On holidays, people have to wait in line to attend Fashion with Pattern, an exhibition being held by the 63 Sky Art Museum. Besides the exhibition, the building holds a fabulous aquarium well-known for its turquoise beams flashing through the enclosed water. It too is loved by the general public, so it is not uncommon to see a large group, even tourists, packed in front of the 63 City ticket booth. But the center of attention currently is the fashion exhibition of which the main theme is very intriguing.

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening," the famous fashion icon, Coco Chanel said. She was saying that fashion does not just apply to clothes but to everything. Clothing began as a means to protect our bodies. But in time, people came to express themselves through their garments. Such self-expressions grew to be applied to other physical objects like furniture and buildings, and can even influence abstract subjects such as thought. Fashion with Pattern demonstrates this perspective through patterns in and on various media. Thanks to such a theme, it becomes irresistible to get on the elevator and to go up to the place of sky art.

As visitors step out of the elevator, the artwork that first greets them are a set of neatly arranged skulls, made from paper. Though it could be considered a bit grim rather than being frightening, they look beautiful. The paper used to make the skulls glitter so that it conveys the image of not only death but life, and this piece gives people a glimpse of the third section of the exhibition, skulls. Fashion with Pattern is divided into three parts; as the other sections are floral patterns and stripes. Flowers are a favorite of many people around the world for decorating their lives. Flowers have an image full of bright energy, so it is no wonder people love them. In the exhibition, several artists depict such positive meanings of flowers through paintings and clothes. Artist Kim Jei Min demonstrated this as he drew a flower acting like an energetic swimmer in the painting, "Water Plant Persistently Cultivating the Life Power."

 

Also, floral patterns are beautiful and commonly bring to mind flowers’ lavishly-colored and dazzlingly-shaped petals. Designer Kim Jong Su, using such colorful flowers as motivation, created the art series called "Angry Flower." This consists of sketches for clothing designs and apparel made out of those drawings. He made every part of garments look like that of flowers instead of just putting small floral prints on them. For instance, a hat mimics a flower bud and the trims of outer wear and dresses are shaped to portray petals. A woman’s suit was a purplish red and pink resembling azaleas, and another dress looked like a red rose. These scarlet colors depict red faces of angry people, related to the title.

 

After viewing flowers, it seems that nothing else can be as beautiful. However, works such as "Black Oscillation Dress" and "Gold Oscillation Dress," a collaborative series by Kim Ki Ho and Momoko Hashigami in the stripe section, deepens the fashion fantasies. Black and white vertical stripes can bring the gloomy prison look but the stripes here are different. Portrayed in various colors ranging from rich gold to dark black, the stripes animate clothing, stores, streets, and humans. Aside from being energetic, these stripes also give off a refined, classy, and sophisticated vibe.

 

Moving further along, visitors will encounter the entrance to the third section, skulls, which is the highlight of the exhibition. Skull prints by Choi Jeung Woo welcome visitors before entering the Sky Tunnel, a path to the rest of the exhibition. In the paintings, each skull is ornamented with various materials like soil and butterflies. The most common image entailing skulls is death. However, the mixtures of skulls and other substances indicate other meanings than death.

After walking through the Sky Tunnel— it feels as if you are in a galaxy with pitch black walls, glittering dust, and color-changing electronics—other skull paintings await. One of the works, the four-piece series called "For the Love of God" also takes the viewer far from the image of death since skulls here are covered in sparkling diamond dust. As such, later works on skulls too remind us not only of death but also of life.

It is okay to roam freely, walking through the exhibition blank-mindedly. Although for some the only thought that comes to mind is that dresses are pretty, there is still more to visiting exhibitions like Fashion with Pattern than getting to see pretty dresses. More importantly, viewers can improve their ability to perceive art. Rather than just going to museums or exhibitions to take a break from the complexity of your everyday life, try to think a bit little more deeply.

 

Patterns act as symbols; or at least by using patterns, designers reflect their own thoughts and that of their contemporaries. Unveiling such purposes allow one to see not only the artworks more clearly, but also like them. Enjoy the art but learn from it as well.