A British-Indian designer who has consistently pushed limits and put forth a euphoric celebration of fashion, Ashish Gupta has cemented a place within the realm of disruptive art and design. Wearing his politics on his sleeve, he has managed to move minds and hearts through the use of subversive themes and continues to push the envelope at his ongoing exhibit at the William Morris Gallery in London.
The retrospective, ‘Fall In Love And Be More Tender’, puts forth a vivacious discourse around many contentious issues using the lens of fashion. The Central Saint Martins graduate is channelling political outrage through a kaleidoscope of colours. As the showcase delves into the expansive archive of his designs, he highlights myriad of queer narratives in addition to vocalising support for the South Asian community.
The first fashion exhibit ever hosted by the museum also subtly advocates in support of the local immigrants who face their own share of biases and unique struggles. Ashish manages to encapsulate the experience of long immigration lines utilising motifs from South Asian culture, in the process also reclaiming his own identity and shedding light on his own personal experiences as a minority.
In addition to this cumulative display of Ashish’s contribution to the world of fashion, the gallery also commissioned Indian photographer Ashish Shah to create a set of posters set in the lush gardens of New Delhi. Shah virtually captures the intricacies of South Asian culture through his evocative imagery that compliment the archival pieces. Separating them from the western gaze and juxtaposing them with visuals of the everyday life in India.
Gupta’s exhibition questions the gaze and perception of each viewer as the pieces invite them into a world of disruptive fashion. It highlights the intricacies of a tangled identity and also makes a point to spearhead conversations around very real problems. You can find more information about the retrospective here.
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