You could say that if you’ve seen one Cirque du Soleil flying acrobat, you’ve seen them all. But it’s not just about variations of the same theme of contorting and hurling in mid-air. It’s about the total experience, clichéd as it may sound.
Caught Varekai earlier in its last weekend run in Manila. Felt proud to be Pinoy! The world-famous Québécois big top has finally been pitched in Manila, even if there were vendors of balut and kwek-kwek nearby. The best things about Varekai was the finale, and the costumes by one of the greatest art directors in history, Eiko Ishioka.
It’s an explosion of art and color in Lycra! Nothing was compromised in the execution. All the performers had whimsical things sticking out of tights, but they were all perfectly mobile. I especially liked how Ishioka put padding all over the 3 young boys who were twirling ropes with metal cups. They were tiny yet muscular.
The work of this true visionary transcends boundaries and conventions. The woman is wild! She usually blends the Gothic and Victorian with Asian, usually Japanese. Her work has invaded all sorts of medium –-
Graphic design:
Advertising:
Stage:
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| Spider-Man Musical |
Album Covers:
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| Miles Davis' Tutu |
Film:
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| The Cell (2000) |
In my opinion, the biggest achievement in film costume design belongs to Ishioka and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), for which she won an Oscar.
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