The space between...the space between here and there. It is
often forgotten in our efforts to get to the next destination. Or in the case
of physical space, it fades into nothingness as our eyes move from focal point
to focal point.
For artist Pae White though, this is the space she explores
in site specific installations like her 2013 exhibit in London called “Too Much
Night, Again.” Using string, the installation criss-crossed in what would
otherwise be the white space of nothingness around artwork featured on the
walls. The air became three-dimensional as the strings travelled overhead,
creating patterns of color, texture and form.
The use of string in fine art demonstrates White’s tendency
to use craft materials, elevating a typically mundane material to one for
higher thought and beauty. A single string joined a multitude, creating spaces
that varied in string density as they attached to the wall to spell
words from the artist’s nighttime ponderings.
They are woven in patterns on dresses, resembling the
heavy stitching found on upholstery or baseballs. The thick strings also dangle
from bags, creating a fringe that moves with each step.
In their heaviest form,
the strings are woven in such a high volume that they become a tweed-like
fabric.
There is a transient quality to both the art and fashion
designs. Both creations showcase how the strings can be combined or stitched in
a way to hold something to together. Whether it be a dress or a three-dimensional
form, a single string becomes something much more when utilized in a high
quantity. But just as the strings dangle from the dress sleeves or spread into
open spaces in the gallery, there is evidence they can pull apart into
nothingness.
Runway Photos: Vogue.com
Exhibit Photos: 1301pe.com
