Joint
John Chamberlain <Archaic Stooge (No. 21555)>, Helmut Lang <f/w 1998>
John Chamberlain, Archaic
Stooge (No. 21555), United States, 1991
© Foundation Hubert Looser
Standing in front of Archaic Stooge by John Chamberlain, I was struck by a profound sense of power, as if iron plates had been forged and fused together with intense emotion. It invited me to imagine the process of its creation. The sculpture stands alone, made of steel plates welded together, requiring no additional support. The weld marks resembled bold brushstrokes where the crumpled steel plates came together. These marks not only served to unify the transformed plates, but also evoked a powerful expression.
Helmut Lang, Fall/Winter
1997 Runway Collection, Paris (France), 1997
© Helmut Lang
The garment has a very thin, bright pink mesh fabric draped over the body and arms. It appears to be integrated into a layered, sleeveless top that is difficult to tell if it is one or two layers. The mesh detail begins at the chest and extends to the arms, solving the challenge of uniting different parts of the body. It demonstrates Helmut Lang's dedication to both practical and structural aesthetics.
When a work contains only the essential components necessary for its structure, it evokes a minimalist sensibility for me. It uses the joint as an ingredient to convey intentions ranging from powerful and bold to delicate and simple.