AR Vivienne Westwood’s Manifesto 2009

Vivienne Westwood

When I was invited to Vivienne Westwood’s Active Resistance Against Propaganda event, I did not really know what to expect. The venue was new to me as well and when I think of it backwards, the Tabernacle in Notting Hill was a totally appropriate location. Where could have been better than a T

theater when the main subject is to claim our choice of being more cultivated in order to be more human.

Culture as an echo to Art. As judges of Art we have a duty to constantly  improve our knowledge and understanding of the world. Art gives us the chance to be happy, to be responsible for our cleverness and therefore responsible for our deeds. Vivienne Westwood, that nobody needs to introduce as she is an icon far behond the Fashion World, claimed her faith in the human being but also her fears. We need to find the universal in ourselves in order to communicate and share. Creation is a spontaneous process that paradoxicaly requires technique: no invention for the sake of invention, as it needs to be understandable to be eventually recognised and to survive the test of time.

Fashion is an applied Art that underlines the fact that style cannot be bought or stolen, it has to come from the inside and brought out. As judges of trends and fashion creations, we get the look we deserve.

What is popular is also vulgar, the crowd follows nationalistic idolatry, loves non-stop distraction and believes in organised lying. Too many would like us to be foolish of a global bazaar that promote tolerance and awareness under the concept of “Universal Declaration” ( concept created by the Unesco).

I take with me this manifesto as a guide for future pratice, time to think is a real luxury today.

Vivienne Westwood has also shared with us her plans to run a television program following this Manifesto on how to live in harmony with Gaia ( Mother Earth in ancient Greece).

To find out more about the AR Against Propaganda Manifesto, please visit:  http://www.activeresistance.co.uk