Categories
Exhibit

WEAVING (THE) COSMOS

Fukuko Ando, who worked and lived in Paris for the past 25 years,
created a first series of 140 dolls in crochet during the summer of 2005.

Having recently moved back to Japan, during the Autumn of 2019 she created a new series of dolls which is now presented in this exhibition

( Lisbon / Year : 2020 )

ORIENT MUSEUM

(Museu do Oriente) Lisbon

Year 2020

WEAVING (THE) COSMOS

The Japanese artist and fashion designer Fukuko Ando, who worked and lived in Paris for the past 25 years, created a first series of 140 dolls in crochet during the summer of 2005. Having recently moved back to Japan, she produced a new series of 112 dolls which is now presented for the first time in this exhibition, alongside with a part of the 2005 production, previously shown in Tokyo and Paris. They are 25 variations of the seven sisters of the Greek mythology after which the seven brightest stars forming the Pleiades were named: Alcyone, Merope, Maia, Electra, Taygete, Celaeno, Sterope.

The artist endowed each doll with different codes and messages, based on the concept according to which “no human bodies are the same, and yet we are all essentially united in the cosmic dance of the universe”. Perfecting her technical skills while collaborating with Christian Dior and Christian Lacroix, in Paris, Ando went on to create her own collections. Her work is made out of the finest fabrics and materials, through a long, unique and rigorous manual process. Ando’s dresses reflect her deeply spiritual and mystical vision of life.

The 12 Dresses ensemble refers to the four fundamental forces that govern all interactions in the Universe. Consciously eschewing fashion’s traditional patterns and procedures for confectioning a garment, Fukuko Ando creates dresses that first and foremost respect and follow the shapes of the human body. Skilfully harmonising classical creative techniques with the natural form and movement of the body, she sublimates both. Through her wearable and danceable luminous and colourful visual poems, Ando explores the secret magic of lively matters with which she re-enchants the haute couture, intertwining being and appearing, ancient wisdom and a joyful spontaneous infancy spirit.

The Japanese born designer Fukuko Ando has a very personal vision of fashion and of the creative art of garment design. As her unique process and style have developed over time, Ando has stepped beyond the usual confines of Haute Couture to explore how the pieces she creates may express or manifest different aspects of our cultures, of our relations to nature and of our spiritualities.

With her creative imagination, Ando explores the invisible and energetic dimensions of the matters she uses. Confectioning the dresses directly on wood mannequins surrounded by mirrors, she is intuitively guided to follow a natural and fluid yet sophisticated movement that consists of folds, rays, grooves, veins and ribs, volutes and irregular curves forming a complex global structure. Differing from straight lines, repetitive geometrical patterns and flattened shapes, her dresses are characterized by an organic, ever-changing dynamism. Thus, several heterogeneous effects are produced such as asymmetrical reliefs and protruding volumes, elongated or truncated planes, transparencies, reflections, opacities and openings. A certain play of shadows and shimmering lights is also skilfully produced in order to reveal the quintessence of each piece, visually manifested through singular forms, colours and textures to wear. When one looks at the pieces closely, their poetic vibration can be felt.

Throughout her career, Ando used an equally astounding presentation display. Instead of the traditional models’ walks on the podium, she regularly worked in collaboration with professional dancers and choreographers to exhibit her creations.

12 Dresses

Paris, France, 2008-2012.

Made between 2008 and 2012, the 12 Dresses ensemble explores the tension between stillness, movement and flow, between infinite variation and oneness. In a very innovative and singular way, Fukuko Ando fuses design and haute couture with the art of sculpture, as she elevates the fine materials and garments to symbolic and mysterious apparitions. With a distinctive mystical twist, Ando expresses her deep spirituality through these twelve dresses. Each of them is conceived as a codified message, an in-depth journey from the maze of the atomically tiny to the astronomically vast.

As indicated by their titles, and according to a peculiar syncretism between Kabbalah, Christianity and Shintoism, the whole ensemble contains numerous references ranging from ancient alchemy and esoteric myths about origins, spiritual quests and evolution, to the notion of harmonia mundi, along with the four primary elements and the stages of human life. All dresses are characterised by their richly handmade embroideries, their uniqueness and magnificent vibrational presence.

you can visit the official site of this collection by following this link:
https://www.12robes.com/

Katherine Sirois / Curator


Fukuko Ando / Dolls and Dresses
Jorge Govea / Sound Design

Joana Belard da Fonseca / General Coordination
Katherine Sirois / Curator
Pedro Gonçalves / Design
Sara Fevereiro / Translation
Vprint – Produção de Imagem Lda. / Lettering

David Paquete, Maria Vieira, Helena Solano, Assembly and, Jorge Tomaz, Carlos Sobral / Assembly and Lighting
Collaboration:
Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, MUDE- Museu do Design e da Moda

Special Thanks to:
Iñes Correia / Pedro Gomes / Fundação Ricardo Espirito Santo


Inauguration:

20th February 2020 until 13th September

Categories
Exhibit

Mostra Oro

Under the theme of gold, each creator expresses the shine, color, and texture of luxury gold.

( Milan Italy )

Made of Wool silk cotton, beads lace cord and cord blade

Year / 2004

#milan
#italy
#mostraoro

Categories
Exhibit

The New Alchemy

New alchemy is transformation by fire and water.

Fire burns with the soul of water.

Water moves with the heat of fire.

There is new alchemy as light and shadow constantly cross and fuse.

( Fukuko Ando )

Franz Mayer Museum

( Mexico CDMX 2014)

Made of Crystal Swarovski, silk satin, silk muslin and sequins,

Year /  2008

Special thanks to:
Luisa Sáenz

Categories
Exhibit

New Eden

The window display of a hotel on Faubourg Saint-Honore, behind the “Place de la Concorde in Paris

A place with the cruel guillotine history of Marie-Antoinette.

I wanted to present it as the rebirth of the Paradise of Light.

( Fukuko Ando )

Exhibition: New Eden at hotel le Faubourg- Paris

Made on Crystal / 2007
Special Thanks To: Juan 2Santos
Categories
Exhibit

Museum of Decorative Arts

21st century dresses breathe in 18th century decorative art.
The religion and aristocracy of the 18th century are fused with eternal dresses beyond time and space.

( Fukuko Ando )

Lisboa / Portugal

Year / 2015
Photography: Frederico Teles
Special thanks to: Juan Dos Santos
Categories
Exhibit

Visions of the Body

Fashion is starting a new dialogue with the body, that is, the inner side of the wearer, and the function and sense of the body itself. Various researches are undertaken today in the realm involving ” the body”, the most fundamental issue concerning the existence of human beings. With the collection of modern dresses from the Kyoto costume institute.

( Fukuko Ando )

Tokyo and Kyoto

Visions of the Body 1999
Categories
Exhibit

Biennale Paris

The Paris biennale 2004 can be defined as the continuation of the Paris Biennale launched by Raymond Cogniat in 1959 and set up by André Malraux as he was Minister of Culture, and which ended in 1985. The target of that exhibition was to present an overview of young creativity worldwide, to create a place of experiences and meetings.

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Atelier Richelieu

“The Path of Light”

2004

Photos: Michael Wayne Plant
Special Thanks To: Juan 2Santos

Categories
Exhibit

Sayoko Kobe Fashion Museum

Its theme is Sayoko Yamaguchi, who was praised as a dramatic emergence of ” Beauty” for her beautiful yet powerful and supple expression of movement when she appeared as a model at the first Paris prêt-à-porter collection in 1972. Her life-sized mannequins with movable joints wear dresses, synchronize with dresses, and breathe with dresses in a moving space as time slowly goes by.


Kobe Japon – 2001

Fukuko Ando

Phoenix

( Fukuko Ando )

In the 21st century
What can you share?
Everything has come to end and has been reborn.
Renaissance.
I can say with much gratitude and happiness.
Now,
Only who you are in true.
A Phenix,
I would like to see you reborn.
An open heart, a released body, a freely flying phenix.
Love,
New love is growing in you
With deeper understanding and stronger senses.
You accept everything with a smile on your face.
21st century,
I am happy it we can share a much deeper and broader love.

Categories
Exhibit

Pleiades

Ionic columns in Pershing Hall – Paris reminded me of a Greek temple


Like the future stars of the Pleiades, growing like new plants from the earth, swaying in the wind of ancient mythology

( Fukuko Ando )

Pleiades Pershing Hall

Champs Elysées – Paris

Fukuko Ando
Year: 2006

Juan 2Santos / Artistic Direction
Luigi Migani / Dolls Photos
Michael Wayne Plant / Exposition Photos
Jorge Govea / Sound Design
Fxballéry / Scenography
Naomi Lebbadi / Photo And Design
Kiki de Salvertes / ℅ Totem Contact Press

Special Thanks to:

Swarowsky / “Satya” Crystal Decoration Dress
Anne Brancaleone
Corinne Martinez
Philippe Saugier
Carole Belenus
Philippe Test
Muriel Elinger
Irène Tsuji
Katrin Hanneschläer


Photos:
Michael Wayne Plant