Fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck about his work, death as inspiration and the difference between fashion and art

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Exhibition in Paris
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Exhibition in Paris

Walter Van Beirendonck showed the installation ‘2357’ from January 10th until February 21st in the Polaris gallery in Paris.
Symbolism
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Symbolism

The symbols from nature, like the serpent and the sun, that Van Beirendonck likes to use in his work, all have a long tradition in various different cultures. Surfing the internet you’ll find links to the ideas of Carl Gustav Jung and mysticism, but you also might end up with a tattoo shop.
Death
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Death

Funeral companies try their best to advertise their business in such a way, that people might speak about death as a part of life. Still our Western culture seems to avoid topics like illness, decay and death; these are hidden behind a cheerful smoke curtain that promotes eternal youth and health. The tribal cultures in which Walter Van Beirendonck finds his inspiration, seem to deal with death much better. Occasionally though, death is invited with hospitality into a Western living room. See for instance Monty Pythons’, The Meaning of Life Part VII.
Fashion show in Paris
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Fashion show in Paris

Van Beirendonck talks about the ‘Wonder’, the fashion show with the spring/summer collection 2010 in Paris on June 26th 2009.
Walter Van Beirendonck
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Walter Van Beirendonck

Walter Van Beirendonck (1957) is an outspoken and extravagant fashion designer. He uses strong colours and graphic patterns. His inspiration comes from contemporary media culture (pop music, art, comic books, science fiction), and from tribal cultures as well as from nature. Recurrent themes are the fashion system, contemporary society and sex. The work of Van Beirendonck has nothing to do with trends in clothing. Fantasy is important, as well as humour. Van Beirendonck’s fashion shows are always controversial.
In 1998 he started a shop annex gallery in Antwerp, together with Dirk Van Saene. In 2006, he became head of the fashion department of the Royal Art Academy in Antwerp and artistic director of Scapa Sports.

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Fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck about his work, death as inspiration and the difference between fashion and art

Even though he was recently in the hospital – he still expects to reach the age of a hundred years. And then, in 2357, exactly 300 years after he has deceased, he will be recovered in a colourful temple decorated with various symbols from nature. The temple’s entrance is guarded by a brown bear; the body rests in a tailored made sarcophagus – including erection! Ejaculating penises as far as you can see.
Horrific or controversial? In the universe Walter Van Beirendonck creates, death embraces its smaller brother. ‘It fits perfect’, the fashion king of Antwerp concludes.

This video is part of the The Art of Fashion exhibition, on view until January 10th 2010 at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.