Friday, July 04, 2008 Two arts By Clint Holton P. Potestas
To give birth to novel ideas was all he ever aimed for. But along the way, he has discovered an approach in merging two different elements of visual arts: painting and fashion.
It’s hitting two birds with one stone, all right.
For Harvey Cenit, fashion is art because it is an extension of one’s creativity.
Observing from art’s wide influence, he surmises there is a possibility that style can gather a crowd that would then create a culture.
“I want to combine visual arts (i.e. painting) and fashion. It differs in the execution. Usually, I put meanings into it and not just a detail on a dress. And as much as possible, I want it to be unique and fresh.
Fashion is not just a glamorous world. It is not just about dressing up high-class people. Fashion is for all of us because I believe in the power of fashion—it could bring people together because it is actually a culture,” Cenit explains.
As a graduate of Fine Arts, he strongly draws inspiration from anything that has social relevance. This, he believes, could enrich another system of the industry: a contribution to social awareness.
He earned his degree at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Cebu Campus.
Cenit’s recent collection seemingly speaks in behalf of the Filipino women. Dresses are detailed with hand-painted orchids as his own interpretation of a true Filipina.
“It (orchid) tells of the Filipina’s poise and elegance, just as she was taught to be after the country’s colonization by the Spaniards. The “stiffness of this flower, however, still reminds us of the strong-willed, outspoken and independent woman,” the 21-year-old designer describes.
“I guess the orchid flower is a gay flower because, of all the flowers I know, this is the only flower that butterflies are not attracted to. Maybe, (it is) because dili siya kailangan og (or it doesn’t need) pollination. It does not contain pollen grains, which are very important steps in the reproduction of seed plants. So meaning, it doesn’t reproduce,” he continues, sharing a personal humor.
Phthalo green (closely similar to bottle green), aqua blue, fuchsia, and earth tones, which he utilizes, are foreseen as the color trends in the coming months (elaboration is expected, too). He uses pastel colors for the hand-painted details to brighten up the solid appeal of the construction.
Fabrics such as duchess, charmeuse, and taffeta have achieved the classic execution of volume and fluidity. Or, as most fashion experts say, it is how the fabric molds into shapes and structures.
And though Cenit experiments on irregular cuts, he simplifies his theme with, according to him, “sexy yet conservative” outfits.
“I guess women should be respected, loved and certainly cared for—not as sex objects. No offense (meant) to those who do (wear) sexy outfits, I totally admire them because after all, it’s a matter of choice. But as much as possible, I want it to be innovative and experimental.”
Harvey Cenit laid down all his cards to pursue his passion: to create a style that conveys a social outcry, at the same time, increases the visual appetite. And his fashion, no matter how mundane it is for others, would revere the principle of self-expression.
