2009

• Diverse collection of medical postcards in the Tropenmuseum
• This summer the Tropenmuseum pulls out all the stops when it stages a Caribbean Carnival for the whole family
• 'China's Qi' exhibition in Tropenmuseum Junior in Amsterdam
• Critical art from Indonesia at the Tropenmuseum
• Culture on the Catwalk in the Tropenmuseum

Culture on the Catwalk in the Tropenmuseum

During the coming months, visitors to the Tropenmuseum will have the opportunity to admire the work of young designers from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. The designers have looked for inspiration from the clothes and accessories of world cultures. The Tropenmuseum’s new exhibition Cultuur Couture will be displaying a selection of their very best designs. In doing so, the museum provides a platform to showcase young talent and demonstrates how the interaction of western and non-western influences proves inspirational for new cultural creations.

The exhibition Cultuur Couture will run from 16 December until 16 May in the Gallery at the Tropenmuseum. On Sunday 24 January, the exhibition will be brought to life in two special catwalk performances in the Tropenmuseum’s impressive Light Hall (starting at 14.00 and 15.00).
Every academic year, designers from Antwerp's trailblazing Fashion Academy are given a specific project to work on. Third-year students have to create an example of traditional dress, originating from a world culture chosen by the students themselves. During the first half of the year, they design a replica of their chosen outfit and then use this as inspiration for the design of a contemporary collection. This calls for careful and detailed research into culture, patterns, textiles, hairstyles and makeup. The academy is convinced that studying an ethnic population group can lead to startling discoveries. Combined with the designers’ own experience, knowledge, creativity and expertise, this results in the creation of a truly original collection.

Designers
The exhibition in the Tropenmuseum showcases the work of four young designers: Izumi Hongo, Setareh Mohtarez, Matthieu Thouvenot and Pierre-Antoine Vettorello. It includes their replicas of traditional dress, two contemporary designs, special sketch books, video portraits of the designers and a film of the students presenting their work. This provides a revealing behind-the-scenes look at the students’ research and design process.

No fashion without a show
On 24 January, visitors will have the opportunity to admire as many as six different collections in two catwalk performances set against the unique backdrop of the Light Hall’s monumental staircase. The collections are the work of the designers Nathalie Fordeyn, Izumi Hongo, Mariel Manuel, Setareh Mohtarez, Matthieu Thouvenot and Pierre-Antoine Vettorello. The performances promise to be spectacular, yet understated, presentations combined with choreography and musical compositions specifically designed for the Tropenmuseum. The models, whose look is as varied as the designs, will be accompanied by celebrity Kim Vos, famous for the TV programme Benelux’s Next Top Model.
Much more than a standard fashion show, the performance in the Tropenmuseum will be a startling and intimate presentation of the designs. It will enable visitors to focus in on the clothes in a unique way.

The Antwerp Academy
For many years, Antwerp's Fashion Academy has been a leading name in the world of fashion. Perhaps most famous are the ‘Antwerp six’: designers, including Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester and Walter van Beirendonck, who were instrumental in putting Antwerp on the map as city of fashion in the 1980s. Recent graduates of the academy include such established talents as Veronique Branquinho, Martin Margiela and Bruno Pieters. The academy attracts talented designers to Antwerp from all over the world.

Creative concept
The idea for the exhibition and performance in the Tropenmuseum came from gallery owner and curator Jedithja de Groot and style director Djinn Kwekkeboom. In 2008, they also developed a project with the Antwerp Fashion Academy set in the courtyard garden of Haarlem’s Frans Hals Museum and inspired by Haarlem and Antwerp’s shared history in the Golden Age. At 14.00 on 10 January, Jedithja de Groot and Djinn Kwekkeboom will give a presentation at the Tropenmuseum detailing how the exhibition Cultuur Couture came to life.

Amsterdam Fashion Week 23 – 31 January 2010
The catwalk performance on 24 January is part of Fashion Week DOWNTOWN, the public programme of Amsterdam International Fashion Week. Fashion Week DOWNTOWN was established several years ago to meet the significant public demand for Fashion Week events.

Note: due to the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the Royal Tropical Institute the exhibition 'Culture Couture' will be closed for public on 10, 11 and 12 March.

About the Tropenmuseum
The Tropenmuseum presents, studies and promotes knowledge of and interaction with other cultures. The museum offers perception and experience to a wide and diverse audience using the full spectrum of museological means, which includes exhibitions, collections and expertise, publications, the historic building and educational and other activities. The Royal Tropical Institute’s museum is internationally involved in the areas of culture and development. The Tropenmuseum receives support from the BankGiro Loterij.

Contact details:
Linnaeusstraat 2
Amsterdam
+31 (0)20-568 8200
tropenmuseum@kit.nl
www.tropenmuseum.nl

The Tropenmuseum is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm.
On 24 and 31 December open from 10 am – 3 pm.
The museum is closed on 1 January, 30 April, 5 May and 25 December

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Note to editors
For more information please contact Kimberley Piqué at the Tropenmuseum, on tel. +31 (0)20 – 568 8422 or by e-mail: k.pique@kit.nl. 

Press photos

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