I visited the “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” exhibition at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion and Film, and you need to visit as soon as possible.
Carter is a celebrated costume director who has designed for “Selma,” “Do the Right Thing” and most notably “Black Panther.” She also won an Academy Award for her costume design for “Black Panther.” According to the exhibition description, “Carter’s costume designs enable actors to fully immerse themselves in the roles of their lifetimes, transforming Oprah Winfrey into voting rights activist Annie Lee Cooper, Denzel Washington into Malcolm X, and Chadwick Boseman into the King of Wakanda.” Her pedigree is unparalleled, and she has truly changed the landscape of costume design.
The exhibition was set up in a wonderful way, highlighting all the top moments from her career. She had her different costumes from different movies placed on black pedestals with the movie name inscribed. The lighting was very moody and perfectly complimented all the pieces. The concept of “Afrofuturism” really came through because it honestly felt like I was transported to another world. The costumes were absolutely splendid in color and texture, and it truly felt like each of them had a life of their own.
I thought the entire exhibition was so enjoyable, and I absolutely loved it. I am a huge fan of “Black Panther,” so seeing those costumes up close was so special for me. I have always admired the artistry that was present in the costumes, and seeing them up close only solidified that opinion. When I first watch “Black Panther,” all I did was look at the costumes and wonder how they were made. I got goosebumps and butterflies when I saw the Black Panther’s suit, and it was made especially more special as Chadwick Boseman recently passed away.
This exhibition was special to me because it showed me how to best design pieces for a specific movie’s aesthetic. As a stylist or costume director, I need to understand what that movie wants and what that character needs to properly convey the story. All the clothing pieces showed how much research went into each of the pieces to create the whole story. One of my biggest pet peeves while watching movies is when it looks like the clothes are wearing the characters and not the other way around. All of Carter’s costumes were absolutely perfect for their respective characters, and it felt like those costumes were meant to be in those movies.
Please go visit this exhibition as soon as possible because it is not an exhibition you want to miss. Make sure to get close to the costumes and look at the amount of detail in each piece. For additional information on the exhibition and how to view it, visit the SCAD FASH website.
