Fashion exhibition - Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years

september 16, 2018

Fashion exhibition - Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years - Kunsthal Rotterdam

“For us, fashion is an antidote to reality.” - one of my favourite Viktor & Rolf quotes and one which describes their aesthetic and the exhibition in honour of the 25th work anniversary of the Dutch design duo perfectly. The two fashion designers really do create their own world with their work. It’s a creative and imaginative world in which craftsmanship is key. The exhibition - which still runs for two weeks - is a feast for the eyes and mind. Whether you like the Dutchmen's sense of style or not, you will be amazed by the creativity and ideas of Viktor & Rolf. All clothes on display are immaculately made and transport you to a fairytale world.

The duo walks the fine line between art and fashion. They want to add a story or an idea to each collection.

I recommend a visit to the exhibit in Rotterdam if you want to experience a fashion fairytale world in which anything is possible. The iconic Viktor & Rolf dolls which wear miniature versions of the designers' creations add to the dreamlike atmosphere. Btw fun fact for the Belgians who read my blog: the dolls are made by a Belgian manufacturer.

For the Boulevard of Broken Dreams haute couture collection the duo took existing and (often) damaged dresses apart and assembled new looks putting pieces of various dresses together. The repairs/collages were accented with gold borders - a nod to the Japanese art of kintsugi or kintsukuroi, in which beauty is seen as arising from imperfection: the breaks in porcelain pottery are thought of as part of the history of the piece and are embraced and accentuated as they are repaired for example with a gold border. (source: publicationViktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years - by guest curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and publisged by nai010 publishers)

The One Woman Show collection was dedicated to the actress and friend of the designers Tilda Swinton. The Scottish actress opened the runway show. The collection was rather conservative but the designers added their unique view playing with volumes, for example by stacking collars. (source: publicationViktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years - by guest curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and publisged by nai010 publishers)

This collection was also called 'The Amsterdam Chainsaw Massacre' by the magazine Dazed & Confused.

A lot of people know Viktor & Rolf for the Flowerbomb perfume but this wasn't the first perfume the designers launched, although it was the first real fragrance. Let me explain: in 1996 the duo created the art installation Launch. Part of that installation was a fictitious fragrance called Le Parfum. An ad campaign was shot, reminiscent of seductive perfume advertisements. Le Parfum was made in a limited edition of 250 bottles, but the bottle was designed in a way that it was impossible to open. So it was a perfume launch withouth a scent. The meaning: a critique of how the fashion world sells an 'image', not a reality. (source: publicationViktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years - by guest curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and publisged by nai010 publishers)

Years later, in 2005, Viktor & Rolf launched their first real fragrance: Flowerbomb, which is still a success.

Many - including myself - find this one of the most original fashion shows ever: a model took place on a revolving platform on the stage in the first piece of the collection. Then Viktor & Rolf joined the model on stage and dressed her in nine other outfits, putting each one over the other ones; thus creating a Russion doll effect. By the end the model wore more than 70 kilograms of garments. (source: publicationViktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years - by guest curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and publisged by nai010 publishers)

"We just did not feel like doing a collection. We were busy sketching a new collection and feeling that no, we do not want this; no, we don't to do that. The word 'no' was popping up in all our sketches. Then, while drawing coats we thought, why resist it? It was like therapy. Afterwards we felt liberated." - Viktor & Rolf about the No collection. (source: publicationViktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years - by guest curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and publisged by nai010 publishers)

I loved the wallpaper used in one of the exhibition rooms. I could have stared at it endlessly discovering new fun details all the time. 'Tjoek, tjoek' :-)


© a fashion girl Wedding dress for Princess Mabel Wisse Smit - 24 april 2004

I could go on showing marvellous pieces but I decided to limit myself to these pictures. If you want to see more, you can visit the exhibition at Kunsthal in Rotterdam till September 30th. I also bought the publication and recommend it if you want to learn more about these famous and creative designers. All information on: https://www.kunsthal.nl/nl/plan-je-bezoek/tentoonstellingen/viktorrolf-fashion-artists-25-years/

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a fashion girl

Fashion exhibition - Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years - Kunsthal Rotterdam

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