Paths Towards Modernity IV

A fictive documentary in art and fashion.





















1. Tadanori Yokoo Fuji Junko, 1991
2. Yohji Yamamoto Fall/Winter 2014
3. Tadanori Yokoo Throw Away Your Books, 1967
4. Yohji Yamamoto Fall/Winter 2014
5. Tadanori Yokoo Nishikicho, 2004
6. Yohji Yamamoto Fall/Winter 2014
7. Yohji Yamamoto Fall/Winter 2014
8. Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin Yohji Yamamoto Spring/Summer 1998
9. Tadanori Yokoo Genka (Illusory Flowers), 1975
10. Tadanori Yokoo Genka (Illusory Flowers), 1975
11. Yohji Yamamoto Fall/Winter 2009
12. Yohji Yamamoto Fall/Winter 2014
13. Yohji Yamamoto Fall/Winter 2014
14. Yohji Yamamoto Spring/Summer 2009
15. Tadanori Yokoo Genka (Illusory Flowers), 1975

At first glance, Yohji Yamamoto's latest collection felt like a departure.Towards tattoo and tribal, psychodelia and visual shock. Recurrent motifs: skulls, roses, serpents. In fact, it was not a change of methodology, nor psychology. Instead of covering everything in black dye/ink, the inner essence and tradition of Japanese visual culture was made visible. Yamamoto revealed himself (as friend of Tadanori Yokoo); of course only to those who remember.
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Poster Boys (Without Beuys)

Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin V Best: Five Years of V Magazine, 2005

Just like setcards from a model agency's development department, the cast of a new scripted reality show, or the long-overdue indie boy band - we are introduced to three unusually handsome actors headlining the greatest of all fashion plays.
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A Short History Of The Comic Strip In Popular Culture II

1. David Salle Spanner, 2009
2. Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2001
3. Neo Rauch Handel, 1999
4. Roy Lichtenstein Masterpiece, 1962
5. Comme des Garçons Spring/Summer 2010
6. Disney Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, 1925
7. Viktor & Rolf Fall/Winter 2008

The elliptic speech bubble. First it appears empty. A cipher (of white letters on white ground) for a post-idealistic, neo-realistic world. An empty void for empty words of empty individuals (David Salle and Neo Rauch). And, when this bubble is filled, we are confronted with words like 'I don't want the world to end.' (Comme des Garçons) or 'Look out world! I'm coming back!' (Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit) and finally 'No'/'Dream' (Viktor & Rolf). Subsequently, we are tempted to assume that - either way - speech bubbles are place holders for cries for help (and rescue). To be continued...
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Miusing Escher VI

1. Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2013
2. M. C. Escher Reptiles, 1943

Tin opener and luxury handbag. Lizard and cactus. Again, we are confronted with symbolism without meaning (see Welcome To Tomorrow). The still life as chain of associations, as exquisite corpse.
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A Short History Of Lips In Popular Culture II

1. Frédérique Lucien Sans Titre, 2010
2. Richard Burbridge Great Exaggerations, Vogue Italia March 2005
3. Maison Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 2009
4. Comme des Garçons Fall/Winter 2008
5. Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin Theatre Group, Vogue Paris August 2009
6. Prada Fall/Winter 2002 & Comme des Garçons Fall/Winter 2000

Glazed, attached or cut out. A symbolically supercharged Man Ray motif, lips are regarded as gate to the human soul, exchanged through the soft breeze of a thing called 'kiss'.
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Post Paris XIX

A false encyclopaedic guide to the menswear collections, presenting:
Ann Demeulemeester Spring/Summer 2013

1. Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion
2. Haider Ackermann by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
3. Paolo Roversi for Interview Magazine June/July 2011

Apparently, Ann Demeulemeester was inspired by Hugh Hefner. Well presumably not. Still, there was a luxurious softcore feel reminiscent of the aesthetics of her bvba 32 companion Haider Ackermann and the poetic shine in the photographs of Paolo Roversi.
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