The SHIVAN & NARRESH Hilma Series embarks upon a spiritual & divine voyage as it celebrates abstract art of legendary Swedish artist Hilma Af Klint. A true abstract artist from the 19th century, ahead of her time, Af Klint explored the complexity of spirituality & connected with the universe to create a body of work that would serve as icons of modern art.
The Series follows the brand’s signature painterly printmaking techniques, this time mastering watercolors to wax colors to create elements & motifs that would eventually be juxtaposed together to create 5 scintillating prints. Starting with the verdant color tones of cloud blues & canary yellows of the PRIMORDI to the vibrant orange hues with flashing elements of the YOUNAIL and the soft, demure blush colors & curvilinear line works of the FLORAIN - the print stories dive deep into the color stream of Af Klint’s works. The Series takes a deeper & darker route with the cobalt mystery with calligraphy explored with contrasting symbols of the SPRINGLIE and finally, ending with a cosmic celebration of the universe in the obsidian blacks of MYSTERIQUE.
Texturally, the Series features fabrics from soft chiffons; micro pleated for tactility, to organza for sheer sensuality to denims interplayed with chord embroideries and the brand’s unique language of handmade knits explored in a variety of ready to wear silhouettes. There is a sense of artisanal couture added to surfaces through the medium of appliqué in motifs of varied sizes & glass metallic beads and embroidered cut work rendered with soft silk threads as well as chords. Recurring features like embellished floral motifs as a bustier or sprinkled across the surface and swirls of chords, play reminders of Af Klint’s spirited inspiration. The Series stands together with a womenswear line up of sculptural swimwear, draped gowns with statement bust lines, day dresses & playsuits in fine cottons & knitted ensembles with mélanges in silk, cottons & lurex yarns. The menswear stays true to the resort language with coordinate sets that play print & texture smartly to knits & jacquards in separates and finally, a tribute to structure with pantsuits.
The Series comes together as a pure fantastical play of colors & textures for springtime dreams in shapes, silhouettes with prints that make the mind wonder & ponder over an inspiration that transcended human imagination.
‘Discovering Hilma’s works at the Tate Modern during our London trip last summer was a pure joy - her works captured our attention deeply. The play of colors & forms for the time was so ahead that it simply opened a new door of mysterious inspirations for print making’ – Narresh Kukreja, Founder & Creative Director, SHIVAN & NARRESH.
‘Hilma’s works stand true to a world of modern art that celebrates motifs, symbolism & diagrams that came to life with abstraction on the artist’s canvas. A similar approach was adopted at our ateliers to create this Series where a copious amount of textural elements & motifs were created and decorated across ensembles that celebrate mystical fantasies!’ - Shivan Bhatiya, Founder & Head Designer, SHIVAN & NARRESH.
Words Platform Desk
Date 03.04.2024