Who needs a runway when you can have a garden party? Penelope Efthimiadis invited the audience into a picture of perfection – a staged garden party inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite painting Apple Blossoms by John Everett Millais. While runways can be impersonal and distant, Exhibit by P.E managed to find a steady balance between welcoming and professional.
We walk in to see the space set up with AstroTurf, wooden outdoor chairs, fruits, drinks and snacks. Drinks are served. Music bounces off the walls. The atmosphere is buzzing, anticipatory.
When the models walk into the space, the first thing we notice is how beautifully the collection melds with the set. Collection III is the third of a series of installments of a trans-seasonal nature. Textures, colours and patterns are matched and mismatched in a playful display of the work. With the use of predominantly paler colours, Penelope Efthimiadis has managed to capture the essence of springtime lightness – closely mirroring the painting Apple Blossoms. Conversely, the more striking pieces in the collection allowed for a sense of strength and structure. As we observe the photoshoot, we are invited to go behind the scenes without feeling like intruders.
Overall, it was a beautifully constructed world that left us itching for more. By the end, the audience was still buzzing – this time with delighted discussion and pleasant satisfaction.
Exhibit by P.E was presented as part of the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program’s Project Series 2015.
Photo Credit: Penelope Efthimiadis
