Portrait of a Woman by TOME
The intersection of fashion and art has, through the establishment of Miami’s annual Art Basel, authenticated itself in such a salient capacity that you’re more likely to come across a designer you recognize than you are, say, a fine artist.
In addition to the manifold luncheons and dinners that have been, and will continue to be, sponsored by magazines and brands, one particular initiative, launching tomorrow in South Beach, seems capable of lending all the salt necessary to actualize the worth of the aforementioned junction.
New York-based ready-to-wear label, TOME, with its voluminous culottes and quiet-though-distinct poplin blouses (a champion of simultaneous male-gaze-deflection and female-form-championship) is debuting the first in a series of short films called A Portrait of Woman that will feature women integral to “the TOME story.”
The first installment will give prominence to Iran-born artist, Shirin Neshat, who is perhaps most recognized for her work on the vicissitudes of female life within Islamic culture. On working with the artist, TOME founder Ryan Lobo said, “Of the long list of women who have inspired us, Shirin Neshat is one very close to our hearts. I have been obsessed with her for more than half my life so when we met her over a year ago it was truly an art student fantasy come true! Ramon (Martin, co-founder) also instantly fell in love with Shirin’s duality — a sweet demeanor and a devastating intellect, incredible warmth with sharp political critique, genuine sincerity and fierce strength.”
On the process of starring in a video recreationally, as opposed to for her art, Neshat said, “It’s always complicated when an artist not her art becomes a subject for the public eye. How to share the artist’s obsessions, life style and rationale without the risk of demystifying or exaggerating the artist’s characteristics. It is then about the measure of trust that occurs between the artist and he or she whom tells her story…and in that my love and respect for TOME made me lose my hesitations.”
Feature image shot by Rad Hourani
