For the 2010 edition, Art Brussels has invited and internationally renowned fashion designer. The work of Walter Van Beirendonck, probably the most famous of the Antwerp designers, well-known for his colourful sculptural forms, creates contemporary visual art related cross-over installations.
The carrier bag, the prints of the shirts of the stewards at Art Brussels and the installation of Walter Van Beirendonck in Hall 1 (1D-12B) all refer to the concept of the "Wonde® Gallery". The Wonder Gallery is an imaginary gallery, originated from a fantasy of Van Beirendonck. It is about the illusion of creating the ultimate gallery as a soap bubble that is only present in its form, not in its content. Van Beirendonck created an art work that has everything to do with the language of marketing and brands. His art work is a logo with the famous Walter pictogram. Van Beirendonck is fascinated by the way ho certain words adopt new significations
due to our "brand" culture : living in a world where copyrights and registrations are dominant, it is hard not to think in a conditioned kind of way. For example the word "Apple" makes us think first of the computer than the fruit.
Is it an allusion to “play ghost under the bed-sheets” when I was a child?
Is it an early reminiscence of seeing a dick through a glory hole?
Probably, but not only that gave me the idea to realize this installation...
The installation “TRIPLE X” is a loud cry for freedom.
Freedom, we have to fight for more than ever before.
It is a big “fuck you” to all the religions, media, governments and people who are trying to influence or change the perception of the world.
Censorship and limitation of expressions has to be stopped.
I “used” and referred to different impressions of cultures and religions, to create an uncanny image,
which should raise questions.
The 3 figures are covered by big hand-embroidered flags, with bright colours and patterns, which refer to my
fashion-collections.
The stories told on the flags refer to different subjects.
- “Take a W-Ride/War on Hate” – title of the last winter collection 2011 – inspiration from afghan war-carpets.
- “Ride the bear” – a fairy-tale about me and the bears - WONDE®-collection 2010
- “Flags” – a patchwork of flags refers to the name of collections and subjects I reacted on in my career.
To underline this uncanny feeling and to create a gender-tension, I let the figures wear double-heeled men’s-shoes from the eXplicit-collection summer 2009.
The three latex dildo’s through the holes do refer to the fact that in certain religions men have to make love,
while wearing a nightgown with a strategic placed hole…. because god wants it that way.
My intention of this installation is exactly the same intention I have while working on my fashion-collections:
"to tell a story in a way that raises a smile, but at the same time communicates deeper critics."