London-based visual artist Yuma Burgess plays a crucial role in actualizing Robert Wun’s runway visions. Burgess transforms Wun’s initial sketches into striking physical objects, which are integral to Wun’s cinematic storytelling and extend the silhouette of the garments.
Burgess employs a multi-faceted process that includes digital sculpting, 3D printing, casting, and meticulous hand finishing to create these intricate pieces. The objects he crafts for Robert Wun are diverse, ranging from sculptural birds and masks to skeletal prosthetics and anatomical body pieces. These creations push the boundaries of fashion into realms of character design and sculpture, serving as more than mere accessories.
A key aspect of Burgess’s artistic approach is the intentional use of contemporary fabrication techniques to make objects appear “unearthed” or discovered, rather than conventionally manufactured. His sculptures draw significant inspiration from diverse historical and mythical contexts, including mythology, ancient civilizations, cave paintings, and prehistoric symbolism. This approach allows Burgess to bridge primordial aesthetics with futuristic concepts, establishing a unique visual language central to Robert Wun’s collections.
The collaboration with Robert Wun, a Hong Kong-born and London-based designer known for his avant-garde and sculptural haute couture exploring themes like fear and transformation, is recognized as a defining aspect of Yuma Burgess’s artistic output. While the specific process can vary, Burgess typically begins with a loose sketch and a conceptual discussion with Wun, translating these ideas into finished objects. Beyond his work with Robert Wun, Burgess has also lent his distinctive sculptural style to collaborations with other prominent artists such as Caroline Polachek, FKA twigs, Paolina Russo, Travis Scott, and Young Thug, spanning fashion, music, and film.