Issey Miyake Rare Breastplate, Autumn-Winter 1980-81

Dimensions:

To view a Grace Jones wearing an identical version, click here.

To view her wearing a blue version, click here.

All measurements are approximate.

Arguably one of Issey Miyake’s most coveted creations, this well-documented breastplate was a favorite of Grace Jones, who is photographed on numerous occasions wearing different colors of this design. A wearable sculpture, this piece brilliantly merges the world’s of fashion, contemporary and performance art. The finale of his A/W 1980-81 collection, the breastplate was also the focal point of Miyake’s ’Bodyworks’ exhibition, which toured internationally from 1983-85. Moulded from a woman’s torso, the concept subverts the idea of clothing to be used as covering of the body, instead creating a surreal second-skin for the wearer. Miyake presented this piece as wearable art - in some instances worn on a live model, in others, mounted on a gallery wall as sculpture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a version within their collection, accession no. 2015.61. It is exceptionally rare to find an example still with it’s original sticker.