Robyn West’s practice spans a period of four decades, exploring the ramifications of the fashion industry and vanity sizing as part of an ongoing cultural investigation. As a way of combatting the negative ramifications of a size-zero obsessed culture – with unrealistic expectations for women in particular – West learnt dressmaking in her teens as a necessity. This experience is evident in her recent explorations of the human body. Her research has included looking into the history of clothing sizes, the classifications of body shapes and the idealisation of the female form. West has produced a series of experiments with texture, shape and line, finding liberation in the process itself. She has re-interpreted the traditional practice of dressmaking, employing new materials and processes to re-write history and offer a new perspective on the ways in which we clothe, adorn and present ourselves to the world.
Artist Interview
