CUBISM

Asian and African regions incorporate traditional artistic elements into their clothing, directly influencing modern and abstract art seen today.

Cubism is a widely recognizable genre, characterized by sharp, flat shapes, forming optical illusions and thought-provoking works (Randall, 2019).

Modern art, particularly Cubism, is known to take influence from the style of African art. Icon Pablo Picasso was one of many to turn to African traditional art as inspiration for his personal work. The African mask sparked Picasso’s imagination, serving as a vessel of cultural art and sculpting handwork, an indelible part of authentic, functional African dress. This wearable art impacted Cubism through its intricate geometric lines and shapes visible in African dress patterns (Sanmiguel, 2020).

An intersectional pipeline of cultural traditions from antiquity to novelty

The historic prints and imagery of Asian art and fashion gave rise to the further establishment of modern art. Traditional Chinese artwork reflects societal desires and values, such as luck, good harvest, and peacefulness through the use of allegorical symbols. Historically, these Chinese patterns, in both artistic works and clothing, involved brightly-colored and distinguishably-structured elements like dragons, birds, and blossoming tree vines. In early Chinese art, women were depicted in traditional, customary clothing featuring the dramatic tunics, stiff collars, and exceptionally wide sleeves illustrated in Chinese artwork (Lai, 2018). Guo Pei, a famous haute couture designer from Beijing, used Chinese artistry in contemporary clothing, most notably seen in the intricately-embroidered yellow cape worn by Rihanna at the 2015 “China: Through the Looking Glass” Met Gala

(Tashjian, 2015). Due to the detailing and artistry poured into Guo Pei’s couture work, many of her pieces are now on display in museums beyond both ancient and modern Chinese art spaces (Law, 2022).

East Asian religions like Zen Buddhism demonstrate significant influence on modern art and fashion. Zen's emphasis on simplicity, stillness, and mindfulness inspired many designers to build collections reflecting these values. Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, known for his minimalist aesthetic, utilizes Zen concepts and negative space (Bannerman, 2018). His designs often feature simple silhouettes and neutral colors, evoking a sense of calmness and serenity (Mears, n.d.). Comparatively, Japanese designer Issey Miyake’s work reflects an influence of the Zen philosophy of wabi-sabi, which emphasizes the beauty of imperfection and transience (Laryea, 2022). Often incorporating natural materials and textures, his designs are never devoid of pleats, generating a sense of movement and flow in his collections (Suliman & Inuma, 2022). As the runway perpetually references and reinvents apparel from various time periods and continents, so too does visual art deftly merge historicity into modernity. The history of modern art is vital to understanding its cultural influences and impacts, regardless of the medium. Contextualizing artistic development over time emphasizes the longevity of cultural traditions and expressions. Long-standing customs linger in the fabric of today's garments, always alluding in both ideals and imagery to an intersectional pipeline of cultural traditions from antiquity to novelty.