History of fashion and contemporary art collide in new exhibition
Left: An exhibition room dedicated to Korea’s first generation designer Norah Noh. The 88-year-old designer is still said to draw patterns herself. Right: The “Everybody’s Fashion” section on the second floor displays stage costumes worn by famous stars as well as unique vintage clothes donated by Vogue Korea readers. [VOGUE KOREA]
An exhibition recently kicked off at the Culture Station Seoul 284, located by Seoul Station in central Seoul, where visitors can witness how Korean fashion trends have transformed over the past 100 years.
Organized by the fashion magazine Vogue Korea, “Mode & Moment: 100 Years of Korean Fashion,” invited some 60 major Korean fashion designers from Choi Kyung-ja (1911-2011) and Norah Noh, who led and shaped early Korean fashion, to the young fashion designers of today like Steve J & Yoni P and Junn. J.
The exhibition is divided in two large parts - the “Designers and Fashion” part on the first floor that displays clothes by fashion designers in chronological order, and the second “Everybody’s Fashion” that displays actual stage costumes worn by K-pop stars as well as unique vintage clothes donated by Vogue Korea readers.
Instead of only displaying clothes on mannequins in each room, Vogue Korea decided to work with contemporary artists to turn the exhibition itself into an art piece.
“We wanted to shed light on Korean fashion designers by collaborating with contemporary artists,” said Lee Mi-hye, the exhibition curator. For this, they asked contemporary artist Choi Jung-hwa’s help, who became the exhibition’s artistic director.
Left: “Masterpieces” of the exhibition, featuring 13 pieces selected by its fashion director and stylist Suh Young-hee that best summarize the exhibition. Right: A display of black and white wedding photographs showing old wedding gowns after Korea began to adopt western-style wedding dresses, sent by Vogue Korea readers. [VOGUE KOREA]
Tailors in Myeong-dong were what started the fashion boom between 1945 and the 1960s in Korea. One of the designers behind it, according to Suh Young-hee, the exhibition’s fashion director, was Choi Kyung-ja. Choi studied in Japan and opened one of Korea’s first Western-style tailor shops.
“I think this exhibition can be enjoyed by the whole family,” said Lee Myung-hee, editor in chief of Vogue Korea.
“A mother can come with her daughter and talk about what she wore in her day, while her young daughter can be in awe of her favorite singer’s stage costumes.”
BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [sharon@joongang.co.kr]
The exhibition runs until Sept. 22. Tickets cost 10,000 won ($9.19). There is Korean and English audio guides available.
The venue is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed Mondays. To purchase tickets, visit www.vouge.co.kr/vouge20.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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