originality & avant-garde

Finally, an article about the avant-garde phenomenon! Avant-garde is a term derived from the early twentieth century, with a definition that literally means “original or radically new” in pop culture (particularly in the arts). Rosalind Krauss describes avant-garde as an expression unlike any other, one that could not be described in the simplest of terms. Original creativity is hard to come by, and usually the creative process is inspired by another’s simplified idea. However avant-garde allows a break from the norm, encouraging artists to execute the creative process in a whole new dimension.

 I particularly enjoy avant-garde in the fashion realm, where designers imagine their creations to become “otherworldly” and cannot be defined. Deconstructed and second-hand clothes inspire me. I love clothing articles that had a previous life, especially if it once was a pile of newspaper and crisp packets of someone else’s trash. Most recently I’ve been enjoying the works of Kumiko Tani, a Japanese fashion designer who creates amazing pieces out of newspaper with a perfect mixture of the avant-garde style with modern materials.