Jonathan Anderson and Patrick Carroll recently collaborated on an exhibition titled “Days” during Milan Design Week. The exhibition showcased 37 pieces of hand-machined fine gauge knitwear created by Carroll, each featuring different yarns, colors, and words. Displayed like canvases on stretcher bars, the pieces blurred the lines between design, fashion, and art. This collaboration marks a shift in Carroll’s work from fashion to pure artwork, exploring the intersection of craft and art.
The exhibition drew a large crowd, with attendees spilling out onto the street to catch a glimpse of Carroll’s unique creations. Anderson and Carroll’s collaboration began two years ago when Anderson first showcased Carroll’s pieces at a fashion show. Since then, Carroll has exhibited his work in various cities across the US, but this exhibition marks his first international display outside of the US. Through this collaboration, Anderson and Carroll are challenging conventional categories and exploring new creative spaces.
Carroll’s work raises questions about the distinctions between clothing and art, highlighting issues related to labor rights, commodity, taxation, and freedom of movement. By subverting traditional categories and pushing boundaries, Carroll is able to navigate between the realms of fashion and art, creating a unique blend of craftsmanship and artistic expression. Anderson and Carroll’s partnership reflects a shared interest in exploring the boundaries of design, fashion, and art.
Anderson expressed his fascination with the search for the essence of design, art, and fashion, hinting at the complex interplay between these creative disciplines. The exhibition at Milan Design Week provided a platform for Carroll to showcase his pieces in a new context, inviting viewers to contemplate the blurred lines between fashion and art. Through their collaboration, Anderson and Carroll are challenging traditional notions of creativity and encouraging audiences to rethink the boundaries between different artistic mediums.
The exhibition at Anderson’s Milan store offered a glimpse into Carroll’s evolving practice, highlighting the craftsmanship and creativity that defines his work. By presenting Carroll’s knitwear pieces as artworks on display, Anderson and Carroll invite viewers to engage with the materiality and conceptuality of the pieces in a gallery setting. This shift from fashion to art signifies a new chapter in Carroll’s career, as he seeks to explore the intersection of craft and artistic expression in a more abstract form.
Overall, the collaboration between Jonathan Anderson and Patrick Carroll at Milan Design Week reflects a deep exploration of the intersections between design, art, and fashion. Through Carroll’s unique knitwear pieces, the exhibition challenges traditional boundaries and invites viewers to contemplate the complex relationships between different creative disciplines. By pushing the limits of craftsmanship and creativity, Anderson and Carroll are creating a dialogue that expands our understanding of what constitutes design, art, and fashion in the contemporary world.
