Imitation of Christ SS22: Feel the Love
Tara Subkoff curated the show, making it her mission to showcase an array of new creatives within this performance and ensure their mesasges are heard far and wide. Subkoff hand-selected guest designers Daisy Bourez and Asia Caldera to create the vintage upcycled couture collection worn by the dancers performing in the church. Artist Gian Manik was a part of the exhibition as well, hand painting portraits onto upcycled denim. 19-year-old singer-songwriter Blessing was invited to perform her original song Girl Like Me as the soundtrack for the dancers as they created a living mandala around a monk who was making a sand mandala in the center of the piece. The second piece highlighted artist Breanna Helders who, while moving around the other dancers in tableau, spray painted a slash across her womb, symbolizing the horror of the new 6-week abortion ruling in Texas.
When asked about the collection Subkoff said, "Impermanece, that's what it's about. The idea of life and death, and appreciating the moment, nor trying to hold on to somthing. You can't take it with you. Imitation of Christ is that." These themes flowed freely throughout this presentation, from the setting, to soundtrack, to one particularly powerful message embroidered onto a white floor length kaftan reading, "If love is under siege, it is because it threatens the very essence of comemrcial civilization."
After both performances concluded, the dancers grabbed balloons. They rushed out into the street, stopping traffic and dancing their way down 10th St to Thompkins Sq Park in a participatory art piece that everyone was invited to partake in. This collection was a commemoration of art; it was a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us even when the world may seem dark. Imitation of Christ’s SS22 Collection was elegant, genuine, meaningful, and was made to bring joy to all who expeirenec it.
