Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show
The exhibition Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show, at the Vitra Design Museum, traces the evolution of fashion shows from their origins around 1900 to modern digital performances. Four immersive rooms explore pivotal moments in this evolution, from the intimate couture presentations in Parisian salons of the early 20th century, to the rebellious prêt-à-porter formats of the 1970s, and finally to the lavish productions of today’s luxury brands. Props, film sequences and invitations to shows demonstrate the mutual influence of fashion, media and society.
Pioneers such as Charles Frederick Worth and Gabrielle Chanel were at the forefront of a long history in which fashion shows increasingly became an expression of social ideals and conflicts. Legendary fashion shows such as the ‘Battle of Versailles’ in 1973, which marked the international breakthrough of US fashion, and Alexander McQueen’s ‘No. 13’ robot performance, showed fashion to be a reflection of cultural dynamics.
In 2014, Chanel transformed the Grand Palais into a supermarket for a fashion show, while Margiela presented his latest collection on a wasteland and Balenciaga staged a show featuring the ‘Simpsons’. These examples illustrate the increasingly blurred boundaries between fashion, architecture and performance. At the same time, the body is emerging as a surface for political projection, as seen in the work of Rick Owens and Gucci.
Highlights of the curated exhibition include original catwalk looks, architectural models and rare film footage. The exhibition asks: What myths and power structures lie behind the shows? What do they reveal about our times?
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue entitled ‘Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show A–Z’, which features contributions from Caroline Evans, Cathy Horyn, Michel Gaubert and others.
