Every time I visit the V&A... - part 5

...I remember hearing 'That't it?' These words were directed towards the Ruby Slippers worn by Dorothy (Judy Garland) in the 1939 movie 'The Wizard of Oz'. I visited the 'Hollywood Costumes' exhibition few month ago and as I was leaving I went past a cabinet that had this famous pair of shoes on display.

I can understand such obvious disappointment in the words of three young ladies who stood by. They grew up on Dorothy's story and her charming red slippers. Which is why the reality must have hit them there and then when they saw the real thing.

The shoes were not as bright as the picture above shows but more like the image on the left (downloaded from the net). Hence the disappointment. Having said that, the cabinet was surrounded by 'curious everybody' anyway...

Everybody wanted to see THE shoes. How amazing to see the influence and power of a moving picture...

This made me more aware of the progress the film industry have undergone over the past century. From silent black&white to sound colour pictures. Focusing on the first half of the 20th century, technicolor, a colour process widely used in Hollywood, brought highly saturated and bright colours onto our screens and this is what stuck in our memory. Therefore, after seeing the reality one can get slightly disappointed...

Definitely, this pair of shoes is desirable if not to own, than at least to see with one's own eyes. Therefore, after browsing the V&A shop I had to have some memorabilia. At least a postcard or a pin that is now secured on my coat bringing some life to its otherwise dark tone...

This might be a far cry from the actual pair but at least I have a memory. A memory of an exhibition that was rather busy given by the subject but a curatorial achievement. This was an exhibition that held to its name - 'Hollywood Costumes'. It was not only the displayed costumes but also the addition of director's, costume designer's and actor's thoughts, each giving their point of view, that made people stop and listen. What I particularly liked was the fact that each individual was projected on an actual chair as if sitting in the room with all of us and talking...

Keeping to the Hollywood idea, this exhibition was full of screens with either stills from the movies or additional information (design process) that would partially or fully reveal the secrets and hard work going into designing each piece. For this, the exhibition stood up in its own right; the screens, not tablets. Sadly, it is all over now but the memory remains... K-)