Costume for a Buffoon's Wife 

Editor: This exuberant textile piece is *Costume for a Buffoon's Wife*, created with mixed media, most likely, by Mikhail Larionov. It’s wild, vibrant…a bit chaotic! All the different colours and textures, make you think it was never worn. It looks like decorative art now, although I believe it may have been worn. What story does this costume tell, especially within the artistic context of its time? Curator: It is likely it was made for stage, not a simple stroll, I believe. Considering Larionov's involvement with the Russian avant-garde, we can see it challenging the norms. Costumes are public statements, particularly during revolutionary periods. He explores new possibilities for the role of the decorative in art. It suggests that what he aimed to showcase here were his dreams and goals for societal reform through public visual engagement. What do you think about how he plays with "high" and "low" art in this context? Editor: So, the bright colours and bold shapes—the "decorative"—aren't just ornamentation, but actually a challenge to elitist art world values? The museum setting changes the dynamics? Curator: Precisely! This piece raises interesting questions about the interplay between artistic creation, performance, and the museum space itself. Costume design becomes high art. How do we interpret performance when its static and kept in silence, without movement or sound? Editor: The context really shifts our understanding of the artwork; its cultural message comes alive. Curator: Absolutely, by examining the social history, the intended role and its exhibition, we reveal its historical significance and present-day resonances. Editor: It gives one much to consider: The value of this as a design piece and cultural symbolism during Larionov's career trajectory. Thank you.