Male might, female seduction: ‘hair’ winds its way through history like a connecting thread. Human hair is incorporated into jewellery and fashion, is used for artworks and installations, and is found in a diversity of forms – especially on the body itself. Hair is an intriguing and controversial subject for us, especially since it is – literally – so close to humankind. Remarkably enough, this theme there has never been the subject of comprehensive research. The Centraal Museum is breaking new ground by staging a major exhibition (1,000 m2) about this unique material. HAIR! is about the art and the knowledge, the historical and the topical, providing novel insights about this topic. However, the main focus is on hair as a statement. The exhibition is a quest and adventure that explores the employment of this unique material and will involve the visitor being invited to make an active contribution to the exhibition.
The exhibition has been conceived on the basis of cultural-historical research, focusing on developments in fashion and the visual arts. HAIR! therefore includes designs by boundary-breaking, international fashion designers and artists who have been inspired by this material. HAIR! boasts works by renowned international artists like Melanie Bilenker, Charlie Le Mindu, Julien d’Ys, Christiaan Houtenbos, Zoran Todorovic, Bob Recine and Silvia B. The exhibition was compiled by Ninke Bloemberg and designed by Harm Rensink and Niek Pulles.
HAIR! Human Hair in Fashion and Art
February 20 – May 29, 2016
Centraal Museum, Utrecht, Netherlands
MELANIE BILENKER Gather (from the Pinning Series) (brooch), 2013. Hair, paper, gold, mineral crystal, 2 x 1 1/4 x 1/8 inches
