Bold Lines: Amy Yao’s Masterpiece

 

Artist Amy Yao’s first-ever runway show—and, for that matter, first-ever capsule clothing collection, done in collaboration with JF & SON—is boldly “Another Masterpiece!!” It takes place on no less auspicious an occasion than Fashion’s Night Out (that’s tomorrow, as if you didn’t know), and shows alongside artist Travis Boyer’s MFT. The line includes women’s dresses, skirts, bodysuits, T-shirts, and accessories.

The multi-disciplinary Yao, who was included in PS1’s most recent “Greater New York” show, makes work that involves wry humor and quiet social commentary. Abstract smiley faces on canvas live comfortably alongside thoughtfully placed found objects and delicate sculptures. Meaning is rarely obvious, but work like her totemic sculptues is never without color and complexity.

The collection draws from her art practice as well as the influences of conceptual designers like Comme des Garçons and Issey Miyake. “The clothes themselves are to exist somewhat as artwork, but in a mass-produced way,” she tells Interview. Yao introduces unconventional materials like hair and sequins and pairs them with vibrant hues, that would threaten to overpower, were the cuts and silhouettes not so elegant. Lest we forget her wit, she uses prints of bananas and sausages to remind us that fashion can also be fun.

Yao has created “souvenirs” with friends, including: a keepsake postcard with designer Geoff Han; a poster and print done with artists Lisa Jo, David Benjamin Sherry and Michele Abeles; an ikebana by Carissa Rodriguez. These will be on view and available during the performative runway show, where we can expect friends and fellow artists—all of them Asian—to model.

“It’s going to be a traditional runway show in its structure, but there might be something funny that happens,” Yao says, warning, “It’s going to be somewhat subtle, so you have to pay attention.”

 

“ANOTHER MASTERPIECE!!” WILL DEBUT ON SEPTEMBER 8 FROM 6 TO 9 PM. THE RUNWAY SHOW IS AT 8 PM SHARP AT THE JF STOREFRONT, 56 UNIVERSITY PLACE, NEW YORK.