Cat Chow’s artwork is made up of the invisible sub-products of the garment industry such as zippers, snaps, bobbins, tape measures, and other products. “Chow invites us to consider these pieces as art objects, all the while raising a series of provocative questions. How can the intrinsic hardness of a metal be softened? How can a flexible fabric assume a structural role? How can a non-precious material be treated in a precious way? And perhaps most importantly, how can fashion be shaped into art?” (From the Manufactured website)
These questions help us to understand a little of what Chow’s artwork is about. She uses objects in the fashion world to create her art, as well as objects from everyday life such as keys and records. Her work helps transform our thoughts of the fashion world as just not being about clothes, but into fine art. She uses objects we would not think to use such as keys and zippers to make visually appeasing pieces that move the eye around the piece and keep us wandering what it is made of.
The question we have to ask ourselves is if what Chow is doing with her fashion is considered fine art, or if it is just left up to her design pieces? Who defines art exactly? We the viewer do and our choice will be made by us alone. Cat Chow’s work is different from others in the way that is takes something that is already considered a form of art, and takes it to the next level.
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| 36 Chambers, 2008 |
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| Ceremony, 2008 |
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| Keeper, 2008 |
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| Mother, 2008 |
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| Vicious Circle, 2008 |
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