For my work I explore what is happening in society in order to grasp the current zeitgeist and to find synergies between different cultural, political, ecological, social and demographic events. If you want to understand better what is happening , why and what it all means, looking at artists of all kinds is a good start. Think designers, architects, writers, photographers, fashion designers, dancers, musicians, painters and so many other creatives.
As I explain in my manifesto on this website, I believe that artists feel the heartbeat of what is going on so much better and more accurate than most of us. It’s a question of understanding this other language, the language of design, fashion, art, food , architecture and so on. Looking at what artist express, is often a cry to get our attention, a wake up call on what is going wrong or early signals of a near or long near future. It is not always clear at the moment when the artwork is presented, but later it becomes a zeitgeist document of what happened.
When the Antwerp Fashion museum reopened it’s doors after a 2 year renovation, I was thrilled to see that they kicked-off with the exhibition E/Motion. In the press communication they say: “Fashion in Transition’ explores fashion as an expression of emotion, fear and desire in society: fashion is both ‘emotion’ and ‘in motion’.” The entire show is build up through themes such as the female body, 9/11, identity and surveillance showcasing unique powerful statement pieces of numerous fashion designers that express the corresponding zeitgeist in which the collections were designed. But also controversial fashion campaigns, memorable advertising, collabs and iconic fashion pictures demonstrate how fashion can expose and even anticipate the different emotions running through society. Fashion sits, among other creative disciplines, at the front seat of contemporary life, and artists and designers play leading roles in constructing images and meaning in times of fundamental and systemic change.
E/Motion is a wonderful curated proof of my statement artists feel it first. It is a great trip through memory lane for some and a lesson in contemporary fashion history for all. Enjoy!
Exhibition under the lead of
Curators: Kaat Debo, Elisa De Wyngaert
Exhibition design: Jan Versweyveld in collaboration with Huisman van Merode
