The Art of Victor & Rolf

Is runway fashion- “art”? The curators at London’s Barbican Art Gallery seem to think so.

Their latest exhibit “The House of Viktor & Rolf”, a retrospective dedicated to the past 15 years of creative endeavors by the masterful Dutch duo- Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, opens on June 18th.

Viktor & Rolf with their “dolls”

Viktor & Rolf have made a name for themselves not only as a design team that enjoys creating beautiful clothes but also one that strives to present their collections each and every season in their own unique way.

Their spectacles have includes foggy runways with models covered in small brass bells ( so you could hear them through the mist ), models dressed in all black garb and painted entirely black as well, and this season were the models clothes seemed to literally tell it like it is ( taking just say “no” to an all new level!).

from their Fall 2008 runway ( just so you know-typography in fashion is looking to be an upcoming trend this fall )

Well of course this show couldn’t just be a bunch of mannequins covered in haute couture. In true Viktor & Rolf fashion, 55 different “looks”- complete with proper hair and make-up will grace life size forms and then be mirrored by the same complete looks in mini form on 25 inch tall dolls.

a scene from their interactive website-check it out! Totally Cool!

Why the mini-me couture? Horsting tells the NY Times, “The idea was simply to turn the musem show into a performance in itself: ‘We will always cherish that feeling of fashion as an escape from reality”.

Wish I was in London this summer- I bet it’s like a ”warped” American Girl Doll store- plus the line up of speakers and events surrounding the show sound so interesting….if you see the show in person let me know!

top photo from the NY Times

Julie Hoylen

Thanks Lindsay- it's one thing to write about an exhibit and a totally different one to actually experience it in person. Thanks for your keen eye and perspective on what I'm sure was an awesome insight into two of fashion's coolest renegades! Good luck with your studies- perhaps I'll be blogging about your designs one day!

p.s. love the 'Children of the Corn' reference!!!

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Lindsay

Hey I just was in London this past week. Im studying in Florence as fashion student so the Victor and Rolf Exhibit was a must. It is so amazing. There is an almost eery feeling as you walk through the first floor with children reciting the names of super models reminiscent of the children of the corn. The doll house was so cool. The clothes that they wore were immaculate, just like couture miniatures. The second floor has many of the fashion show running in the background with the a few of the actual designs situated in front. It was so interesting to see how they tried to make everything so different than anything you may have seen before. It really is art.