Charles LeDray, MENS SUITS
(Photo: ICA, Boston)
There is a little-known Grimm’s fairy tale that is not so grim: A down-on-his-luck cobbler discovers a pair of elves have been making delicate shoes for his shop in the dead of night. To show his gratitude, the cobbler creates, and leaves out, two outfits for the little men, complete with hats and shoes of their own. The elves are overjoyed to discover the gift, and works even harder to make shoes for the kind cobbler…
Keebler elves, start dieting!
The pieces from LeDray’s “Men’s Suits” seems like a modern extension of this classic tale. Only this time, the cobbler is an artist, and his elves are quite fashionable – aha! inspiration!
The initial exhibition location for “Men’s Suits” was a London fire brigade house. The silence, and the open space, coupled with the minute size of the installations make the visitors feel as if they are truly entering another world – Gulliver amongst a crowd of fashion-conscious Lilliputians.
At the current ICA Boston exhibition, guests are also treated to the premier of LeDray’s latest handiwork – “Throwing Shadows,” a collection of over 3000 handmade black porcelain vessels, all under two inches in size. A perfect companion to the men’s wear collection, and another example of LeDray’s meticulousness in minute craftsmanship.
Here’s to an impressive offering made at the altar of elfin muses.
The Charles LeDray’s workworkworkworkwork is available for viewing in the West Gallery of the ICA Boston, from July 16 to October 17.
