Edition 22 "Angel of the North"
"There are no angels in this world, but everyone longs to see angels."
"Angel of the North" is an astonishing work by artist Antony Gormley that lasted for four years. Regionalism, a sense of power, and the simplicity of presentation are the most direct sources of inspiration that P.J learned from this work.
This season is still dominated by black and gray, while the overall palette remains a cool color tone. Black is mysterious, cool, and solemn; black may also evoke feelings of fear, depression, and the unknown. The repeated outbreaks of COVID-19 continue to haunt everyone. In P.J's own words, she described it as "a little bit of panic, a hint of indignation, and some worries." In image processing technology, gray represents a mid-tone, indicating brightness, and there are a total of 256 grayscale levels from black to white. Since gray has no color and only displays lightness, it signifies neutrality. It often bestows fashion with an exquisitely affluent feeling, and brings out intriguing tastes of changeability, sophistication, and intellect. P.J chooses light gray to interpret her inner feelings at this moment. I think she hopes to use lightness to dissipate this invisible repression.
Technological advancements, generational changes, in fact, everything is in a state of uncertain flux. As the artist explains his motivation for his work: "The idea of eternity is wrong. We can only live in the moment, and we must strive to act directly to free ourselves from the opposite way." When it comes to materials for this new season, P.J said she tried some fur again, hoping that the soft-silky Tuscan wool would provide warmth and comfort for those living in the cold northern winter. The endlessness of fashion, the true meaning of which lies in the various aspects that could be created in life, while the design is perceptually sensitive enough to inject beautiful vitality into things around. Considering every piece of fabric, conceiving each inch of tailoring, being concerned about the close contact with the skin, and imagining the living environment of the wearer, it belongs to the scope of applicability of daily life, but is separated from its functional framework; it outlines a gorgeous artificial vision, however, it brings a very real and pure experience, indicating that people should look at the existing from a new angle.
Art history usually realizes the self-transformation of its inner proposition in the form of rebirth. 500 years ago, the archangel painted by Raphael guarded people's physical and mental health and taught Noah the knowledge and skills of building the ark. 24 years ago, Gormley's "Angel of the North" reversed the rise and fall of a city, becoming a symbol of a common will to revive the region and offering hope in the gaze of the audience. Among the 21 depictions of angels created by P.J this season, there are elegant, subdued, refreshing, and steady ones. They all proclaim the irresistible vitality and multiplicity released from the slender bodies of women. With its consistent sculptural quality and meticulous craftsmanship, it reveals the inherent nature of humans with the world—dissolving rather than confronting, trusting rather than binding, loving and being loved.
