From the 29Th of January 2011 until the 5Th of June 2011 the Fashion Museum of Hasselt (MMH) shows visions of the future from the past, and the possible future of tomorrow. The Future That Never Was presents a ‘futuristic’ view on the magical year 2000 from fashion designers from the sixties and shows you a glance of new possibilities of tomorrow.

Throughout fashion history there has always been a strong connection between fashion and scientific, industrial innovations. Fashion designers have always used new technologies in their designs and the possible image of the future also springs from the new sciences and innovations. Modern discoveries and progress are often directly reflected in their designs and collections.

In the sixties a new generation of these ‘modern’ designers rises. Pierre Cardin, Andre Courrèges, Rudi Gernreich and Paco Rabanne amongst others experimented with new forms and (synthetic) materials. These designers often represent an era in which fashion does not find inspiration in the past, but eagerly looks at the future.

The Future That Never Was places these new possibilities next to the vision of the future of prominent designers from the Space Age period. A period that changed fashion forever.

In Alter Nature the focus is on changing nature. That humankind has an impact on nature is beyond question: we have been consciously changing nature since the beginning of time. This can range from the displacement and demarcation of nature to the setup of selective cultivation programmes; from animal species being bred into the perfect specimens and plant types that are grown to be more productive, to roses and carnations produced in all colours of the rainbow.

Over the last decade, developments in bio-science and technology have given this evolution new momentum. Conjuring genetic material out of nothing, or growing human skin in a laboratory; it may sound like futuristic science fiction, but this is reality.

What’s more, these developments have inspired not just scientists, but also artists, fashion and other designers. For this reason, Z33, the Fashion Museum Hasselt, CIAP, the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, the University of Hasselt and the MAD faculty have joined forces to present four different exhibitions and a symposium. 50 artists and designers explore how we can and do change nature, and how this changes our view of the world.

The Exhibitions will run from the 29th of January 2011 until the 5th of June 2011 at the ModeMuseum  (Fashion Museum Hasselt) Hasselt, Belgium.

Curator & concept: Kenneth Ramaekers
Assistant Curator: Eve Demoen
Research: Lise Braekers & Romy Cockx
Scenography: Lien Wauters
Design: Brusatto

Photos and source: ModeMuseum Hasselt | ModeMuseum website