Ffasiwn Exhibition with Bleak Fabulous, curated by Jukebox Academy at The Sustainable Studio, open for viewing till 31st Jan 2025
This exhibition marks the culmination of our collaboration with Bleak Fabulous. Since 2021, Bleak Fabulous and Jukebox Collective have collaborated to explore Welsh heritage in a contemporary context, encouraging a modern exploration of Welsh pride and identity.
Welsh national dress emerged in the nineteenth century, responding to a surge of interest in the increased use of the Welsh language and the desire to create a sartorial identity. It consists of a red woollen cloak, a paisley shawl, Pais a Betgwn, a petticoat-like skirt, Betgwn, a white classically woollen bedgown, and a tall black hat.
Charlotte James and Clémentine Schneidermann were particularly inspired by the Welsh Hat and used the piece of national iconography as the project's base. Collaborating with Welsh costume designer Ffian Jones, the Jukebox Academy students engaged in a hat creation workshop, modernising the traditional garb by imbuing it with their unique creative flares and identities.
Aside from hat-making, the programme included a variety of workshops in costume design, styling, photography, illustration, art direction, and image production, with students being immersed in the creative process from beginning to end. Participants learned new creative skills such as moodboarding, styling, customisation, and art direction, examining Welsh cultural iconography, and leveraging their heritage as a form of expression.
Schneidermann photographed the finished outfits in Butetown and Cardiff Bay, while James oversaw the creative direction. The images produced reflect the playful nature of the participants' exploration of self. The rich colour set against the eminent, supple greys and whites of Welsh homes encapsulates the essence of Bleak Fabulous, which can serve as a metaphor for the Welsh identity: vivacious, bold, and full of life against its post-industrialised past and emerging present.
The space will be open for free public viewing on
Tuesdays - Sundays, 10:30am — 5pm
(Holiday Hours might defer)
Limited copies of our ffasiwn zine will be available for purchase on site
-------
Bleak Fabulous
Bleak Fabulous is a photography-based creative studio that combines youth work, creative workshops, and documentary photography. It is led by French photographer Clementine Schneidermann and Welsh creative director Charlotte James.
They work with professional artists, communities, and youth workers to deliver workshops to young people living in underfunded areas. The workshops are centred on costume making, photography, set design, and creative writing. The workshops allow the young people to collaborate and be a part of the image-making process as well as introducing them to new creative skills.
Jukebox Collective
Jukebox is a community-rooted, youth-led collective nurturing tomorrow’s creative voices. Their Academy specialises in artist development through multi-disciplinary workshops, mentorship and creative industry insight sessions.
They have a track record of developing talent and producing creative work at the forefront of Welsh culture. Their expansive portfolio has seen them partner with global changemakers from Jamaica to West Africa through an intersection of youth culture, dance, music and more.
