Exhibition: NOW gallery presents fashion designer Matty Bovan’s work

In a powerful and eccentric exploration of materiality, NOW gallery will be presenting fashion designer Matty Bovan’s work from until March 5.

Matty Bovan, 31, was taught to knit by his grandmother at age 11 and since graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2015 in fashion knitwear, he has won multiple awards, such as the 2021 International Woolmark Prize.

In September, visitors flocked to Milan fashion week where he made his debut with the backing of Dolce & Gabbana.

Curator Jemima Burrill said: “I’ve seen a lot of fantastic fashion designers and I realised that you don’t necessarily see who they are as creative people and it’s just nice to see what they can do with a space that’s just for them and seeing something unique.

“Generally fashion designers are just creating all of these extraordinary pieces for just a 10-minute show.”

Matty Bovan’s Ribbons will contain a seven-metre tall installation of a jumper, which Ms Burrill described as a “cathedral” structure. This structure will act as a portal to the vivacious and creative world of Matty Bovan, and visitors will have the chance to add ribbons onto it.

Ms Burrill said: “What’s really interesting about Matty is that he’s not really a designer, he’s an artist. He’s made these videos, and paintings and he really focuses on different media and brings them into his work and they all have a cohesive nature which just makes sense.”

Beyond its visual appeal, the installation touches on an important message.

Ms Burrill said: “Ribbons are frill, they’re the last thing you put on a garment and so they tend to be the afterthought or decoration.

“What Matty’s done with this exhibition is he’s made the ribbon the centre so it gets to have its own show. That’s a really lovely metaphor for right now in terms of giving people who may not be able to be centre stage should be centre stage.”

Pictured: Matty Bovan Picture: Matty Bovan studio