Object Analysis and Essay Ideas. Futurism in Fashion and Textiles.

For my theory project research I decided to look at Futurism in Fashion and Textiles.
At the beginning I wanted to investigate Futurism movement and look at it’s historical and cultural aspects.
Like many art movements, Futurism is credited to have begun in Italy during the early 20th century. However, there were similar movements taking off in Russia, England, and elsewhere. The conception point is determined by the fact that most of the movement's momentum occurred in Italy. Works of this movement can be seen in almost any medium available from the time period. Most common are paintings, sculptures, ceramics, graphic design, industrial and interior and architectural design, film, and also fashion and textile design.
The movement came about after the publication of Futurist Manifesto in which the author, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti described the plights of the "young and strong Futurists" to escape from the old ways, especially in art and politics. They were more interested in violence, speed, technology and the technological city, the triumph of humanity over nature, the car, and airplanes.
Futurism influenced many other twentieth century art movements, including Art Deco.

Here are few artists that I looked at:

1. Natalia Goncharova, The Cyclist. 1913. The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg
2. Giacomo Balla 
Abstract Speed + Sound, 1913-1914. Guggenheim Museum
3. Umberto Boccioni 
Unique forms of continuity in pace. 1913. MOMA, NYC

Futurism inspired lot’s of artists and we can see it’s influence in fashion and film. As an example I looked at collections of Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan, famous fashion icons like Lady Gaga, Kate Moss and bad examples of it like Paris Hilton. There are many examples of futurism in the cinematography, among which are my favorite Star Trek, Star Wars and Fifth Element.

It is just the beginning of my research, but I am already excited. I found lot’s of fascinating facts about futuristic art and artists and started to make connections. I can now see futurism in mainly every part of our every day life, starting with Ipad and ending with Russian fifth-generation Sukhoi fighter jet.

Here are few books and articles I am going to research:

Radical Fashion by Clair Wilcox, 2001. Shelfmark:391.009 RAD.

Fashion Today by Colin McDowell, 2003.

The Future is Now... And so is The Past by Socha Miles, 2006 WWD: 11/5/2006, Vol 192 Issue 95 p96-97.

Emily Brown article "Futurist Fashion: three manifestos" from the Art Journal (Spring 1995).