Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion

The Phoenix Art Museum Presents Works From 2008 - 2015

Every now and then history, cultural reference, technology and craftsmanship fuse together and something exceptional emerges. Examples abound in engineering, medicine, art, music, architecture and fashion.

Sunday as I walked through the final day of the Iris van Herpen Transforming Fashion exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum it was clear that her work represents something rare and exceptional. Maybe even more exciting to me was the recognition that the pieces on display demonstrate an extraordinary evolution in creativity beginning when she was just 24.

 

Iris van Herpen - Transforming Fashion

To me, in many respects, Transforming Fashion was reminiscent of the kind of genius exemplified by Issey Miyake in his spectacular Body Works exhbition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1973. To read about Miyake's BodyWorks exhibit click here: Miyake SF 1973.

Van Herpen's fashions are not simply one-of-a-kind runway pieces, they represent restless energy and the full range of experimentation and craft. They are composed of metals, plastics, leather, glass and fabric.

For those that missed this exhibit here are some images to view. Ms. Van Herpen's fashions, however, clearly speak for themselves. 

Complex Fashion Simply Presented

Expressive Detailing

Biopiracy Dress 2014

Handblown Glass, Tulle and Metal Busk

Biopiracy Dress 2014

(Goat Leather with Ray Fish Print, Black Glass Crystals, Tulle and Cotton)

Biopiracy Dress Detail

Voltage Dress 2013

In Collaboration With Philip Beesley

Laser-cut 3D Polyester Film Lace and Microfiber

Hybrid Holism Dress 2012

Metallic Stripes, Tulle and Cotton

Micro Dress 2013

Silver Magiflex, Tulle and Viscose

Micro Dress 2012

Metallic Coated Stripes, Tulle and Cotton

Capriole 2011

Transparent Acrylic Sheets, Tulle and Cotton

Radiation Invasion Dress 2009

ECCO Calf Leather with Porcelain Treatment, Wool and Tulle

Radiation Invasion (Back)

 

Refinery Smoke Dress 2008

Unstreated Woven Metal Gauze, Cow Leather and Cotton

Radiation Invasion 2009
Faux Leather, Gold Foil, Cotton and Tulle 

Synhesthesia Dress 2010

 Lacquer Leather, Cow Leather, Gold Foil, Metal Eyelets, Busks and Cotton

Crystallization Dress & Collar 2010

Transparent Polyethylene Terephihalate (PET)

ECCO Leather with Oil Treatment, Goat Leather, Silver Chains and Viscose

Crystallization Dress & Collar Detail

A perfect sequence after the recent Emphatics exhibit, the Phoenix Art Museum's Transforming Fashion was a joy for fashion lovers and anyone that enjoys brash creativity.

Roadboy's Travels © 2018