A trip to the Powerhouse Museum last week was a fascinating experience in many ways.  One of the exhibitions, Akira Isogawa, showcased his costume designs over his career.  Videos played interviews with both the artist himself and others who either influenced him or actively aided in his career development and promotion.

The exhibition entrance was advertised using a huge screen with the artist signing his name – much more interesting that a simple stencilled wall.

Although I enjoyed his costumes, most of which looked very dated, it was his collaged dolls that drew my attention and that I’ve chosen for my feature image this week.

The attached statement reads:

Paper doll collages
Printemps-Été collection,
Spring/Summer 2005
Akira Isogawa/Christiane Lehmann

paper, ink, beads, braid, fabric petals and leaves, embroidered fragments

Together with Lehmann, Isogawa embellished a series of 20 paper dolls.  Found by Lehmann at a Sydney antique market, the dolls were dressed in materials sourced by the pair.  They inspired Isogawa’s Printemps-Été fashion collection, which was shown in Paris Fashion Week in October 2004.

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And a close-up of a few of them as the photo doesn’t do the display justice.

Powerhouse Museum, Sydney,  15 December 2018 – 30 June 2019
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