‘Future of Fashion’ 24 March – 23 April 2017, Chengdu, China
Partners: Chinese partners Punch Me, Cross Lab and Dutch-Chinese organization About Asia
Location: Future Center Chengdu
Curation: FASHIONCLASH
Art Direction & scenography: Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck
Performers: Mami Izumi, Lotte Milder, Anthony van Gog, Milou van Duijnhoven
Exhibition
‘Future of Fashion’ was a multidisciplinary exhibition composed out of work of more than 30 emerging designers and artists from The Netherlands and Flanders. The exhibition represented a broad spectrum of fashion design aesthetics, visions and various approaches to fashion. The presented work stood out for its concept, experimental material and textile, innovative shapes and tailoring. In addition to fashion the exhibition featured screenings of interdisciplinary fashion films and performances.
Among the participants there are award winning designers like Marlou Breuls and Nikki Duijst, avant-garde designers’ collective Das Leben Am Haverkamp and promising theatre makers like Lotte Milder and Milou van Duijnhoven. The selection of participants is an eclectic mix of designers that graduated from the top schools such as AMFI, ArtEZ Arnhem, MAFAD, KABK, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and Theatre Academy Maastricht. FASHIONCLASH gathered a team of theatre performers that will bring the exhibition alive. Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck created an overall concept that serves as a platform to connect the physical space of the exhibition with performance space and engage interactions with the audience.
Designers:Ailene van Elmpt, By vanharten, Annewil Ravensbergen, Anouk van Klaveren, Bluedenîmes, Christa van der Meer, Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck, Dewi Bekker, Ebby Port, NONOCAKE by Elke van Zuylen, Esther Haamke, Evie Cowan, Gino Anthonisse, Isis Elsa Fee, J.R. Sypkens Smit, Jivika Biervliet, Jorieke Tenbergen, JUDITHvanvliet, Kaho To, LAU – by Laura Verdonk, Lisa Konno & Karin Vlug, Maarten van Mulken, Christina Albrecht & Marina van Dieren, STOP by Marketa Martiskova, Marlou Breuls, Nikki Duijst, Draga Dina, Peer Cox, Rosanne van Wijk, Sanna Schubert, Steven Vanderyt, Yanaika Nuyts
Performances
The opening weekend contained a two day event with performances by promising Dutch theatre performers Lotte Milder, Mami Izumi, Anthony van Gog and Milou van Duijnhoven. In addition a group of Chinese dancers from a local dance company have where included in the series of performances. The scenography and (art) direction is created in cooperation with Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck.
Mami Izumi started the show with an interactive performance, setting the curiousity and concentration for what awaits behind the curtian installation. Inside the installation Lotte Milder performs an addapted version of 'One, no one, 100.000'. Followed by an explosive 'Phoenix' by Milou van Duijnhoven and a performance by Anthony van Gog.
The whole presentation featured five individual performances that where connected with theatrical acts inspired by the concept to guide the audience through various ways to experience the exhibition. This live performance element within an exhibition context is a unique approach to showcase contemporary fashion and create a more enriched experience for the viewer.
Scenography
Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck created an overall concept that served as a platform to connect the physical space of the exhibition with performance space and engage interactions with the audience.
“The White Curtain Labyrinth” scenography concept designed by Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck for Future of Fashion, explored the idea of perceiving from a fixed perspective. On the one hand creating a highly aesthetic framed space with using white pleated curtains and on the other hand visualizing a playful deconstructed space. Embracing the existing space and translating it to a performative spatial exhibition.
