‚Game Changers – Reinventing the 20th century silhouette‘

Antwerp

Referred to as the master of all fashion designers by Christian Dior, Basque Cristóbal Balenciaga is now honored with an exhibition at the ModeMuseum in Antwerp, Belgium. Entitled Game Changers – Reinventing the 20th century silhouette, the exhibition showcases some of the most iconic pieces by Balenciaga as well as designs from fellow designers he inspired.

Balenciaga used the female body as a canvas. And by doing so, he freed it. The Spanish designer created his designs with the philosophy of an architect. The purity of his creations underline his approach. The pieces from the 60s became the trademark of the house. They were extravagant, voluminous though modest and made with a revolutionary sewing practice that gave the body a new autonomy.

Paying tribute to these iconic silhouettes, there are more than 100 original Balenciaga designs on view at Game Changers such as his grandiloquent patterns, ceaseless floral prints and Francisco de Zurbaran-inspired draping technique. To complete the designer’s creations, pieces from fellow designers and friends lie Paul Poiret, Madeleine Vionnet and Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel are on display. They all have one important feature in common: they all contributed to free the female body. Furthermore Game Changers presents experimental designs from Rei Kawabuko and Issey Miyake whose research of folding techniques and unconventional shape honors the legacy of Balenciaga.

Cristóbal Balenciaga, Autumn Winter 1967. Photograph courtesy of the Balenciaga Archives

Yohji Yamamoto, Autumn Winter 1984. Photograph by Max Vadakul

March 18 -August 14, 2016

Mode Museum

Nationalestraat 28
2000 Anvers
Belgium

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