The innovative and influential developments in Japanese fashion from the early 1980s to the present are celebrated in a major exhibition coming to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from November 1, 2014 to February 15, 2015.
Curated by world-renowned fashion historian Akiko Fukai, 'Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion' is a comprehensive survey featuring more than 90 garments and accessories from the unparalleled collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute, Japan.
Along with iconic garments by pioneering fashion figures such as Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto, 'Future Beauty' will showcase designs by mid-career innovators such as Junya Watanabe and Jun Takahashi.
Alongside designs by Miyake and his contemporaries, an entire section of the exhibition is dedicated to garments by next generation designers including Tao Kurihara, Taro Horiuchi, Matohu, Akira Naka, Sacai, Mikio Sakabe, Anrealage, Somarta, Ne-net and mintdesigns.
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Director Chris Saines said 'Future Beauty' followed the success of previous QAGOMA fashion exhibitions including 'Valentino, Retrospective: Past/Present/Future' (2010), 'Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones' (2010) and 'Easton Pearson' in (2009).
'Tickets to 'Future Beauty' are now on sale and visitors will have the opportunity to experience this extraordinary exhibition of contemporary Japanese fashion, along with its associated public program of special events, discussions, talks and tours,' he said.
The ever popular Up Late program will return during 'Future Beauty' with late night access to the exhibition, performances, bars and more on selected Friday nights from November 2014 through to February 2015.
Tarun Nagesh, Assistant Curator of Asian Art, QAGOMA said 'Future Beauty' presented the work of true innovators in Japanese fashion who have challenged Western conventions of costume and beauty on the world stage.
'Future Beauty' includes garments, fashion objects, films, photographs and catalogues and explores four distinct themes that embody Japanese style and aesthetic principles,' he said.
'The first theme, inspired by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's 1933 essay 'In praise of shadows', explores the use of black, texture and light. 'Flatness' represents the reductive treatment of shape and contour drawn from a particularly Japanese perception of dress. 'Tradition and Innovation' features ground-breaking construction techniques and challenges to Western fashion conventions, while 'Cool Japan' showcases the influence of the vibrant youth subcultures of Japan, as seen in the streets of the fabled Harajuku,' Mr Nagesh said.
Anna Burgdorf, General Manager, Corporate Communications of the exhibition's Principal Sponsor Audi, said they were excited to help bring such a unique and visually striking exhibition to Queensland.
'We know that our customers in the northern region have a passion for contemporary art and design which is why we have been a proud partner of QAGOMA for the past two years. We're sure they will enjoy this latest showing,' she said.
QAGOMA will also continue their relationship with Gadens as the exhibition's Supporting Sponsor.
'Future Beauty' was first conceived for display at the Barbican Art Gallery, London, and has subsequently toured to Haus der Kunst, Munich; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; the Seattle Art Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum in the United States; and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto before its showing at GOMA in Brisbane.
The Kyoto Costume Institute was established by Wacoal Corp in 1978.
'Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion' is at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane from November 1, 2014 to February 15, 2015.
Tickets are now available online for pre purchase. Adults $21.50, concession $17.50, including booking fees. In a first for the cultural precinct, GOMA and the Queensland Museum are teaming up to offer a limited number of joint fashion exhibition tickets. See both 'Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion' at GOMA and 'Undressed: 350 years of Underwear in Fashion' at the Museum this summer and save over 25%.
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons (Junya Watanabe), Autumn/Winter 2004-05, Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute. Photo by Taishi Hirokawa | Comme des Garçons (Rei Kawakubo), Spring/Summer 1997, Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama | Comme des Garçons (Rei Kawakubo), Autumn/Winter 2012, Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute, photo by Masayuki Hayashi | Yohji Yamamoto Spring/Summer 1983, Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute, Gift of Ms. Sumiyo Koyama, photo by Taishi Hirokawa | Comme des Garçons (Rei Kawakubo), Spring/Summer 2007, Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute, photo by Taishi Hirokawa |
