Material-izations - exhibited 2001, f-unit gallery, Vienna
Installation by Benedict Sheehan & Suzanne Lee; Fashion by Simon Thorogood

Experiments with the fashion design process, suggesting physical alternatives to the more traditional sketchpad and pencil.
On entering the gallery the visitor is presented with a ‘Lightdesk’, a frosted perspex table which serves as a design surface. Placed on the worktop is an assortment of purpose-made and found forms, selected for their shape, material, colour or pattern. These objects are available for the visitor to manipulate and arrange as they wish, according to their own preference, either minimally or chaotically, there are no rules.
Concealed within the Lightdesk, a video camera constantly monitors the tabletop arrangements. These compositions are then digitally projected onto a linear image of a woman on the far wall where they ‘materialise’ as possible silhouettes, colours, layers and textures which can be interpreted into cloth, pattern, surface decoration, embroidery and so on. As desired, each composition can be identified as a garment or outfit.
Material/izations delights in chance and randomness seeking to exploit accidents and stressing the importance of play in the design process. With minimum skill and a little imagination the creative act rests with gallery visitors who are invited to bring and use their own objects.