Saturday, July 31, 2010

My History with Dylan

A few months ago, I had a friend request on Facebook from someone named Dylan Ryu. I'd never met her before, but we had one friend in common whom I trusted enough where I thought, if this person knows her, she must be okay. So I accepted the request. (Have you done that before - accept an unknown on the one friend rule? I digress...)
Since then, I would occasionally see posts from Dylan and I began to learn that she was an artist and her medium was bags - mostly vintage, mostly high fashion bags, and she called her work History by Dylan. I was intrigued. Last week, I saw that she posted about her new exhibit at a gallery. I really loved everything only it was all in a foreign language, so I couldn't tell exactly where the exhibit was. A little sleuthing led me to her gallery in Seoul, Korea and to her website where I learned more about her.
Then I emailed her to more formally introduce myself and ask her if I could blog about her. She consented and said that she's lived in Paris and New York and now currently lives in Seoul. She's very inspired by classic French cinema (Goddard, Truffaut and Rohmer, she named a few) and music. Her elements have a distinctive western nostalgia, whether it be in the vintage family crest patches she uses or metallic old car logos she attaches to her bags. All of the embellishments she uses are vintage materials she's found in flea markets and antique stores in Paris, London and New York.She uses only "real" vintage bags, no fakes, so her works have an inherent value to them.For her new show, she dressed 48 Dean & Deluca bags in ribbons and patches and crests, the result being a very nautical vibe when you see them all together.
The Chanel wall...cute! Judging from her very impressive press pages on her website, Dylan is quite a rising star in Korea, I wish I could read the articles!
I can honestly say I think she truly improved these Dior bags. J'Adore - if you will. She's done what I think is so cool, which is taken a cliché "it" bag and made it individual - it's not a groundbreaking idea, but I appreciate how she does it with a great eye instead of in a subversive way. Not that there's anything wrong with subversive ;) just that she doesn't need it.
Above are more scenes from her work as part of the "That Seventy's" show currently at the très chic I M ART gallery (which is sandwiched between the Hèrmes and Marc Jacobs boutiques to give you and idea of the neighborhood) in Seoul until August 28, 2010.

All images courtesy of Dylan Ryu.

10 comments:

D. Bryant Archie said...

I've loved your blog and bags for some time...but have stayed silent until now.
I love your profile of Dylan. What a wonderful talent. Thank you for bringing her to me.
Besides, I also love your voice through the blog..You've also inspired me to start a blog to complement my company.
Thank you for being such an inspiration for me.
--Bryant
dbryantarchie.com
curatedchic.blogspot.com

Clare Vivier said...

Thanks Bryant! I like your blog! I'll check back with it.
I love that you got your own studio outside the home in Chelsea.
XOClare

jeana sohn said...

amazing and very inspiring!

Clare Vivier said...

thanks jeana! i want you to read me the articles...
xox

Heather Taylor said...

so lovely! she did improve the Dior bags! thanks for sharing!

ronelM said...

wow such a lovely post and those bags looks awesome

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Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Clare Vivier said...

Thanks Early Bird!!
xxoclare

Anonymous said...

I love your profile of Dylan. It's just perfect description for the new viewer,who someone dose not know about Dylan's works. I am a fan of Dylan in Toronto. Her Korean blog cyworld has a lot of new works and magazine press.
http://www.cyworld.com/dylanryu

Thank you Vivier for the informational blog.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Vivier.
I am new to Blogspot.

{I change for spelling check }

:D