Walter Van Beirendonck: Dream the World Awake, the gobsmacker exhibition first mounted by Antwerp’s fashion museum in 2011, opens at RMIT University in Melbourne next week. Voxfrock will publish its exclusive interview with Mr. Van Beirendonck on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s official kick-off. Remember to subscribe here and Like us on Facebook for first dibs. Scroll down now, for exhibition details and a few mind-boggling free events scheduled to coincide with Mr. Van Beirendonck’s visit to Melbourne with Chris Dercon, Director of the Tate Modern, London.
These are thrill-a-minute days for fashion’s most ardent followers. Not least the young man photographed in this striking series of multiple exposure images by Monty Coles for his photblog, theloupe.org. Ahead of a momentous week in fashion for Melbourne and the jet-load or six bound from interstate, Voxfrock is pleased to introduce Mr. Walter Van Beirendonck’s Number One Aussie fan…
Octavius models from his Walter Van Beirendonck archive for Monty Coles.
“Walter Van Beirendonck” doesn’t roll off the tongue. The veteran Belgian fashion artist, one of the legendary “Antwerp Six”, isn’t exactly a household name either. But to this former model turned collector-slash-businessman known simply as Octavius (pictured), Mr. Van Beirendonck is hero, icon, and a reason to dress wildly, expressively, attention-grabbingly beautifully every single day. Octavius’ online archive and store, dotcomme is a rare font of collectable fashion that sustains his own hunger, and that of a slowly swelling base of Mr. Van Beirendonck’s fans.
“From a young age I have always loved dressing up,” Octavius says. “I have always had an interest in international designers, especially from Japan, (but) Walter van Beirendonck was the catalyst in me finding my passion.”
Octavius models from his Walter Van Beirendonck archive for Monty Coles.
Voxfrock met Octavius last week in Monty Coles’ Melbourne photographic studio. The lower half of this soft-spoken young man’s face was painted silver, leaving high cheekbones dramatically bare below monkish, bowl-cut hair. He had slipped into a silver nylon fingertip jacket with mysterious pockets and clip-studs everywhere and was posing, flapping his arms obediently then apparently instinctively, for Mr. Coles’ camera. Sliding between and around them, constantly filming, a small video crew lead by Monty’s son, Max Coles of arthurandangus.com filmed the mesmerising experiment. Watch it here.
Octavius walked the world’s runways as a model but today, he is working his way through a rack of his very own Walter Van Beirendonck originals. This is how that passion he mentioned earlier, had manifest. “Walter inspired me to explore and begin my collection of garments from COMME des GARCONS, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and of course, Walter.” He has avidly collected and archived W&L.T. and Walter Van Beirendonck for enough years to stock a mini museum and now showcases and sells them online.
Octavius models from his Walter Van Beirendonck archive for Monty Coles.
“Why Walter?” was the obvious question and Octavius plunged enthusiastically into the answer. “When I wear pieces by Walter it makes me feel happy and ready to take on the day,” he says. “I get a kick out of wearing a piece of history and you can’t help but smile when you see the bold graphics and unique concepts of his designs. I love the story telling in his collections and the background and meaning for him designing them, it is a unique point of difference for Walter when comparing him to other designers.”
“When I wear pieces by Walter it makes me feel happy and ready to take on the day…”
Octavius is an avid researcher, meticulous record keeper and, last year, tracked Walter Van Beirendonck to the source of his art, Antwerp. He didn’t meet the great man in person, but the experience was profound. “(It) inspired me to show Australia a different side of fashion, share my enthusiasm and knowledge for these designers, and make it accessible for Australian’s to purchase,” he says. “My Walter collection consists of hundreds of pieces that I will be adding to the online store every few months.”
Now, there is just one thing left to complete Octavius’ devotion to Walter. A meeting. If only….”Walter, meet Octavius. Octavius, meet…”
Visit Octavius’ collection here: dot.COMME
Octavius models from his Walter Van Beirendonck archive for Monty Coles.
Walter Van Beirendonck: Dream the World Awake, from 17 July until 5 October 2013, is the first major international event to be presented in the iconic RMIT Design Hub building, designed by architect Sean Godsell at the corner of Victoria and Swanston Streets, Melbourne..
It was facilitated by philanthropist business leader and supporter of the arts Naomi Milgrom AO, and is sponsored by Sofitel Melbourne On Collins.
The exhibition has travelled from its original home at MoMu–Fashion Museum Province of Antwerp.
Walter Van Beirendonck is renowned for his, often startling, conceptual fashion art. This multi-faceted exhibition features more than 70 outfits on revolving mannequins, runway videos, photographic installations and an eight-metre ‘Wonder Wall’ that ostensibly brings Mr. Van Beirendonck’s creative vision to life.
DON’T MISS:
IN CONVERSATION WITH WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK,
MONDAY 15 JULY, 6PM START
RMIT STOREY HALL »
RSVP EVENTS@RMIT.EDU.AU
A very special free event featuring fashion videos and a live discussion between Walter Van Beirendonck and Chris Dercon, Director, Tate Modern, London. Hosted by Associate Professor Robyn Healy with an introduction by Professor Margaret Gardner, AO, Vice-Chancellor and President,RMIT University.
CURATOR’S TOUR
WEDNESDAY 17 JULY 3 – 4PM
RMIT DESIGN HUB, (Cnr. Victoria and Swanston Streets, Carlton) PROJECT ROOM 1, LEVEL 2 »
RSVP EVENTS@RMIT.EDU.AU
DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAY 17 JULY, 6.15PM START
ACMI CINEMAS, FEDERATION SQUARE (Cnr. Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne).
Free tickets available on the day from the ACMI Tickets and Information Desk
Join Antwerp’s Mode Museum Director Kaat Debo for a special curator’s tour on the first public day of the Walter Van Beirendonck: Dream The World Awake exhibition at Design Hub. Follow up this insightful tour with a conversation between Chris Dercon and
Kaat Debo at ACMI Cinemas.
LECTURE » CHRIS DERCON
THURSDAY 18 JULY 11AM – 12.30PM
RMIT DESIGN HUB, LECTURE THEATRE, LEVEL 3 »
RSVP BRONWYN.HUGHES@RMIT.EDU.AU
Join London’s Tate Modern Director, Chris Dercon, for a compelling public lecture on curating, art and all things fashion at RMIT Design Hub. Co-hosted by Professor Jeremy Diggle, RMIT University School of Art.
RMIT DESIGN HUB
designhub.rmit.edu.au
Janice Breen Burns, jbb@voxfrock.com.au
