I quickly passed by the V&A at the weekend and ran in hoping to catch some of the Yohji Yamamoto exhibition. I knew my time was limited but was hoping to photograph some of the exhibits scattered around the V&A and do the full exhibition at a later date.
Well I didn’t get very far as I was sidetracked into the shop where a selection of T-shirts and this great floral sack bag are on sale as well as the exhaustive catalogue. So after 15 minutes deciding whether to buy the floral Furoshiki bag or not (still not decided – it is £85 after all) I didn’t get much else photographed but just to say, this is one exhibition not to miss.
The website of the V&A has some great information about the exhibition as well as a personal blog about its setting up and info on two other concurrent related exhibitions running in Wapping and other special events.
I still have one of the original Nick Knight catalogues from the 80′s and it is one of my most treasured pieces from my days in womenswear. The catalogue reproduces much from that era and also has a cover image from Nick Knight that could have been an original photo.
Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A shop with floral Furoshiki bag March 2011
Bags are made from a selection of floral prints used for the s/s 2011 Menswear collection by Yohji Yamamoto
Model at the V&A shop, the simpler safety pin print bag on right is a more reasonable £10!
Plenty of Yohji Yamamoto catalogues for sale at the V&A exhibiiton
V&A Catalogue for Yohji Yamamoto exhibition
A Nick Knight image from the original 80's catalogue of Yohji Yamamoto
Original brochure image by Nick Knight for Yohji Yamamoto 80's fashion catalogue
With our hearts going out to Japan at the moment this is a timely exhibition, those wishing to give to help the Japanese victims of the earthquake and tsunami can do so by clicking below.
For Japan with Love, Shelterbox USA donations
All photos by Smudgetikka except those stated from Nick Knight – all rights reserved
The Yamamoto photos are superb… I love the huge pleats, the bags, the textiles used. Beautiful…
Stunning images, wish I were there.
Together with Rei Kawakubo and Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto is one of the great creative masters of fashion. In reality what he does transcends ‘fashion’! Particularly now when the whole idea of ‘fashion’ and particularly the ‘fashion industry’ has become a rather tacky meaningless cliche, far more about marketing than creativity or ideas. Indeed it must now be obvious that in every sense the ‘style aesthetic’ created by the Yohji, Rei & Issey and indeed Japan in general, makes much of the western concept of style look lacklustre, vulgar and mediocre to say the least. The only criticism that can be aimed at Yamamoto Sensai is: Why oh why did he do the simply dreadful and terminaly uncool Y3? indeed why did he work with the terminaly uncool and tastless Addidas at all? Those in the know say ‘He needed the money’! It’s a great shame, however, i guess we must allow the master one mistake!!!
I think he did need the money, you are right there and it is a shame but such is the pendulum of fashion, it swings one way then another and his style fell out of favour but the talent remains.