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Costume by Keith Khan thumbnail 2
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This object consists of 4 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Costume by Keith Khan

Costume
1988 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Four-part costume in tones of blue and black, consisting of a top, trousers, decorative head piece and ‘under’ trousers, designed for a stilt walker, made and worn by Keith Khan, created for the Harris Museum, Preston, and also used in the Preston carnival, 1988.

When asked about the costumes, Keith Khan said: 'The stilt costumes are unique with panels of hand crafted with hand drawn quilted panels. These were based on Trinidadian folkloric characters of the jab jab, or devil. (Stilt walkers play a key role in carnivals through Trinidad).’ He noted that ‘The headpieces were supported on a pole and A frame.'

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 4 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Costume
  • Top
  • Costume
  • Skirt
  • Costume
  • Headdress
  • Costume
  • Trousers
TitleCostume by Keith Khan (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Applique; Sewing; Weaving; Pleating; Silk; Lame; Metal; Cotton; Sequins
Brief description
Four-part costume consisting of a top, decorative trousers, elaborate head piece, and plain ‘under’ trousers, for a stilt walker, designed and made by Keith Khan, 1988
Physical description
Four-part costume consisting of a top, decorative trousers, elaborate head piece, and plain ‘under’ trousers, for a stilt walker.

S.35:1-2019 - Top

Black, long-sleeved, top, embellished with sequins and panels of gold/blue lamé. The body of the top is formed from black cotton and have been extended beyond the natural length of the arm. Quilted panels of pale blue lame, faced with gold lame, have been used to create a tiered peplum style skirt at the rear of the top. Six curved panels of the same lamé (3 on each arm) have been used to decorate the sleeves. These panels are embellished with decorative top stitching in tones of pink and pale blue. The body of the top has a high upright collar formed from ribbed knitted acrylic (?). It fastens at the centre front with a vertical row of 11 buttons. These are positioned along a central panel of deep blue silk.

The top is not lined.

S.35:2-2019 - Trousers

A pair of long trousers created for a stilt walker and extended to accommodate stilts. The trousers have a black cotton ground. They fit closely at the high waist and flare out from the knee. The top part of the trousers is plain, but detailing has been added to the base of each leg using spirals of metallic blue ribbon. Curved floating panels of lightweight turquoise fabric (bordered with metallic ribbon at the top and bottom edge) run from the lower thigh to the base of the trousers.

The trousers are not lined. They fasten at the waist with a 24cm zip and a further hook and bar fastening at the centre front waist. The waist band is flat at the front, with lengths of elastic set into the centre back.

S.35:3-2019 - Headdress

Elaborate headdress in tones of blue, silver and gold. The headdress is formed from panels of contrasting fabric in tones of blue, black and purple. It has a very tall, high crown, narrowing into a soft point at the top. This upper section is formed from a quilted royal blue silk and is decorated with top stitching. Two floating panels, formed from quilted blue silk (matching the fabric used for the crown and faced with blue lamé), hang down from each side of this upper section. They are decorated with top stitching, shaped to form a sun shaped motif.

These floating panels rest on a wider panel of black cotton, which frames a central panel of lightweight deep blue/purple fabric. Whilst the black cotton panel is plain, the blue panel is embellished with stylised motifs, positioned to create a face, and embellished with blue and silver sequins. Two long narrow strands of royal blue velvet hang down from either side of the base of this central blue panel.

Two further hanging panels are suspended from the base of the crown and the base of the rear, black cotton brim. These are covered with lines shining black sequins.

The interior of the headdress is not lined.

S.35:4-2019 - 'Under' Trousers

Pair of plain black cotton and turquoise trousers which extend into wide flares at the base. The trousers are designed to be worn on stilts and have been extended to cover these. The black cotton ground is largely plain, but is decorated with vertical lines of turquoise top stitching.

The trousers fit closely at the waist, following the line of the figure from waist to upper thigh before flaring out. They fasten at the waist with strips of Velcro and a narrow 15cms vertical zip.


Dimensions
  • S.35 1 2019, jacket, centre front collar to front hem length: 49cm (approximate)
  • S.35 1 2019, jacket, centre back of collar to top of the peplum length: 29cm (approximate)
  • S.35 1 2019, jacket, sleeves, shoulder to cuff length: 90cm (approximate)
  • S.35 1 2019, jacket, across front shoulders width: 52cm (approximate)
  • S.35 1 2019, jacket, across front waist width: 52cm (approximate)
  • S.35 1 2019, jacket, centre back of collar to rear hem length: 71cm (approximate)
  • S.35 2 2019, trousers, centre front waist to front hem length: 138cm (approximate)
  • S.35 2 2019, trousers, across front waist width: 33.5cm (approximate)
  • S.35 3 2019, headdress, full length length: 144cm (approximate)
  • S.35 3 2019, headdress, top to base of crown (not including hanging panels) length: 76cm (approximate)
  • S.35 3 2019, headdress, across side of crown width: 43cm (approximate)
  • S.35 3 2019, headdress, across base, widest point width: 67cm (approximate)
  • S.35 4 2019, under trousers, waist to hem, front length: 142.5cm (approximate)
  • S.35 4 2019, under trousers, across front waist width: 31cm (approximate)
Credit line
Given by Keith Khan
Summary
Four-part costume in tones of blue and black, consisting of a top, trousers, decorative head piece and ‘under’ trousers, designed for a stilt walker, made and worn by Keith Khan, created for the Harris Museum, Preston, and also used in the Preston carnival, 1988.

When asked about the costumes, Keith Khan said: 'The stilt costumes are unique with panels of hand crafted with hand drawn quilted panels. These were based on Trinidadian folkloric characters of the jab jab, or devil. (Stilt walkers play a key role in carnivals through Trinidad).’ He noted that ‘The headpieces were supported on a pole and A frame.'

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.35:1 to 4-2019

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Record createdJune 3, 2019
Record URL
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