Fashion, art, design, science and technology collide in the world of endlessly innovative and internationally acclaimed Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen. Exclusive to Brisbane, this exhibition is an immersive sensory exploration of her practice with close to 100 garments in conversation with contemporary artworks, natural history specimens and cultural artefacts from which the designer draws inspiration.

Created for the likes of Beyonce, Björk, Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga and Tilda Swinton, van Herpen’s sculptural silhouettes stem from a deep curiosity about the universe and a highly collaborative approach to haute couture. Her unconventional and dynamic approach to fabrics and techniques combines subtle hand-crafting with sophisticated technologies such as 3D printing to evoke the intricacy and diversity of the natural world, from marine biology to quantum physics.

Curated by Cloé Pitiot and Louise Curtis from Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, in collaboration with Nina Miall and Jacinta Giles from QAGOMA, ‘Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses’ includes an evocation of the designer’s Amsterdam studio, revealing the stages of a dress in development, and a space dedicated to her fashion shows. The entire exhibition is accompanied by a soundscape by artist Salvador Breed.

In this resource, find out more about works from the QAGOMA Collection featured in the exhibition, listen to talks with co-curator Cloé Pitiot or explore the full exhibition catalogue. 

‘Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses’ is on display at GOMA from 29 June to 7 October 2024.

Feature image: Iris van Herpen’s Morphogenesis dress, from the ‘Sensory Seas’ collection 2020 / Lasercut screenprinting mesh, duchesse stain, lasercut Plexiglas / Collaborator: Philip Beesley / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen / Photograph and © David Ụzọchukwu