The components of the dress are integrated into a single garment comprised of a bell-form skirt shared by multiple bodices with sleeves. Overall, the style of the garment is reminscent of a circa 1900's period dress. The garment is displayed suspended from above, filling it with airy volume and giving the impression of a multi-armed wearer or wearers. Two bodices are visible, each having two outstretched sleeves. They are presented as animated 'figures' reaching out with bent elbows. The two figures face in opposing directions. The sleeves have cuffs with two-button closures. Each bodice has a pointed collar and a vertical row of buttons extending from the collar to its waistband. Between/behind the left figure and the right figure the back of a third collar is visible, a hint of a third 'figure' facing away from the viewer. The long, gathered, skirt material is attached underneath a waistband. The soft folds in the skirt material give the illusion of volume. The installation is lit by a dramatic light source which makes it seem to glow imbuing it with an ethereal/ghostly quality (as suggested by the title of the work - “FANTASMA.”) The effect of the light produces a fluorescence giving the illusion of colors ranging from blue to aqua. The textile is unpatterned, appears crinkly and sheer, with visible seams and hem.

See more objects with the tag illumination, silk, dress, glow.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
2019	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object. Work on this object began.
2024	You found it!

Fantasma, 2019

It was designed by AnotherFarm. It is dated 2019. Its medium is garment, silk worm cocoons and raw silk threads. It is a part of the department.

To create Fantasma, design studio AnotherFarm collaborated with scientists who make transgenic glowing silk, engineered by injecting silkworm eggs with coral DNA to glow red. Japan’s Hosoo textile manufactory wove the transgenic silk into a textile, which was used by the designers to create this garment. Put on the glasses to enhance the color of the glowing silk.

It is credited Courtesy of AnotherFarm.

Silk waistcoat with flowers running down the center and bottom. Flowers are a variety of colors and shapes; green fern leaves, tan stalks, and multi-colored petals of blue, maroon, and purple. As this narrow pattern runs from the center of the coat to the bottom, it blossoms more fully, with the floral pattern beginning a waving, circular motion, creating a thick, brush texture at the bottom of the coat.

Waistcoat (France)
silk.
Gift of Monsieur Robert de Micheaux.
1956-155-1

Painting on a white circular men’s coat button with a gold outline. In the center is a red and purple caterpillar with small orange hairs. The caterpillar bends to stand on a thin, brown tree branch. Other branches curve, both reaching above the caterpillar and beneath it. The branches are dotted with olive green leaves. There are minor chips to the piece where the gold metal meets the white button on the right side.

Buttons [3]
Bequest of Julia Hutchins Wolcott.
1959-66-233-a/c

Close-up of a bright, patterned fabric, gently folded. The center is in sharp focus; the rest of the image is in hazy, soft focus. The slightly ribbed fabric is mottled, splotchy yellow-orange and purple-pink. A pattern of meandering, interwoven black-outlined lines contrasts with the bright colors. 'silklab' is printed in the upper right corner of the image.

Catalogue of 10 Silk-Protein Derived Devices at the Interface between...
various devices (10), living materials silklab progress chart.
Courtesy of the Living Materials Silklab.
NATURE.053

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4wUs7u/
Accession Number NATURE.023
Object ID 2318798848