Many Shades of Grès: Fashion Becomes Art
Outstanding fashion by one of the most important pioneers of 20th-century haute couture, alongside student designs inspired by her work – the Kunstgewerbemuseum (KGM, Museum of Applied Arts) presents, for the first time in the German-speaking world, the fascinating work of French fashion designer Madame Grès (1903–1993).
At the heart of the exhibition is the KGM’s collection of 25 Grès models, one of the largest outside of Paris which was Grès’ creative base. In collaboration with the “School of Culture and Design” department of the Berlin University of Applied Sciences, the exhibition explores the extraordinary couturière’s from various perspectives.
The exhibition is divided into nine sections, showcasing around 150 diverse exhibits that can be interpreted as cross-references to the 25 models by Madame Grès, which literally take center stage. The displays include clothing on busts and mannequins, accessories, graphics, drawings, photographs, sculptures, textile objects, and multimedia installations (films, projections). These are complemented by student contributions and contextualizing works, such as sculptures, paintings, photographs, graphics, films, and virtual elements.