Another Christmas break, another visit to Antwerp. This time around I went to see Stephen Jones – The Accent of Fashion in the MOMU Fashion Museum. A lot has been written about it already, but I can only confirm that it is very much worth visiting, even if hats are not your dada.
The exhibition design was conceived by Geert Bruloot, who owns the largest collection of Jones’ hats and who established Antwerp’s most famous fashion shop ‘Louis’ back in 1986. The show has been split up in four themes, each represented by an impressive blown up version of a key hat and mixed with bold fashion by designers Jones collaborated with throughout his career. His work looks finely crafted and sophisticated but it is light at the same time with the occasional hilarious touch. Would you prefer some egg and bacon on your hat, or maybe a creation with deconstructed barbie dolls? On until the 13th of February.
Can I just mention how much I appreciated that photography was allowed at the MOMU. It is great to be able to spread the word about inspiring exhibitions, even if it is on a small scale. I was at the Design Museum in London a while ago and was told off for taking photos – with my phone – of their current Fashion Illustration exhibition. Such a missed opportunity for them. They are probably contemplating how to implement new media from higher up while the power really lies with passionate visitors themselves … free advertising guys?! Right, that’s off my chest!
1. Stephen Jones 2. Science theme/Blow Up of ‘Soho’ 3. Image of fez for Jean Paul Gaultier 1984
4. Adventure theme/Blow Up of ‘London’ 5. Adventure theme /’Eggs&Bacon’ & ‘French Onion Soup’
6-7. Science theme/Stephen Jones & Walter Van Beirendonck
8. Rococo theme/Stephen Jones for Comme des Garçons 9. Glamour theme/’In Private’ & ‘Myra’ 10. Glamour theme/photoprint diadem ‘Ecstacy’ in foreground
Photos by An Michiels.
Braved the ice cold Antwerp weather last weekend to check out the sales and popped by the AF Vandevorst guerilla shop ‘Aktion I’.
The shop is unmistakable AF, with its antique hospital beds and its trademark austere, military look.
Apart from the military hospital look there are witty touches like the massive dumpster in which you can drop your old clothes.
A.F.’s women’s collection, ‘Nightfall’ lingerie and ‘Fetish’ footwear are on sale, as well as the new A. Friend jersey collection.
Aktion I will have a busy traveling schedule, every three months AF Vandevorst will set up shop in a variety of unique places in different cities.
Aktion I – AF Vandevorst
29/31 Volkstraat, 2000 Antwerp – Belgium
Open : Thursday – Monday 12:00-20:00 until the 31st of March 2010
Great sales all over Antwerp and cool new shops, this new concept store RA13 is also worth checking out.
Ever witty Erwin Wurm is at it again with his ‘one minute sculptures’. This time with Claudia Schiffer and a set of everyday objects in the lead roles.
These photos are part of a spread called ‘Kunst Pausen’ that Wurm shot for the November issue of German Vogue.
If you happen to be in Brussels, the ‘Erwin Wurm, Desperate Philosophers’ exhibition in the Xavier Hufkens Gallery is opening today at 6 pm.
Read more about it on Utopia Parkway.
This is old news, but you might not have seen these stunning B/W photos of the latest show by Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren yet. I can’t get over them, so here you go.
Spot singer Róisín Murphy in background with well hidden baby bump!
Photo Credit Stephan Moscovic.
If you want to read more about them, I can recommend the catalogue to their grand exhibition ‘The House of Viktor and Rolf’, held in the Barbican Arts Gallery in London in 2008. But that’s old news too, because these guys keep running ahead and keep coming up with ever greater concepts!
There is a video of this show on the rather annoying Viktor and Rolf website, go and find it or try your luck on YouTube. Yatzer has great photos too.
Crowd of dressed up arty types of all ages in nightclub on Kingsland High Street arriving in cabs? What happened to dodgy nights out in Hackney … or was this just a Frieze Art Fair related one off? My party escort Wessel definitely fitted in with the crowd in his new Hurwundeki trousers, sharp dude!
