Matty Bovan takes over NOW Gallery in London
Starting November 30, award-winning designer and artist Matty Bovan launches his upcoming fashion commission RIBBONS at London’s prestigious NOW Gallery. RIBBONS provides visitors with an extraordinarily, varied experience, running until February 20, 2023. In the past few years, NOW Gallery in Greenwich Peninsula has established itself as London’s number-one address for discovering new talent and showcasing cutting-edge installations.Just recently Bovan received widespread recognition for his debut at Milan Fashion Week in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana which brought new energy and life to Milan.
During the winter, visitors have the opportunity to get lost inside the utterly bonkers world of Matty Bovan. Inspired by his Yorkshire heritage and the craftspeople of Yorkshire, guests will find a monumental, ceiling-height hand-knitted jumper that invites them to enter a multicolored tent-like structure.
Bovans ulterior motive behind this piece of art is to invite the guests to re-examine their views on fashion, art, textiles, and craft playfully. The commission is complimented by a special soundscape and scents of geranium and lavender which makes it a multisensory experience. Inside the structure, the visitors are welcome to relax on the tufted, surfaces of the artwork while watching an experimental film made by Bovan. The film combines progress shots with a narrative of a story and is acted out by real people and actors.
Bovan himself learned to knit from his grandma when he was 11 years old. For him passing down skills and exciting people about craft is a central focus of his work. "I am so excited to show the world another side of my world with “RIBBONS," a more intimate and special place“, he says. NOW Gallery Curator Jemima Burrill is also very excited about the upcoming fashion commission. When she saw him at the London Fashion Week presentation during the lockdown, he left a lasting impression on her: "He had to be the next NOW Fashion Commission, whatever he came up with would rupture our space and make us think about clothes, life, and who we are - in a different way.“
In the past Bovan has collaborated with a series of renowned brands and designers, such as Veuve Clicquot, M.A.C Cosmetics, Barbie, and Swarovski. Hisstyles are being worn by no other than celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Rita Ora, Winnie Harlow, and many more.
His work has been honored by multiple prestigious awards including L’Oréal Professionnel Creative Award and the LVMH Graduate Prize after which he went to work with Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs. He is also the recipient of the prestigious 2021 International Woolmark Prize, also scooping their Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation.
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