Costume for Trinculo, designed by Keith Khan
Costume
1984 (made)
1984 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This costume is part of a group of costumes designed by Keith Khan for a production of The Tempest at Kings College Cambridge. They represent the earliest costumes designed by Khan in his archive and were created when he was 21. Describing these costumes, Khan observed that they reflect his general love of colour, materials and ‘folk forms’ (themes which recur throughout his work).
Keith Khan is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans a broad spectrum of performances, exhibitions and carnivals in Britain and abroad between the 1980s and 2010s.
His prolific career has included designing and making costumes and sets for processions (including the Notting Hill Carnival and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Commonwealth Parade) and for the stage (including the award-wining production Alladeen and the Millennium Dome opening ceremony and ‘Central Show’), to being appointed CEO of Rich Mix, an arts venue in East London, and Head of Culture for the 2012 London Olympics.
Born in Wimbledon to Trinidadian parents, Khan has played a vital role in broadening the cultural landscape of British art and performance by putting formerly marginalised voices and stories centre stage, reflecting the multiculturalism of modern Britain.
The archive (of which this costume forms a part) is a complete account of Khan’s artistic and career development, showcasing his breadth of experience across the arts at both a practising and managerial level. Charting his entire career and including work preceding his studies, the archive includes his drawings, computer-aided designs and collaged mood-boards for set and costume designs; photographs and press cuttings of productions; cuttings of interviews with, or articles about, Khan; letters, faxes and email correspondence showing the ideas process and development of his projects; and business papers, including funding applications and meeting minutes.
Keith Khan is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans a broad spectrum of performances, exhibitions and carnivals in Britain and abroad between the 1980s and 2010s.
His prolific career has included designing and making costumes and sets for processions (including the Notting Hill Carnival and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Commonwealth Parade) and for the stage (including the award-wining production Alladeen and the Millennium Dome opening ceremony and ‘Central Show’), to being appointed CEO of Rich Mix, an arts venue in East London, and Head of Culture for the 2012 London Olympics.
Born in Wimbledon to Trinidadian parents, Khan has played a vital role in broadening the cultural landscape of British art and performance by putting formerly marginalised voices and stories centre stage, reflecting the multiculturalism of modern Britain.
The archive (of which this costume forms a part) is a complete account of Khan’s artistic and career development, showcasing his breadth of experience across the arts at both a practising and managerial level. Charting his entire career and including work preceding his studies, the archive includes his drawings, computer-aided designs and collaged mood-boards for set and costume designs; photographs and press cuttings of productions; cuttings of interviews with, or articles about, Khan; letters, faxes and email correspondence showing the ideas process and development of his projects; and business papers, including funding applications and meeting minutes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Title | Costume for Trinculo, designed by Keith Khan (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cotton; Painting; wool braid |
| Brief description | Hand painted top and skirt, designed by Keith Khan for Trinculo in a production of The Tempest at Kings College Cambridge in 1984 |
| Physical description | Hand painted top and skirt, designed by Keith Khan for Trinculo in a production of The Tempest at Kings College Cambridge in 1984. S.43:1-2019 - Top Tunic formed from open-weave unbleached cotton/calico. The tunic has long sleeves and loosely follows the line of the body from shoulder to knee level, flaring out slightly at the softly pleated hem. The neckline has a soft low collar and extends into a deep ‘V’ (23cms deep) at the centre front. It has been decorated with blocks of yellow, pale green and pale orange. Further detailing has been added in thin lines of black paint. This included a series of human figures, their knees bent and their arms upraised. These figures are positioned around the circumference of the tunic and along the sleeves. Beneath the figures, at the proper left base of the tunic, the name ‘Trinculo’ has been written in capital letters. The tunic is not lined and there are no fastenings. S.43:2-2019 - Skirt Beige cotton skirt, it is very wide and hangs straight from the waist to the hem. This full skirt is gathered into a wide length of brown wool braid at the waistline, but it is otherwise very simple and relatively unstructured. The surface of the skirt is decorated with hand painted motifs in tones of yellow, green and pale red. Further detailing has been added with fine lines of black paint, shaped to create the impression of figures which appear to be swimming through water. The skirt is not lined. It is machine sewn. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Keith Khan |
| Summary | This costume is part of a group of costumes designed by Keith Khan for a production of The Tempest at Kings College Cambridge. They represent the earliest costumes designed by Khan in his archive and were created when he was 21. Describing these costumes, Khan observed that they reflect his general love of colour, materials and ‘folk forms’ (themes which recur throughout his work). Keith Khan is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans a broad spectrum of performances, exhibitions and carnivals in Britain and abroad between the 1980s and 2010s. His prolific career has included designing and making costumes and sets for processions (including the Notting Hill Carnival and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Commonwealth Parade) and for the stage (including the award-wining production Alladeen and the Millennium Dome opening ceremony and ‘Central Show’), to being appointed CEO of Rich Mix, an arts venue in East London, and Head of Culture for the 2012 London Olympics. Born in Wimbledon to Trinidadian parents, Khan has played a vital role in broadening the cultural landscape of British art and performance by putting formerly marginalised voices and stories centre stage, reflecting the multiculturalism of modern Britain. The archive (of which this costume forms a part) is a complete account of Khan’s artistic and career development, showcasing his breadth of experience across the arts at both a practising and managerial level. Charting his entire career and including work preceding his studies, the archive includes his drawings, computer-aided designs and collaged mood-boards for set and costume designs; photographs and press cuttings of productions; cuttings of interviews with, or articles about, Khan; letters, faxes and email correspondence showing the ideas process and development of his projects; and business papers, including funding applications and meeting minutes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.43:1 to 2-2019 |
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| Record created | June 3, 2019 |
| Record URL |
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