SHANGHAI: Sumi/Shuimo turned into fashion design print (Igor Dobranić Summer 2017 Collection) 2016

This fashion design print, by Alfred Freddy Krupa, for the Igor Dobranić Summer 2017 Collection, translates the gestural freedom of Sumi/Shuimo ink techniques into wearable art. The composition’s strength lies in its dynamic black marks against the fabric’s delicate texture, creating a striking visual rhythm. Looking closer, you can see how the stark black ink bleeds slightly into the pale fabric, echoing the unpredictability of ink on paper. There’s a beautiful tension between control and accident, where the artist seems to embrace the material’s inherent qualities. Notice how a cluster of marks near the shoulder seems to anchor the composition, like a bold statement amidst softer, more ephemeral strokes. Krupa’s work reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler, in the way she let paint soak into raw canvas. Like Frankenthaler, he creates a sense of depth and luminosity through the interplay of color and surface. Ultimately, this piece celebrates the joy of process and the beauty of imperfection.