‘Dancing With Dreams’ is an immersive art piece integrating sculpture, performance, technology, fashion, film and music from multi-disciplinary visual artist, Claire Barrow and hosted by Galeria Melissa, Covent Garden.

Adhering to Melissa’s recycled ethos, Claire has created 5 sculptures from found materials, clay and acrylic which will be displayed in the main exhibition space. These sculptures are joined by digital projections of real people, performing to the sculptures as if the static sculptures were talking back. The film element of the exhibition is directed by Joseph Bird, featuring award winning actress Sameena Jabeen Ahmed who starred in the 2014 film ‘Catch Me Daddy’, dancer Harry Alexander of the Michael Clark Company, LGBT and social activist Michael Peacock and performance artist Amy Kingsmill. The musical score, commissioned by Claire is composed by Kenichi Iwasa of band Xaviers and Taigen Kawabe of band Bo Ningen. Taigen also provides vocals for the piece alongside singer Beatrice Brown whom both feature in the film performances too.

Both the sculptures and performers are wearing costumes designed by Claire and customised Melissa shoes. The 11 outfits, which feature Claire’s signature artworks, are embellished with pearls, feathers, ribbons and beads in muted pastels, white, black and silver tones.

The entrance area of Galeria Melissa will feature 13 single Melissa ‘She’ shoes from new the Autumn/Winter 2017 FLYGRL collection which have been customised by Claire. Hanging from the ceiling by ribbon designed by Claire, fans will be placed to create simulated wind to gently sway the shoes while the LED screens show the finer details of the performance film.

The concept of ‘Dancing With Dreams’ is addressing ideas society puts upon people, whether this be prejudices, romantic ideals, initial assumptions and stereotypes. The exhibition is about challenging these ideas and allows the audience to make their own assumptions based on what they are seeing in the performances and in the static sculptures. The performers are aware of what character they are playing; but the audience is not, leaving it up to them to make their own assumptions. The title refers directly to this; dreaming up ideas of someone with or without knowing them. The ‘dream’ reflects on the soft mood of the exhibition alongside the theatrical element of the performances, welcoming the audience into Claire’s imagination.

‘The Melissa team has really supported my creative concept for this installation and I’m thrilled to be able to display it in Galeria Melissa. I’ve always been a fan of Melissa shoes, how they look and smell, and also their ethos of keeping everything 100% recyclable, animal and waste free.

It’s an honor to be able to follow exhibitions from Gareth Pugh, Jeremy Scott and the latest installation from Vivienne Westwood. I’m also thrilled to be working with actors, musicians and dancers at this professional level.’