Overalls - Complex Document(s): a Never-ending Artistic Research Process

Abstract

I want to show that a pair of overalls can be a document in many senses, and thus demonstrate that the complementary relationship between materiality, sociality and conceptuality is a very complex relationship. I will use an artistic approach to show the complex relationship and make an exposition of verbal text and images, consisting of 4 parts: 1. Origin of overalls A short history of overalls - denim pants first with suspenders and later with bibs. They go back to the 18th century, were mass-produced by Levi Strauss and Lee and became popular work garment and later for leisure and fashion for both men and women. 2. "Broken in" overalls A document of use and often hard work, shown in faded denim. They can be used for generations, with overalls handed over from father to sons or daughters 3. Mending overalls A document of repairing overalls by mending and patching, documenting traditions for mending clothes 4. Overalls as wearable art A document of art shown by the visible mending and patches making overalls into pieces of art work 5. Document theory Overalls - a showcase of the complexity of the complementary relationship between materiality, sociality and conceptuality

Keywords

• overalls
• wearable art
• complex documents
• complementarity
• document theory