‘do androids dream of electric shrimp?’ by christian joy at diesel art gallery model:elizabeth ammerman, NYC, 2009 photo: ioulex

do androids dream of electric shrimp? by christian joy diesel art gallery, shibuya, tokyo, japan may 18th – august 10th, 2012

american fashion designer christian joy who is known for her stage costume designs for yeah yeah yeah’s charismatic lead singer, karen o., is showcasing ‘do androids dream of electric shrimp?’ at the diesel art gallery located in the shibuya-ku district of tokyo. the exhibition let’s the viewer experience her charm and see the most progressive fashion design coming from new york city.

the costumes were used in musical performances, theaters, dance performances, photo shoots, and music videos. an overwhelming presence radiates from her pieces which speak a symbolic and expressive language in the areas of graphic design and printmaking.  using found articles and occasionally eschewing thread and print for glue and marker pens she has influenced contemporary fashion with punk and DIY stylings.


christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? ‘do androids dream of electric shrimp?’ by christian joy, diesel art gallery 2012 photo: ken kato

considered a fashion icon, karen’s radical and striking costumes are a hot topic. naturally, joy graced the cover of time out new york magazine in their ‘most stylish new yorker’ issue. in 2000, brooklyn, with no formal training in fashion design, joy started creating one of a kind hand-painted/hand-sewn t-shirts and re-designing old prom dresses, as the yeah yeah yeahs’s fame grew so did joy’s reputation and has been paid attention internationally.

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? photo: ken kato

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp?prints and patterns photo: ken kato

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? t-shirts with video within nook space photo: ken kato

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? christian joy film shoot, NYC,  2010 model hannelore knuts photo: claire carre and jae song

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? ‘stop the virgins’, NYC, 2011 photo: ioulex

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? ‘stop the virgins’, NYC; 2011 model:elizabeth ammerman photo: ioulex

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? (left) karen o, ‘heads will roll video shoot’, UK,  2009 (right) karen o, ‘david letterman show’, NYC,  2007 photo: nick zinner

christian joy: do androids dream of electric shrimp? karen o, ‘brixton academy’, UK, 2003 photo: rachel warner

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions’  feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here