The Polar Music Prize 2010 is being awarded to Icelandic artist Björk. During the award ceremony the star wore a Bea Szenfeld garment. It´s a handmade piece from Szenfelds latest collection, “Sur la Plage”. The suit jacket is totally made out of three-dimensional paper sequins. This shimmering pinkmetallic garment is a part of a magnificent haute peppier collection. The inspiration for the “Sur la Plage” collection is sailor folklore, deadly poisonous puffer fishes and seductive sea nymphs. With artfully cut and folded paper Szenfeld has created 12 amazing and imaginative creations. This is not the first time Björk shows her interest in the Bea Szenfeld design. Earlier this year the artist lent a selection of garments from “Sur la Plage” collection for a photo shoot for the British magazine AnOther Magazine. A “haute papier” collection by Swedish fashion designer Bea Szenfeld. The new collection “Sur la Plage” is a continuation of Bea Szenfeld earlier paper projects “Paper Dolls” (exhibit earlier at Nordiska, Museum of cultural history in Sweden) and ”Whatever Forever” (exhibit earlier at Paris Fashion Week). ”Sur la Plage” contains 12 outfits, each and every one manufactured by hand and out of paper. In the hands of Bea Szenfeld the paper undergoes a complete metamorphosis. The compact cardboard is cut and fold into tiny architectural concoctions, which are assemble together by hand into incredible creations that leads your mind to Jules Vernes fictitious sea demons. Among the rolling waves and uninhabited islands appears also the mythological folklore of the seamen. It is a male dominated existence with water sprits and sea nymphs that fascinates and seduces the men and drags them into the deep seas and rivers. With this simple resources as paper Bea has created a beautiful and delicate collection of garments. Dreamlike textures and elaborately layered wisps, precise paper cuts and expressive forms. Everything is pleated, stuck, sewed, and glued by hand.
Are these garments wearable? No.
Washable? No.
Strangely exquisite? Yes!