This unique project brought together the worlds of fashion and dance, showcasing the interplay between garments, choreography, and sets to represent bodies, movements, and surroundings. “I am a designer and also a dancer,” says Yinglun Zhang, “and I have always had a wish to integrate dance and fashion together.” She believes that any form of art is interconnected. Her extreme emphasis on the organic texture of dancers’ limbs and muscles contrasts with the strength and unlimited potential that bodies can achieve, reminding people to take a step back and focus on the body as the essence of fashion.
“I am fascinated by the muscular lines of dancers,” says Yinglun, “which are shaped through repetitive practice day after day.” These lines symbolize strength, neutrality, the harmony between rigidity and softness, as well as controlled tension and relaxation. Blurring the boundaries between different forms of artistic expression, Yinglun sought to fuse the stage, dance, and garments, evoking a powerful life force and conveying multiple symbolic meanings. This time, she documented the performance in the form of a film, inviting viewers to observe the clothing, dance, and stage, emphasizing that the language of the body transcends gender, race, age, or background, speaking only to the resonance between people and the pursuit of faith and life.
The inspiration for 22’ came from Tao Dance Theater’s stage work <2>, which featured an extremely cold stage and fluid movements, representing two contrasting extremes of ice and water. Yinglun conducted an experiment involving ice blocks placed on a smooth marble surface. As the ice blocks melted and turned into water, they slowly started to move on their own. By pouring water and adding more ice blocks to disturb and observe their movements and positions, each disturbance elicited a different response from the ice blocks, much like the connection between people. This process ultimately led to the melting and merging of the ice blocks, symbolizing the strong connection and resonance between people that require no excessive words.
The garments designed by Yinglun showcased in the film were also inspired by modern dancers. These dancers often layer their warm-up attire with up to four layers. When the last layer becomes soaked with sweat, the warm-up is complete. Over time, the fabric fades due to the acidity present in sweat and the repetitive process of sweating, washing, and drying. The parts of the clothing that come into direct contact with the body remain soft and elastic. As the body moves, the clothes move, creating natural wrinkles that become elements of Yinglun’s work.
Through 22′, Yinglun Zhang explored the essence of garments and showcased her design system. She revealed, “It consists of three aspects – the essence, the movement, and the performance of clothing. The essence is the body, and the garment flows with the body, which creates movements. The movements become the performance, exploring improvisation, consciousness, and the philosophy of presence.”
22’
Director: Yi Xiong @xylooooon.
Creative Director: Yinglun Zhang @yinglunkkzhang.
Producer: Joyce Yueyi Xing @xingjojo.
Osmanthus Studios @osmanthus_studios.
Assistant Director: Yi Lu @lyesn_.
Director of Photography: Bruce Wang @bruce_wang_lee.
Production Designer: Vivienne Liu @vivienneliudesign.
Choreographer: Can Wang @can_w_.
Stylist: Yi Wu @youiouiy.
Accessory Collaborator: Andree Kong @andree_archive.
Hair stylist: Shin Arima @shinarima.
Assistant Hair Stylist: Rika Shimojo @rikaringjiji.
Makeup Artist: Muystudio @yaoyao_muy; Joanna @xhd123abc; and Maggie.
Music Composer: Chamberlain Zhang @chamberlainz.
Editor: Ke Liu @metallic.babylon.Talents: Emily Xing @_emily.xing_; Marie Rose Baramo @marierosebaramo;
Lindsey Miller @lindseylmill; Savannah Jade Dobbs @savannahjadedobbs;
Vanessa Martínez de Baños @doubletakedanceco.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
