The exhibition A Queen Within – Adorned Archetypes, Fashion and Chess is now open at the World Chess Hall of Fame Museum until 18th of April 2014. SOFIA K. A. HEDMAN Fashion curator & Exhibition designer

Dear Shaded Viewers,

The exhibition explores nine archetypes of a queen – The Sage, Mother Figure, Magician, Enchantress, Explorer, Ruler, Mother Earth, Heroine and Thespian. Here, the queen can also be seen as a metaphor for a woman. A Queen Within further investigates how storytelling and symbols capture the imagination of innovative fashion designers.

Objects from the following designers and artists are exhibited – Alexander McQueen (UK), Anne Deniau (FR), Anrealage (JP), Bea Szenfeld (SE), Chan Luu (US), Charlie Le Mindu (FR), Gianfranco Ferre (IT), Gucci (IT), Hideki Seo (JP), Henrik Vibskov (DK), Hussein Chalayan (UK), Iris Schieferstein (DE), Iris Van Herpen (NL), Jean Paul Gaultier (FR), Jordan Askill (AU), Josefin Arnell (SE), Keta Gutmane (LV), Koji Arai (JP), Maiko Takeda (JP), Maison Martin Margiela (FR), Michael Drummond (US), Minju Kim (KR), Noritaka Tatehana (JP), Octavia Xiaozi Yang (CN), Pam Hogg (UK), Rein Vollenga (NL), Rejina Pyo (KR), Ryohei Kawanishi (JP), Sandra Backlund (SE), Serena Gili (FR), Shaun Leane and Daphne Guinness (UK), Tabitha Osler (CA), Viktor & Rolf (NL) and Writtenafterwards (JP).

 

The designers range from established names to students still working in some of the most prestigious design schools in the world such as Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Arts in London

The master of coiffure Charlie Le Mindu has created bespoke head pieces for the exhibition. 

Artists Karolina Kling, Orlando Campbell and Serge Martynov have been commissioned to contribute with artwork and sculptures.

Highlights of the exhibition include an Alexander McQueen cocktail dress emblazoned with an image of muse and provocateur Isabella Blow, Maison Martin Margiela’s unforgettable Glove vest from the SS 2001 Artisanal collection, Shaun Leane and Daphne Guinness’ diamond glove, Iris van Herpen’s Snake dress from her Capriole Haute Couture collection, Hussein Chalayan’s iconic Bubble dress from SS 2007, and Viktor & Rolf’s celebrated coral cut tulle ball gown from the Cutting Edge Couture Collection, SS 2010.

 

The museum are right now investigating the opportunities to show the exhibition in China, London and Moscow as there is a resilient wish to tour it afterwards. 

mm
Diane Pernet

A LEGENDARY FIGURE IN FASHION and a pioneer of blogging, Diane is a respected journalist, critic, curator and talent-hunter based in Paris. During her prolific career, she designed her own successful brand in New York, costume designer, photographer, and filmmaker.

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