Well, the night finally arrived.
On Tuesday 18th October 2011, I
finally debuted my fashion film in an installation conceived by myself and my stupendously talented stylist
Helen McGuckin. After almost nine months of work, "The Dionysian" was showcased as a multi-media installation as a private view for friends, crew and a host of media, fashion and film professionals.
The show was publicised on the amazing
VoltCafe, who we're thrilled will also be screening the film online very soon . . . So keep 'em peeled for that!
Taking over two floors in the renowned
Space Fiftyfour in the heart of Shoreditch, the night was a resounding - but nerve-wracking! - success.
As you walked in, the stark white ground floor space of the gallery served as a minimalistic installation dedicated to the film's aesthetic. The floor was criss-crossed by inky black lines that drew the eye to a cluster of four of our favourite stills from the film. Snapped by Australian fashion photographer
Patrick Schuttler, the images were a perfect editorial-style taster of what lay ahead in the film.
Below are some additional images from the shoot that weren't in the gallery but perfectly capture the mood of the piece . . .
Directly opposite the four hanging images was the fashion film's key prop - the bespoke (and deadly!) "Nail Chair" that nestled, throne-like, by an exposed fireplace.
Behind it was emblazoned the film's title writ large - rendered in black ink by the awesome artist and illustrator
Tom J Newell, who also designed the film's logo, flyer and gallery invites.
Along the length of the walls were hung two iconic garments from the film, namely
Rachel Freire's dramatic tape catsuit and
Ioannis Dimitrousis' stunning chain dress. It was so important for us to set the scene this way and allow people to absorb the detailing and artistry in the stills and couture and props before seeing everything in action in the film.
Sound carries, and the scene was set in the ground floor space by sweeping and unsettling music from below . . .
A black metal staircase led into the basement space of the gallery - where the film played loud and proud on a continuous loop. Projected across a long white wall and with its orchestral soundtrack booming out of huge speakers, it was quite a sight to behold. As a film-maker I can only dream of having people see my work as it should be exhibited - and I could not have been happier with this presentation of "The Dionysian".
Immersive and powerful and instantly engaging. After such a long time in development, it was incredible to see my dark little tale of seduction and transformation projected this way.
Overall, it was fantastic evening, and one that's already garnered great feedback from those that attended. We've also been approached by a separate gallery to host the installation on a longer basis - so watch this space. The story hasn't ended here for "The Dionysian" . . !
See the full press release below for more details . . .
"THE DIONYSIAN" / fashion film installation / STEPHEN LALLY / HELEN McGUCKIN
On Tuesday 18th October, Shoreditch's space fiftyfour plays host to a one-off installation from the collective talents of director and visual artist Stephen Lally and fashion stylist Helen McGuckin. It's a multi-media gallery event that fuses the worlds of fashion, film and art installation.
In a postmodern conceit that favours Stephen's visual style and Helen's styling, "The Dionysian" is a narrative film to music that showcases the work of a host of new design talent in fashion, along with a powerful, original orchestral score and sound design. It's a unique exhibition combining different disciplines and areas of expertise in one of East London’s premier galleries.
“The Dionysian” celebrates the hedonistic glamour of the 1980s New Wave scene, but thrusts it straight into the 21st century. Showcasing the work of emerging designers such as Rachel Freire, Shao Yen Chen and Ioannis Dimitrousis, the film’s a dark and delicious tale of one girl’s seduction by a monstrous family of Neo Romantic fashionistas – all controlled from afar by a mysterious, omnipotent Vamp . . .
"The Dionysian" exhibition encompasses two environments at space fiftyfour. The gallery's ground level displays illustrative photographs by the photographer Patrick Schüttler that explore the film's cast and styling in greater detail, whilst stylised wall graphics from renowned artist Tom J Newell swirl around the film's evocative "nail chair" and costumes - and give gallery patrons a further sense of being immersed in the environment of the film.
Meanwhile, the gallery's basement space exhibits "The Dionysian" fashion film, with its bespoke sound design and music permeating the entire gallery as the film plays out. Featuring the very best in upcoming design talent - from Sophie Condie to Marko Mitanovski - the gritty and cinematic world of "The Dionysian" has a haunting and dreamlike quality with a sinister, obsessional edge.
Not everything is what it seems . . .
Stephen Lally is a freelance director and visual artist who works in a hybrid form of video and photography that frequently addresses postmodern explorations of beauty, pop culture and fairy tale desire. With a background in fine art and fashion photography, he has crossed over into music videos and commercials for clients as diverse as Universal Records, E4 and Rimmel London. Stephen has always taken a cutting edge approach to realise iconic and often irreverent imagery - with a fashion-forward finish - in his work. "The Dionysian" heralds his first exhibition in London.
Helen McGuckin is a freelance fashion stylist who has spent the last few years honing her talents in editorials, catwalk shows and designer look-books. She has worked with respected publications such as Tank, Wallpaper* and Dazed & Confused, and has assisted a vast number of high-profile stylists - including Francesca Burns, Victoria Young, and Katie Shillingford. Utilising specific pieces from emerging designers in both literal and unexpected ways, she has infused "The Dionysian" project with a dark elegance that epitomises her vision as a stylist to be reckoned with. Her last exhibition was the much-lauded collaborative project entitled "The Chopped-Off Heads of Leviathan" at the Wayward Gallery in East London.
http://www.stephenlally.com
http://stephenlally.blogspot.com
