MASTER OF DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, SHAH ALAM
AMT710: ISSUES IN CONTEMPORART ART
ASSIGNMENT 1:
SURREALISM AND FASHION IN MOVEMENT OF CREATIVITY
MUHAMMAD IQMAL BIN ROSLAN
2023343371
CAAD704FT/01
To be submitted:
DR. MOHD FUAD MD ARIF
As an imaginative person, I am fascinated by my fantasies and dreams. Art is a form of
creative expression where there is no limit to creating such things although sometimes it
contradicts personal beliefs, religion and culture. Art is also an expression that transports the
viewers to another dimension while at the same time stimulating an innovative way to view the
world or society around us. Art is a universal language that allows the audience to interpret it in
any way they see because it is difficult to see and appreciate anything lovely in the absence of art.
The arts lend appeal and charm to anything we look at because they are all over the place. It is a
form of therapy for people who are bored, despondent or feel they have no purpose in life. It
constantly evolves and changes to illustrate feelings, pain, trauma, etc. I am into drawing and
illustrating whenever I get stressed or feel empty in my mind. Just a random sketch makes me
happy because it is like I am drawing my imagination or dreams. I am convinced that art enriches
our minds and souls while also allowing us to express ourselves creatively. It is a skill that applies
to music, painting, poetry, fashion, dance, and more. For example, I consider good music an art
piece depending on my daily mood because listening to my favourite songs helps me with my
studies and improves my way of thinking since the melody and essence of the songs can stimulate
my brain.
In addition, art is a place to critique certain events that may have occurred in the past
whether directly or indirectly yet can be considered as a form of sarcasm. Art can also be used as
a political tool. It has been used throughout history by both rebels and those who manufactured
propaganda to show the world their objectives which can range from wanting to take over the
globe to disrupting current regimes. In contemporary visual art, one such image is Fahmi Reza's
representation of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak as a clown. The artwork resonated
deeply with the seething resentment among Malaysians. The painted huge red lips, together with
that awful, almost zombie-like grin, elicited a deep sense of betrayal and breach of trust. In my
religion, God’s creation or nature is also considered art because human beings are often inspired
by nature which throughout history has been stylized and turned into something new from time to
time. God's creation is the only one that is perfect and art is not perfect or revolves around it
because He is The Creator “Khaaliq.” According to Frank Lloyd Wright, "art" is the discovery and
development of basic principles of nature into beautiful forms corresponding to human use. Thus,
art and artists rely on one another to contribute values to society since they have infinite definitions
as well as instances.
In this context, I find the surrealism art movement to be the closest to my personality, life
and mannerisms constantly living in my own “planet” Surrealism is a visual art movement that
emphasizes the elements of fantasy, metaphysical atmosphere, dreamlike imagery, a distortion of
reality with contradictory elements, shocking, mysterious creatures and fantastical forms derived
from everyday objects, the use of the visual form to express and translate the unconscious and
experimental techniques such as collage, doodling etc. Surrealist works are characterized by
unexpected, unsettling coincidences and ridiculous ideas. Salvador Dali, for example was
recognized for his outrageous works and public presence which helped him stand out from the
other surrealists. In 1931, he created "The Persistence of Memory," which became one of his most
famous masterpieces.
"The difference between me and the surrealists is that I am a surrealist."
– Salvador Dali
Figure 1: The Persistence of Memory (1931).
As a fashion graduate myself, I agree that the Surrealism art movement has affected the
fashion world significantly. Most famous fashion designers use it as a creative mechanism in their
works. The concept of these three combinations is about the expression being revived and beyond
the style we see today. Avant Garde is to be controversial ideology that brings attitude and eye-
catching to the society. Surrealism’s and Avant Garde’s great drama found a natural home in
fashion. Surrealism in fashion is a place for protest and rebellion against pop culture too. The
Avant-garde movement in art set out to constantly redefine itself. However, the movement's
constant discarding tends to be self-destructive. I will implement the same concept as the
Surrealism art movement and Avant Garde ideology in my creations considering it my creative
mechanism in the design process because I can have freedom and fun illustrating my emotion,
personality, and experience onto a piece of dress with extravagance morphology such as dramatic
shapes, fabrics and the use of a deconstructed silhouette. This kind of approach will leave the
audience in confusion, delusion, forcing them to think outside the box about how to interpret my
works.
Figure 2: Alexander Mcqueen “ Horn of Plenty” A/W (2009).
To come to this point, we can conclude that art and fashion are the important tools for
expressing concerns and love for the world we occupy. To sum it up, I believe that creativity has
allowed us to see a brighter future with new inventions and intrigue into areas of study that would
have once been seen as mystical or unknown. Art is an open door into realms of thought and
enjoyment that might not have surfaced otherwise. Art will stay relevant until the end of time along
with the development of era. The element and principle of art. A concept of art with multiple
components that interlock in an organised manner, or an extensive number of concepts that form
a unity because one is at the core and the others rely asymmetrically on it. Art definitions provide
ontological authenticity and respectability to social phenomena that should be subjected to more
rigorous social critique and transformation.
