«Ying Gao – Five Ways to Tell a Story about Fashion» 

Canadian fashion designer Ying Gao, born in China (*1973), playfully explores the aesthetic potential at the interface of fashion, art and technology. She uses software to conceptually develop ingenious patterns, and subtly infuses interactive technology into some of her garments. These garments appear vivid, ephemeral and fluid in shape: one of the dresses vibrantly unfolds when triggered by a ray of light. Another one breathes gently as it is touched by a gust of air. All the while Ying Gao’s garments tell stories about themselves, and about fashion.

Five collections by Ying Gao that tell a story about fashion in five original ways are presented at [plug.in], in her first solo exhibition outside of Canada.

The two interactive works Walking City and Living Pod physically respond to the stimuli of their immediate surroundings. Inspired by the immaterial qualities of air and light, their contours dissolve into a multiplicity of aesthetic forms. The intriguing variety of physical shapes emerges from the Chinese art of folding paper, giving a poetic aesthetic form to the ethereal and intangible.

Three further works are based on the unconventional application of software. «Indice de l’indifférence» used the data of an online opinion survey to modify the pattern, angle and width of a man’s shirt according to the indifference of voters. In «(uni)forms», a morphing software rendered new uniforms within seconds – without considering their social implications. «Swiss quality 1» applies software to playfully engage with cultural characteristics that were striking to the artist during her trip to Switzerland, whereby the aesthetic form is inspired by the textile materiality of the dresses.

However light and playful in their physical appearance, Ying Gao’s garments reflect transformations in the physical and social environment, and challenge contemporary conventions within the fashion system. The dynamics emerging from Ying Gao’s textile creations, their playful and alluring lightness and fleetingness, articulate an intriguing aesthetic language that gracefully tells stories about fashion in fascinating, imaginative ways.

Curated by Céline Studer, in collaboration with Doris Gassert.

With thanks to Sabine Seymour.

On view at [plug.in], Basel, from 01/17/09 to 03/01/09.