London designer Charles Jeffrey opens an exhibition at NOW Gallery, Greenwich – here, he tells us about this show
- TextAnother Man
Charles Jeffrey is among the most talked-about emerging designers in London. Over the last few years, his shows have become one of the must-sees at London Men’s Fashion Week, praised for their creativity and celebration of queer hedonism. Ahead of his A/W18 show in January, Jeffrey has opened an exhibition at NOW Gallery, Greenwich – where Molly Goddard put on an interactive exhibition last year, with oversized tulle dresses hung from the ceiling. For his show, titled THE COME UP, Jeffrey has filled the space with sculptures based on his illustration work, crafted from PVC, fibreglass, chicken wire with papier-mache, and electrical tap. Here, the designer tells us about these intriguing creations, and the message he’s trying to communicate through them.
“This is a chance to bring my illustrations to life. They’re amplified onto a much larger scale using materials that I have never used before such as papier mache, fibre glass and chicken wire – so it’s full of energy and life, with an interactive element that you’ll have to come down and try to see! Inspiration is drawn from the LOVERBOY brand – and club night – to bring a visual representation into the imagination of a LOVERBOY. The aim, as with all things LOVERBOY, is to be a safe space for imagination to take centre stage and to allow people to have the freedom to express themselves and encourage their identity to be let loose...
The installation allows expression through the interactive element which I want to be an opportunity to allow for freedom of identity – the idea of celebrating yourself and your inner ago, that’s the aim. These sculptures are a celebration of queer hedonism and encompass my identity and those of the amazing people I have around me, as well as the influence those people have on me. I hope that the exhibition helps visitors to feel a sense of freedom, whatever it is they may be holding inside! Everyones deserves a voice, and everyone has a different way of expressing it – hopefully this gives a little push to do just that.”
