>>frosty, standoffish attitudes + playful textures + heavy wool draping to the mid-waist + nuances of missoni + emboldened colors + void eyes <<

I was getting all my winter clothing together for risd when i came across these photographs by achim lippoth. then my jaw dropped. the overtly textured pieces you see above are all courtesy of fashion designer ann eckers (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Belgium).  i hate to use the word ‘love’ to describe how much i am actually craving these woolen creations, but for lack of a better word.. i ♥ not only the bumpy/smooth feel + the whimsical color scheme but also the jarring monotony of the youth who blend in with the blank background. it’s ironic that a bleached background so devoid of any decor can make the viewer feel overwhelmed, and the children appear oppressed. the knowing gazes + stiff stances portray the mentality of an adult; the formal hairstyles pussssh the metaphor…. mr. lippoth usually depicts children as spontaneous + all other typical characteristics, so it is very interesting that he chooses to present them with contrasting icy attitudes.  the overall effect is poignant and begs the viewer to question whether the children of these oh so modern times are maturing at an unhealthy rate? It’s also interesting that the only liberalizing element from all this white noise are the fashion pieces. this is my own interpretation but it seems that the layers of material + heavily textured clothing make up for the lack of character in these children. fashion offers this self-preservation. it transcends time + age barriers; it brings you back to a home-base of blissful naïvety.  like mammoths frozen in time, ann eckers and achim lippoth are protecting + preserving these innocent children from the complexities and contradictions of modern childhood.

xxx