Wednesday 22 April 2015

Sonia Delaunay: the Simultaneous Dress at Tate Modern

Jo Hall's sketch of Sonia Delaunay's 'Simultaneous Dress' of 1913 at Tate Modern

If you are excited by colour, textiles, fashion and costume design, the Sonia Delaunay exhibition at Tate Modern is a must see. The critics may be right that her painting reached its zenith with the 'Electric Prisms' series, but what determination when funds failed, for her to launch a fashion house and bring her art to a huge audience with designs that influence and inform the designers of today. It is also a stunningly presented show! 

A quick glance at the catalogue showed it did not treat its readers to the back view of the 'Simultaneous Dress' she designed to wear to the tango ball room. Here and in the Portuguese markets she drew much inspiration from movement and colour that became part of her journey to pure abstraction.  Sadly I had no coloured crayons with me but working in monochrome I realised she not only cleverly juxtaposed colours but also textures, and flat fabric against ruched or gathered pieces. 
I will be visiting again soon!


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