The line between art and high fashion is a fine one according to Dubai-based artist Patricia Millns. She’s taking part in a panel discussion at FFWD on Saturday at 8pm. Here’s what the award-winning artist had say about style and design.
Patricia, you’re involved in FFWD for the first time this year, how so?
They asked me to be a speaker on one of the panel discussions. The panel is ‘Art & Fashion’ which of course is my total passion. My artwork is informed by fashion and I don’t see a big split between the two.
How precisely is your art influenced by fashion?
I think fashion and art coexist, especially when you get to the higher levels of haute couture – that’s art. When you think of Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece [conceptual art performance in which Ono kneels on stage wearing a draped black garment. Audience members are then requested to cut in until she is naked]. Or take the high fashion of Issey Miyake or Yohji Yamamoto – they combine together art, design and technology. I can’t see those barriers being of any great importance anymore.
I see you are wearing Issey Miyake, is he one of your favourite designers?
Yes, I wear a lot of him generally and wear the Pleats Please range for every day. I also tend to wear a lot of black. And with the greatest respect to all those amazing shoe designers out there, I tend to go with flat shoes. I think it’s beautiful to see women wearing their designs [of shoes] but I go for clothes with dramatic forms and shapes instead. Comfort is a big deal for me.
Who are you looking forward to seeing at FFWD?
I think there are some amazing designers here. I’m always keen to see who’s new - because they are the future and you can’t always go with what’s past. That said, you have Essa, Zayan and Fern One - and of course I’ve chosen ones who are very dramatic and artistic. People in Dubai are making such incredible clothes these days, no designer can be left out. You need to see them all and be inspired.