Dialogues between artists and fashion

Abstract

Fashion prompts a variety of reflections, and it is impossible to relate it only to presen­tations of clothes at world shows. It is a suitable material for many different artistic endeavors. Visionary artists like Elsa Schiaparelli, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Tadeusz Kantor, Marian Stępniak, Zuzanna Janin and Magdalena Moskwa reject the basic function of clothing and give it a new way of existence. Instead of a protective or aesthetic function, it serves a symbolic or metaphorical one. Each item of clothing can become a work of art or a pretext for a dialogue with history, philosophy, psychology, literature, art, or with the creator's own self. Fashion can sometimes be a tool for satisfying artistic needs and manifesting them through the presentation of clothes created by artists.