Abstract and conceptual, as everything is in the mind of Helmut Lang, is his latest work entitled, “Make it Hard”. In this art exhibit, which recently showcased at The Fireplace Project in East Hamptons, “Lang has shredded his entire archive, after donating the rest of his collected work to worldwide fashion, design and contemporary art collections, to make 16 sartorial sculptures. Mixing his own history, original claim to fame and a current back mirror view of his past as a fashion designer with his personal experiences of late and this relatively new art form makes the exhibition fundamentally interesting for fans of Helmut Lang, both as an artist and as a designer,” as quoted from Dazed.
In the interview with Dazed Digital Lang reveal what inspired this strikingly destructive expression. “In February 2010, after a fire in the building where our studio in New York is located, which could have destroyed the rest of the archive, and after going for months through the pieces to see in which condition they are, I slowly became intrigued by the idea of destroying it myself and use it as raw material for my art. ‘Make It Hard’ is literally the transition from soft to solid, and there is also a sexual reference implied.”
When asked if this was his closure for working in fashion her replied, “I retired from fashion in 2005 and that was final for me then. I feel fortunate that I’m able to work in art now and able to contribute to the cultural landscape as I did before with fashion. I have been asked to collaborate with fashion houses with my artwork, which I will probably do.
