VELI ANI

Using observation and analysis of surrealist paintings and films to bring out a bizarre subtext and a sense of mysticism, I aim to create a vision of contemporary mystic urban style. The creative process often begins with a collage – an automatic way of juxtaposing bizarre elements and of deconstructing a visual and assembling them together with parts of identifiable garments. A collage can result in a visual idea of a ‘melting’ trench coat with gas masks placed on the breasts to recreate a witty form out of the serious traditional trench coat. Or, another collage puts together an image of frames deconstructed around the neck and body with drapes slithering around the frames and ants crawling around the frames. This process is like a two-dimensional deconstruction whereby I can create my own narratives hinted by frequent use of ‘gimmicks’ such as gas masks and ants to balance surreal nuances while constructing ‘real’, identifiable garments.

My collection uses fabrics and finishing that evoke a feel of damaged and ugly but updated with contemporary fabric coating. Cotton fabrics with special coating that are topstitched evoke the feel of a leather couch or ‘blackout’ curtain. Stretch nylon with special surface treatment creates a hint of bondage, adding subtle sensuality to masculine looks.

The clothes I create are serious and witty at the same time. References to surrealist art works, films and cultures are woven through the different layers of my works. By deconstructing uniforms and typical garments such as trench coats, military jackets and dungarees and re-assembling them with these references, I intend create today’s version of contemporary urban uniforms that people in the streets can identify with and imagine beyond clothing.

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