Modamorfosis, exhibition at Museo del Traje Madrid

Exhibition review

MODAMORFOSIS - Museo del Traje, Madrid. Dates: 3 March - 29 May 2016

The idea and concept behind this exhibition recently closed at Museo del Traje Madrid is construct, deconstruct and reconstruct.  And from there the curators, Lucina Llorente and Juan Gutierrez have laid out, or better said, displayed their thesis about the evolution and re-volution of the ever lasting process of dressing the body.

By choosing some pieces from the Museum's collection, they present their statement about the ideal of a three de-codification stages concept in the making of fashion history.

The exhibition shows an eight sections, path that starts with some pieces from the XVIIIth century following some milestones of the Western fashion history, to draw a map of encounters, crossovers, validation or invalidations of patterns, silhouettes, colors, shapes, ornaments.

The well organized distribution, with panels-labels and the audacious display of garments arranged as an outright paragraph to explain the initial concept, is exceeded by the unusual presentation of the eight pieces that draw the backbone of the exhibition.  They are suspended in the air as their own ground and providing with their intense presence the connections between the sections of the exhibit as a nexus of the references and creating the frame for the central space, that of the space of confluence, where the new construction marks the new shape re-invented from the parts of the pasts ones.

The circular lay out of the display of the pieces grouped by sections with explanatory panels, enhances the initial sensation of constraint and confinement produced by the low light in the room and the binding round path and helps reading the display as a circular walk for the concept that is countersigned by the central display on the ground of the pieces of patterns of the garment designed by Comme des Garçons (1983) that is hanging almost dismantled just above the space, becoming the focal point for the exhibit.

The right decision of showing the pieces without a glass protection, permits not only enjoy with  respectful proximity the dresses, but also better understand how they are crafted.  There is a great pleasure in surrounding yourself with clothes and from a little distance feel what it would be wearing them!

There is also another advantage derived from this display, and that is of learning from observing how the body silhouettes were/are created: the specific tailoring with all the inventions in patterns, applied ornaments, and adds to produce shapes, volumes, etc.,

The titles in panels are part of the statement of the exhibition and they work as nexus for the sections:

Dress without artifice.  The body defined. Freedom of movement. Marking distances. Construct, deconstruct, reconstruct. Keep on looking at me. The function and form. Variations on three pieces.

Sections conceived as a conversation about the idea and concept of form, shaping the body with fashion creations.

View of the exhibition.

Hat portraits

Hats made by Taller Charo Iglesias for an exhibition about the "sombrero cordobés" at the Museo del Traje de Madrid.

Shoes, Vogue Festival London

"Moi, VERONIQUE. BRANQUINHO TOuTe NUe" past exhibit at MoMu

It is very interesting to go over the archives museum's websites pages for exhibitions.  

Sometimes what you may find is a full report, text and visuals with content of show, 

more often what there is left in the site is no more than a text from the leaflet or

 brochure edited for the exhibition, with no added content or enhanced information. 

Then, for general public or researches the archival materials are yet to be discovered

 inside the museum.  In the case of the MoMu, I have been documenting most of the

 exhibits from 2008 and since this blog started later than that date, I have decided to

 digg into the photo-archives to retrieve some images from an interesting show:

 "Moi, VERONIQUE. BRANQUINHO TOuTe NUe",

by Veronique Branquinho, fashion designer based in Antwerp, Belgium.

  The show had a "mise-en-scene" with artistic display, and dramatic scenography,

 in many tones of blacks, dark rooms and dramatic lighting effects.

Text from the visitor's guide:

In 1995, Veronique Branquinho graduated from the fashion department of the Royal Academy in Antwerp. Only two years later, at 24, she presented her first collection (spring-summer 1998) at the Paris Fashion Week. In 1998, only a year after her debut, she went to New York to receive the prestigious VH1 Fashion Award as ‘The Best Newcomer in Fashion’. In 2003, she added her men’s line and opened her flagship store in Antwerp. To mark the 10th anniversary of her label, the Fashion Museum presents the exhibition Moi, VERONIQUE. BRANQUINHO TOuTe NUe.*

Here are some images from the exhibition:

The designer shut her firm down in 2009, and was appointed artistic director to Delvaux later in that year.

More info on Branquinho's works for the exhibition:

VIsitor's guide to show, MoMu exhibit,

Atelier Couture: Paula del Vas and Santos Costura - bridal collections 2016

Bridal 2016 of Atelier Couture, a new initiative that recovers the way to present collections to a limited clientele in a very special place. The runway took place in a magnificent and historic scenario, the Palace of Fernan Núñez in Madrid, where selected couturiers showed their collections in bridal fashion and trends.

Paula del Vas

A look of the backs of gowns. The end of the runway, a great success.

Santos Costura

All the mannequins gather at the end of the runway, a great success!