the best times for art and fashion so get ready to immerse yourself in all things beautiful, whatever beautiful means to you. STWT Volume 14 here we go!
Textile art is something that inspires me so really excited about this exhibition. Presented by Tina Kim Gallery, Lee ShinJa's first New York solo exhibit titled Weaving Down is better late than never. At 94 years old Lee is a pioneering artist who paved the way for 'tapestry' in her native Korea before it was a recognized genre. Spanning several decades of work you can see Lee's breadth evolve around the space. I personally am most interested in her former pieces but there is no denying the sense of calm in her recent tapestries.
I was immediately struck by the three dimensionality in Lee's work from the 70s. The different yarn weights and weaving techniques lay atop one another creating an intriguing depth. It feels like a controlled chaos of textile and surface pattern design in a wash of neutral tones. I could easily see this as a rug in a japandi designed home. I love how when you sneak to take a look at the back of the work it is pristinely flat with no hints of what the front is offering.
Lee naturally found her way in the world of textile arts through her mother and grandmother and the household work they would do. While most women at the time found themselves working in embroidery, Lee challenged expectations and sought creativity in the applied arts through appliqué, dyeing, and unraveling and twisting traditional weaves to create a new structural tension. At the time her approach left mixed reviews with some unhappy that Korean embroidery tradition was being destroyed.
Yet for others Lee was a driving force in the craft world. Continuing to experiment with extensive weaves and challenge abstract compositions you can see her work narratively evolve into a sense of tranquility. Her passion for creativity led her to working amongst notable contemporaries such as Issey Miyake and Magdalena Abakanowicz. Her work is commended for rethinking the arts that are often dismissed and relegated to women's domestic labor.
This outfit was a really fun one for me. We are not quite at jacket season so I encourage you to try this combo of the Salvador Top and our Half Sleeves. Last edition I wore the Pohang Top so I wanted to showcase its predecessor. Cut in our heavy rib knit, this short sleeve tee features a high neck front with a ballet scoop back neck. As an elevated t-shirt, it is a no frills day to night staple. The fingerless long sleeve hosiery gloves add the drama and touch of warmth you need on these end of summer crisp days.
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