Exhibition: Goddess
The GODDESS exhibition will be held from Saturday 8th May 2004 to Sunday 22nd August 2004 in MoMu.
GODDESS provides us with an overview of how clothing worn by the Ancient Greeks has influenced fashion in the 21st century.
It includes silhouettes by Madame Gres, Edward Molyneux, Halston, Gucci, Versace couture, D&G, Givenchy couture, Christian Dior couture, Chanel, John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Clements Ribeiro, Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo, Romeo Gigli, Capucci, Bernhard Willhelm, Ann Demeulemeester, Patrick Van Ommeslaeghe, Maison Margiela, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix, Prada, Valentino, Thierry Mugler, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Hussein Chalayan, YSL Rive Gauche, Azzedine Alaia, Douglas Ferguson, Roberto Cavalli and Viktor&Rolf.
There will also be a focus on the summer collections of 2004, where the inspiration of the Greeks in all their glory is clearly to be seen once more.
Consequently, rather than being an academic exhibition on Greek Antiquity, GODDESS is a fresh presentation with an emphasis on contemporary fashion.
Looking at their designs, we see quite clearly that many designers are often inspired by the historical garments of the Ancient Greeks.
For instance their designs are based on the original basic garments for women: the chiton, the peplos and the himation.
Minor modifications and interpretations of these articles have produced new styles and garments.
Details, accessories and (architectural) motifs, such as the attributes of the Olympic deities (shells for Aphrodite and peacock feathers for Hera), are often adopted in full.
Moreover, elements and techniques not present in ancient garments are added, and they, in their turn, play a determining role in the interpretation and image of Greek Antiquity. One only has to think of the high waistline of the Empire Period, a draping technique such as wet drapery, and the asymmetrical neckline.
The work of Madame Gres, a French fashion designer whose draped evening dresses form a milestone in modern interpretations of Greek Antiquity, continued to influence contemporary designers. In their turn, Madame Gres's draping techniques have made history, and are an essential element in our classical heritage.
Clothing from Greek Antiquity has gradually developed into a classic style. Not because it can never change, but because the historic basic garments were adapted to different periods and styles during the 20th and 21st centuries.
GODDESS is based on the GODDESS, The Classical Mode exhibition, that was held at the Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The MoMu has taken over part of this exhibition.
The selection made by the curator Harold Koda is supplemented with garments from the archives of different designers, as well as the summer 2004 collections of fashion designers from both Belgium and abroad.