VISITORS to Dundee’s V&A museum can now take a step back in time after a re-creation of a 20th century shop window was opened yesterday.
Faux Shop is an installation by art and design company Atelier E.B, which focuses on the shop window displays of last century.
A celebration of the period’s style and aesthetics, it demonstrates the company’s approach of employing historical window display and design, mixing it with their own style and influences.
The installation “asks the visitor to consider whether shop dressing is simply an everyday part of popular culture, or a unique form of design practice”.
The window display features items from Atelier E.B’s own fashion collection, Jasperwear, which was created in 2018.
READ MORE: V&A Dundee welcomes its one millionth visitor
It also holds elements that are inspired by Dundee, including bespoke umbrellas and Mackintosh-inspired raincoats.
The Faux Shop was originally created as part of the company’s Passer-by exhibition. This is its debut in Scotland, following a showing in London, Paris and Moscow.
Designer Beca Lipscombe and artist Lucy McKenzie said: “The Faux Shop examines the moveable thresholds between high and mass culture, art and design, production and consumption.
“The viewer will be able to purchase some of the items they have seen expertly arranged in the Faux Shop display window.
“Isn’t it everyone’s dream to be able to take home something desirable you’ve just seen in a museum? And to be able as touch as well as look?”
Lipscombe and McKenzie have been showing and selling fashion in galleries since 2007.
READ MORE: Business expectations at a six-year high, says Strathclyde's FAI
Based between Edinburgh and Brussels, their work reinvents conventional modes of display and distribution, embedding fashion into a variety of contexts.
In addition to the shopfront, the installation features a series of archival reference points that inspire Atelier E.B’s practice.
These include photographs documenting the Goldbergs department store chain that grew from a single Glasgow store in 1908 to a chain of over 100 outlets.
Other items, such as an iconic bust from Scottish hairdresser Rita Rusk’s Glasgow hair salon window, and the work of Dundee-born artist Graham Little, are also included.
Lauren Bassam, V&A Dundee’s project curator, said: “We are delighted to be showing Faux Shop here at V&A Dundee, the first time that Atelier E.B’s innovative approach to fashion has been displayed within a Scottish museum.
“It poses a wonderful opportunity to unpack the fascinating history of 20th century shop window display in Scotland, as seen through the eyes of this unique art and design practice.”
A limited selection of Atelier E.B’s designs, such as sweatshirts, scarves and jewellery, will be available for purchase in the museum shop.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here