Condom Evening Wear

Last Sunday I checked out, Dress Up Against AIDS:
Condom Couture by Adriana Bertini at UCLA's Fowler Museum.

"Dress Up Against AIDS features fourteen magnificent garments designed and produced by Brazilian artist Adriana Bertini, made entirely of condoms rejected by industry quality tests. By appropriating an object of protection and using it to create works of vibrant and original style, color, and texture, Bertini seeks to raise awareness of and inspire the use of condoms, the critical vehicle for preventing AIDS. These colorful, sensual clothes, including ornate evening dresses, vivid skirts and tops, and elegant suits, demystify and destigmatize condoms and “refashion” them as objects associated with pleasure."

Yes, the condoms are out of the package, some are melted to make sheet like pieces of plastic fabric, some are sewn together, some are rolled up and some are unraveled (I think those are the correct terms). I can picture some avant garde socially conscious celebrity walking the red carpet in one of the gowns. There was a fishbowl of complimentary condoms in a small seating area off to the side of the exhibit but when I was there you would have had to reach between to elderly women to grab a prophylactic. The exhibit just closed but you can take the photo tour via the Fowler's website.

Unfortunately, the main exhibit that I wanted to see, Art of Being Tuareg: Sahara Nomads in a Modern World, had moved on.

For next time:

There is never an admission charge to the Fowler. To avoid the $8 parking garage fee, park up the street in a metered lot. Be sure to check out the open air courtyard and the grassy area just outside the museum.






Not a problem.


From the mask exhibit in the Fowler in Focus gallery.