The Labour of Wealth | Research Notes
This piece is a commentary on how clothing has always remained a symbol of wealth and status, this was particularly prevalent in the 18th century, which this piece is inspired by. The more decadent and colourful your clothing, the higher the social rank and circles you frequented.
It was a tool of power, flexing your wealth by adorning as much riches as you could, not just through jewellery but through fabrics. What isn't as noted is just how long these garments would have taken to create. My piece is only a small fragment of what seamstresses and tailors had to produce, even on one item of clothing.
As an estimate, this piece has taken at least 100 hours to produce at a minimum, potentially even longer. This very factor is noted to further illustrate and comment on the labour that was and is required to produce such a physical manifestation of grandeur.
Titled, "The Labour of Wealth", 14" by 20", acrylic paint and embroidery on canvas.
---------
For artistic reference in terms of design, I explored historical garments still preserved in museums across the world, as well as studying high couture, such as fashion houses "Paolo Sebastian" and "Alexander McQueen", both of whom greatly explore weaving a narrative within their works, while also incorporating the use of delicate embroidery in their pieces to further attain this. Whilst my piece isn't creating a narrative around a story or person, the focus is to draw emphasis of a particular collective within society, in relation to the great endurance of those within the fashion industry.
To view my other piece which later inspired this, view "Scarlet and Gold".
