Installation for the London Design Festival 2010

A London College of Fashion alumni, Joao Costa completed a BA (hons) Menswear Design in 2009, and an apprenticeship with Alexander McQueen in early 2010.

This conceptual collection was produced upon extensive research on various mediums of contemporary Surrealism (Photography, Art and Cinematography). It was an emotional response related to early childhood memories.

“ I urged to express a sentiment of isolation of the body, using it as an object... In this video I intended to emphasize the organic structures and intricacies of my garments found in Hans Bellmer’s photographs and sketches.”

Joel Peter-Witkin has been a consistent reference in the way the collection and this short film were conducted. The parallel ideas of life and death present in these works, converged into one, and are of no importance to the object and/or body.

In the same way, “Frankenstein 1931” was a significant influence in recreating the analogy between the silhouette and the shadows.

“I hope this experience takes you to the realm of the subconscious.”

Directed by Joao Costa
Produced by Rui Fradinho

Special thanks to the Junction/Juncture Curators and the London Design Festival 2010