WinterSALON/2014 introducing first time participant at SALON/: Frans-Pieter Vonck (showing at the Posthoorn kerk in collaboration with Conny Groenewegen)
Waxed capes and robots installation on exhibit at the Posthoornkerk
Vonck
and Groenewegen share a deep fascination for what they define as
'Tactile Techne', technology that generates motoric cultural memory and creative physical agency.
They regard teaching as a means of transfering cultural history. The effect of this transfer manifest itself in creative and playfull changes in the students present physical life.
Both see fashion as an act of creation and interpretation, not as an act of consumption and canonization.
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| Robots by Frans-Pieter Vonck |
About: Frans-Pieter Vonck (Bagdad 1967) is fascinated by what he regards,"the
absurd consequences of using modern technology in the transfer of cultural
knowledge".
Vonck studied tropical agricultural engineering in Wageningen. He
graduates on the design of a neural network for the Amsterdam Sewage
Department. After working a few years as a water systems engineer he
starts teaching science at highschools. In Vonck's lessons students are taken on an exploration of the bizar
consequences of new technology in everyday life. Often new instruments
need to be created to reveal hidden meaning of modern science. For
instance, students used the blurred windowed glasses (part of the WAXED
CAPES AND
ROBOTS installation) in order to observe the near future of the so called
'augmented' reality. In 2013 Vonck wins a fashion price at the Arnhem Mode Biennale (the
"Fetish"- editon, curated by Lidewij Edelkoort). His contribution was
an ominous apron made of car mats, accompanied with self composed music. "Never was an apron so rebelious", comments the jury
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Waxed capes by Conny Groenewegen
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About: Conny Groenewegen (1973) explores the evolution
of ideas at the interface of fashion, technology and design. She situates herself where inventions in
production technology define themselves into new artifacts that change how we
perceive ourselves.
While being fascinated by the technical and
societal implications of the industralisation of fashion design, her work is
always a reflection of the human measure. The tension between mechanisation and
handwork, industry and artisan, is clearly observable in her designs. She
defines her style as “soft tech”, technology that has been touched by human
hands and gives us a hopefull vision for the symbiosis between human and
machine and creating a more intimate relationship between technology and the
body. Collections,
selection:
-“Rupture”,
lasercut contours, with wild erratic slids, by a frantic beam of light. Giving insight in the
consequences of optimizing mechanised pattern cutting.
-“Alchemy”,
transformations of eartlhy materials like wool and silk into new elements of
style and devotion.
-“Primary Explorers”, hiding its secrets in the
depths of wrinkles, crumples and crinkles offering a sensual exploration for
the touch and the skin. Fabrics processed from thin layers of time that make
the models look like elemental travellers. Opening show at the fashion week
Tokyo, spring 2013.
-Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Award winner —2011
“The jury was instantly
and unanimously convinced by the artistic integrity of this designer who
provides the fashion industry with much needed oxygen”
Conny Groenewegen teaches ”design and fashion”
at several (inter)national fashion and design institutes. She is mastering both
technical and practical aspects of fashion design which she combines with an
intuitive curiousity in the ideas of her students.
Before establishing her
brand in 2007 Conny Groenewegen has worked with international designers and
brands such as Alexander van Slobbe, Yoshiki Hishinuma and Droog Design. Conny Groenewegen participated and went to China with SALON/BJ during Bejing Designweek in 2013, she worked on her RAW Capes in the Dashilar Area in Beijing
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| Waxed capes and robots installation on exhibit at the Posthoornkerk |
