If you already used Google this morning, you've probably noticed that today’s logotype is dedicated to the 110th birth anniversary of Hungarian-born electrical engineer Dennis Gabor, the winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Physics for his invention of holography and famous for his researches on high-speed oscilloscopes, communication theory, physical optics and television.
Gabor carried out his first experiments in holography – at that time called "wavefront reconstruction" – in 1948.
The engineer continued experimenting further in this field for years: the first respectable results were achieved in the early 50s, but the goal was still far away.
Twenty years later, electron and optical holography finally became successful also thanks to the introduction of the laser that amplifies the intensity of light waves.
Holographic techniques were often applied in fashion to create futuristic effects on clothes and accessories (though the very first experiments with these techniques were dubiously tacky...).
The most amazing application of holography in fashion remains the vision conjured up by video maker Baillie Walsh during Alexander McQueen’s Autumn-Winter 2006-07 catwalk show.
As the catwalk ended (check out Style.com video embedded at the end of this post, around 5:48), lights dimmed and a holographic twisting cloud of smoke generated inside a glass pyramid turned into a dreamy image of model Kate Moss wrapped up in an ethereal and billowing dress.
The spirit-like vision disappeared again after a short while, poetically vanishing in the darkness.
The effect was probably one of the most moving ever seen on a runway.
It was indeed the sort of spectacle in front of which you suddenly find yourself crying even though you didn’t mean it and it's still one of the best examples of where the science and fashion partnership can lead us.
In January 2007 Spanish motion and interactive studio Dvein recreated a holographic setting for Diesel's Spring/Summer 2008 preview show at Florence's Pitti, but in this case, while the level of technology was rather high, the emotional involvement triggered by McQueen's catwalk show wasn't replicated.
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\(^o^)/~
Posted by: hh | June 08, 2010 at 02:15 PM