THE VESTS
In the dining room of Fern Bar & Dining, two distinctive mixed media works catch the eye. They appear familiar at first. Garments suspended in space. But look longer, and something else starts to emerge.
These are The Vests, created by Australian artist Alan A Cotton, whose work explores the interplay between photography, textiles, sculpture and painting. His practice is layered and symbolic. Everyday materials are transformed through careful manipulation, revealing something deeper than surface impression.
Alan’s background spans both fashion and theatre. He has worked in the UK and Australia as a sample cutter, costumier, art director and theatre designer. His clients have ranged from Opera Australia to Warner Bros., SONY, Queensland Theatre Co., and design icon Anouska Hempel. That eclectic experience informs how he approaches his art. Each piece is built like a scene, with attention to shape, context and meaning.
The Vests are not just garments. They are a reflection of Melbourne’s relationship with fashion. A city known for its sense of style that leans toward the intentional rather than the showy. Where black is never boring, layers are never accidental, and detail matters.
Here, the vests represent more than clothing. They become a kind of uniform for the curious. Symbols of identity, expression and protection. The materials are rich in texture. Fabric meets image. Stitching meets structure. They hint at stories without telling them directly.
Positioned within Fern’s dining room, they create a quiet focal point. Guests may pass them on the way to their table, then find themselves glancing back. They are both decorative and disruptive. Their placement invites a pause, a second look, a question.
Thematically, they sit comfortably within the hotel’s layered design language. Like many of the visual elements throughout the space, they reward those who take the time to observe. They do not explain themselves. But they offer something in return for your attention.
In a space that blends food, art and architecture, The Vests offer another layer. One that doesn’t speak, but suggests. One that carries memory in the folds and invites imagination through form.
So if you find yourself dining at Fern, let your eyes wander for a moment. Look to the walls. Let The Vests speak quietly about a city that wears its culture well.
