Couture graphique
MOTI Museum of the Image, Breda, NL
February 16, 2013 –
Curator: José Teunissen (Professor in Fashion Theory at ArtEZ in Arnhem, Holland and since 2009 visiting professor to the University of the Arts in London)
Statement: «CoutureGraphique is the first exhibition ever about fashion and graphic design; an exhibition in which we present the communicative and decorative aspects of clothing and accessories as a means of communication.
Our mission is to spread both the knowledge and the experience about visual culture and thus contribute to a society that is aware of the objects and means of communications. We want to inspire with new insights by showing, side by side, both the communicative power of this profession and the stimulating artistic aspects of it. We connect modern forms of visual communication with the archetypical historical artefacts like posters and logo’s. It is quite possible that today more fabric is printed than paper. Clothing has become an important means of expression; clothing represents the person who wears it and what he or she wishes to project and communicate. Graphic design plays a role in fashion right up to wearable technologies where clothing is used as interface for communication technology.
We no longer only see shop advertising, traffic signs and billboards as informative images; buildings, cars, high-speed trains, airports and clothing are now also objects of information. We live in an information society. In the past, our environment was made up of things; now it is made up of information. Objects in physical space can become a medium and assume a communicative significance.
The relationship between graphic design and fashion, however, arose in the twenties with designs by Sonia Delaunay. In the strategy of the major fashion houses, the relationship has become very intimate: the brand and the brand identity are treated as a fashion product. Hence we took the initiative to or organize an international exhibition that shows how the relationship between graphic design and fashion design developed in the last century.»
Publication: The museum has invited Along with the exhibition, an extensive book on the topic of graphic design and fashion will be released, designed by Paul Boudens.
