(HOUSTON, TX) March 17, 2022 – This summer, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) presents A Dressing the Future: The Ecofiction of Nicole Dextras, an exhibition that explores the exemplary craftsmanship of environmental artist Nicole Dextras’ set and costume designs from her dystopian film trilogy, A Dressing the Future (2016—present). Giving a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the artist’s process, the show features video excerpts; a selection of plant-based costumes; and ephemera that includes props, models, and other set components.
Inspired by the environmental art movement that emerged in the 1960s, Dextras shares a concern for the health of the planet and the environmental consequences of human behavior and the global economy. Her artistic practice, which incorporates her meticulous use of materials, encourages sustainable decision-making on an individual level, as well as within the fashion and film industries.
Presenting three challenging futures affected by fire, desertification, and flooding, respectively, Dextras’ narratives counter the reductive post-apocalyptic films of Hollywood, focusing on the dignity and strength of the survivor. When faced with material shortages, her protagonists provide a hopeful glimpse into the resourcefulness of future creatives by working in tandem with other living species to survive their dystopian surroundings.
