Movement met ritual at the V&A last week as London-based designer and trained dancer Saul Nash presented a specially commissioned performance for the museum’s Fashion in Motion series.
Staged inside the Raphael Court in South Kensington and surrounded by the historic Raphael cartoons dating back to 1516, the performance transformed the gallery into a space of sanctuary and collective movement.
Known for designing garments shaped by breathability and kinetic freedom, Nash collaborated with eight dancers (many longtime collaborators) to bring his philosophy of motion to life. Disguised among the audience before taking the stage, the performers moved in unison to a live sound installation by Azekel, creating a ritualistic atmosphere that echoed themes of spirituality, metamorphosis and the evolving modern man.
The piece was performed three times throughout the day and was open to the public as part of the V&A’s ongoing Fashion in Motion programme.
