Collection Online
Medium
screenprinted cotton
Measurements
195.0 cm (centre back) 45.0 cm (waist, flat)
Place/s of Execution
Melbourne, Victoria
Inscription
label, centre back neckline, printed in black on white cotton: Sara Thorn (design comprising two doric columns and a winged paint palette)
Accession Number
1996.587
Department
Australian Fashion and Textiles
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Donna Wheeler, 1996
Gallery location
Not on display
Physical description
The Itchy back dress is in a medium-weight pink cotton, hand screen printed in black and grey. The textile design called flying phallus consists of alternating rows of cross hatched lines, winged hearts, winged female bust forms, winged paint palettes and winged phallus. The sack-style dress has a two tiered, box pouched centre back panel, with a central pleat at the top and a plain front section. The side panels extend beyond the natural line of the dress and are worn wrapped around the waist, secured with long ties. The hem length of the front and left and right back panels extend 10cm below that of the centre back panel. The dress has loose three-quarter length sleeves cut to a point just below the shoulder line and fastened at the centre back with three small buttons.