Page 24-25 - Annual Review 2009

Relive
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Relive
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They demonstrate how
the touch and call of
faraway places can be
folded within layers
of cloth, and how a
thousand and one stories
can be told by silver
and gold thread, and by
beads and sequins the
colours of the rainbow.
Dr Miranda Wallace, Curator,
‘Easton Pearson’
Easton Pearson
22 August – 8 November 2009, GoMA
‘Easton Pearson’ surveyed the remarkable careers of
Queensland-based designers Pamela Easton and Lydia
Pearson, and was the first fashion design exhibition to
be presented at the Gallery of Modern Art. Featuring
more than 70 examples of Easton Pearson’s work, the
exhibition explored the design duo’s eclectic sources
of inspiration and identified key themes of the past
two decades. The display highlighted Easton Pearson’s
use of extraordinary textiles, their collaborations with
artists and artisans across the globe, and a capacity to
weave together associations and influences of all kinds.
Also included were works that featured collaborations
with local contemporary artists — Graham Davis, whose
ink-wash paintings of Stradbroke Island appeared in a
2007 collection, and Stephen Mok, who hand-painted
a classic A-line Easton Pearson dress in 2008. The
infusion of Asian, African and Pacific sensibilities was
also reflected in the selected works, along with the
influence of vintage clothing and costume.
The exhibition was supported by the Queensland Government and
sponsored by Brisbane Marketing through Queen Street Mall, the
Queensland University of Technology’s Creative Industries Faculty,
and Foster’s Australia.
Pamela Easton, Lydia Pearson and guests at the official opening (top), exhibition views
(left and opposite).
Easton Pearson’s designs are known for the ornate hand embroidery, much of which is
done by master craftspeople in India or Vietnam. However, Easton Pearson’s Brisbane
workroom is where paper patterns (previous spread, left) and fabric is hand cut, and
garments — such as the spectacular Loosurutia dress (previous spread, right), which
was specially created for the exhibition — are hand finished.
Tim Fairfax, AM, Queensland Art Gallery Foundation President, speaks to
guests at a Chairman’s Circle dinner during the ‘Easton Pearson’ exhibition.