Portraits. They are a great source for research about dress studies.
Well known names of society in XIX century city of Strasbourg.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Palais Rohan Strasbourg.
Exhibition Jesus de Pozo - Sala Canal de Isabel II - Madrid - Sept'16
This exhibition untitled "Jesús del Pozo" was a homage to the greatest Spanish fashion
designer Jesús del Pozo, who died in 2011 and was very long waited and deserved.
The exhibition was at the Sala Canal de Isabel II - Comunidad de Madrid, curated
by Esperanza García Claver, Sept-Oct 2016. The special conditions of the exhibition
space together with the requirements of the pieces exhibited result in being the
protagonists of the show, and although it was intended as a homage to the designer,
each garment was the case. But, having said that and taken into account, one can
always focus on the main matter here: the pieces, works of art in most cases,
designed and created by the feverish mind of Jesus del Pozo.
This exhibition was not only a well-deserved homage, but also an exaltation of the
fashion creation of the 80s, specifically in Madrid, where the artist had his sewing
workshop installed and also a sample of the artistic capacity of El Pozo. Apart from the
fact that the designer created many outfits for well-known clients, the costumes and
ensembles that are part of this exhibition are a minimum part of the catalogue of
creations del Pozo did along his career, but they are a good example of his
craftsmanship and powerful imagination.
His sculptural visions are shown here in some of the pieces that resemble works
of art of the classical times. The purity in lines and patterns, as well as the use of
fine and artistic fabrics are the signature of his brand and were the touches that
made his collections be the most demanded in the times his atelier was open.
The display of the garments following the layout of the halls and the stairs,
with the impressive metal architecture of the former water tank space, together
with the use of very low light and dedicated spots on certain pieces, give a very
dramatic impression of the exhibition. Climbing up the stairs of every floor
prepare the visitor for an almost of spiritual experience.
This exhibition was a good, and also a little risky due to the space chosen, approach
to the oeuvre of the very talented designer, that created a refined and very artisanal
body of work, it was more than fashion design, it was a very artful creative body of
work and it was more that the right time to celebrate it.
Linen from Georg Jensen Damask
Beautiful linen tablecloth and napkins service for an small exhibit display at
Himmelbjerggaarden's libraries, manufactured by Georg Jensen Damask, a company
that started weaving textiles on the XVIII century and still is serving great quality materials.
The pieces shown here are from mid XX century and were mainly used in special occasions
and formal dinners, by the direction of the institution. They maintain the original beauty
and the design is one of the most classic ones.
"Indian Jewelry" exhibtion in Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden (NL)
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general view of the exhibition
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A visit to the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden in 2012 offered me a nice surprise in the
form of a small exhibit about "Contemporary Indian Jewelry". The museum was going
under huge renovation and was due to re-opened in fall of 2012, therefore the
collections/exhibitions on display and amount of spaces open to public were limited,
but enough to give a visitor a good idea of what the museum can offer.
The exhibit is the part of the museum currently open to public, in the main room
dedicated to Asia but in a small space, which is not a problem to offer some substantial
museum about Indian traditions, and has conceived the show after two field trips to
several regions in India: Rajasthan (Bikaner and Jaipur) to study the work of goldsmiths.
After the trips, her findings added some new pieces into the museum's collection.
I found the exhibit very appealing, condensed and well presented both in terms of
pieces and layout, though the cases where the pieces were shown had too many
reflects and the quality of craftsmanship was at times difficult to be appreciated.
Panels, labels and audiovisuals were instructive, as well as the walls covered by
photos and images (we must guess from the researcher's travels?) and local
iconography. That was a touch of artistic connection between the pieces shown and
the anthropological vision, as a complete immersion into some aspects of Indian culture.
The catalogue contains good visual documentation, but (as informed from the museum's
desk) it has only been published in Dutch, which from a quick reading is a pity for it
surely contains valuable information that would allow to better understand the content
of the exhibition.
Images of some of the pieces on display:
From the archives: Displaying a dress, Camden London
Sometimes one can get good ideas from street to display dress,
like this Kimono in Camden shopping area, London.
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