‘The House of Viktor & Rolf’, the largest extensive exhibition ever presented in The Netherlands by the famous designer duo, opened at the Centraal Museum on 25 November. The exhibition offers all visitors the unique opportunity to experience an exclusive Viktor & Rolf fashion event. This retrospect draws attention to spectacular highlights from the Viktor & Rolf collection over the past fifteen years. During this period, the influential duo wowed the fashion world with their heady mix of cool irony and surreal beauty. Following a successful stint at the Barbican Art Gallery in London, the exhibition now moves to the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. The Centraal Museum places an integral focus on current fashion.

The House of Viktor & Rolf
True to the style of Viktor & Rolf, their unrivalled body of work is well represented here. An imposing dolls house accommodates meticulously crafted miniature replicas of original pieces, modelled by handmade porcelain dolls. The dolls are produced bearing the same ‘look’ displayed at fashion shows in Paris. The original creations also enjoy pride of place. Highlights include haute couture creations from Bedtime Story (2005-2006) with broderie Anglaise, quilting and ruche, and Russian Doll (1999-2000) where the designers made exclusive use of one model who they personally dressed in ten individual garments for a show more reminiscent of the performing arts.

International allure
The creations of Viktor and Rolf form part of prominent international collections and are displayed in various exhibits in the Kyoto Costume in Kyoto, the Musee de la Textile in Paris, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In 1998, the Centraal Museum became the first museum to purchase a Viktor & Rolf creation. Subsequently, the museum has remained up to date with the duo by acquiring a piece from virtually every collection released. The museum is presenting 29 of its Viktor & Rolf creations, forming a large part of the exhibition.

Viktor & Rolf
Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren have collaborated ever since they graduated from the Academy of Arts in Arnhem in 1992. In January 1998, they presented their first haute couture collection, followed by their first ready-to-wear collection in March 2000. Viktor & Rolf established themselves through their highly popular fragrance, Flowerbomb, and through a sell-out collection supplied to the H&M chain in 2006.

The exhibition has been realised in collaboration with Premsela, Dutch Platform for Design and Fashion.