From 15 June to 15 September 2019, the Kunsthal Rotterdam presents an exhibition about hip hop and its influence on fashion and lifestyle:'Street Dreams:How Hiphop took over Fashion'. Streetwear dictates the pace and aesthetics of the fashion industry and is changing the way it evolves. Hip-hop is the leading youth culture that dominates the charts and the worldwide street scene:from a source of inspiration for high fashion brands to making sportswear common as a daily outfit.
The Bronx is the birthplace of hip-hop culture. This New York suburb was literally and figuratively on fire in the 1970s. Violence, poverty and discrimination are the order of the day. This creates a 'do it yourself' culture in which originality and 'credibility' are central. Creativity is the essence of hip-hop, and fashion is the connecting element. Even if you were born on a dime, you can still look like a million bucks. The exhibition 'Street Dreams:How Hiphop took over Fashion' shows – in different spaces – the looks, the codes and the creative power of hip-hop. The pioneers who inspire fashion houses, the hypebeasts who camp in front of shops for days and the hip-hop artists who sit front row at fashion shows.
Street Dreams:How Hiphop took over Fashion in the presence of Kunsthal director Emily Ansenk and curator Shehera Grot. The exhibition opens on Saturday 15 June at 8 p.m. The press is most welcome at the tour and the opening. Please register in advance via [email protected]
The Mixtape
The first space, 'The Mixtape', gives an impression of the evolution of hip-hop. From the rough 70s in the Bronx with the emergence of various 'gangs' that combine a leather motorcycle jacket with a denim jacket with cut sleeves as 'streetwear', to the 80s in which hip-hop style is influenced by break dancers. This b-boy style is characterized by the 'Kangol' hat, flat laces and large gold chains. The video shows the baggy clothing of the 90s, the emergence of specific hip-hop fashion labels and well-known rappers starting their own clothing line in the following decade.
The Gallery With top pieces by contemporary artists, 'The Gallery' reflects the hip-hop dream:being very successful, earning a lot of money and the 'attitude'. It includes work by artists Nick Cave, Thomas J. Price and Kehinde Wiley. The latter is known for his colorful and ornamented variations on classical paintings in which he focuses on the black man. Images by photographers such as Jamal Shabazz, Janette Beckman and Dana Lixenberg show the early years of hip-hop fashion, enriched with samples that are highlighted in a museum setting. Also on display is the special video artwork 'Winter in America' from 2006 by artists Hank Willis Thomas and Kambui Olujimi, about the cold-blooded murder of Willis Thomas's cousin. And also the iconic photo of Djamilla Rosa Cochran of rapper Cam'Ron in his pink mink coat with which he appeared at the Fashion Week in New York in 2002.
The Masters
In this space, pioneers and key figures from the hip-hop fashion industry address the public in a larger-than-life immersive spatial installation, specially developed for the exhibition. Heroes like April Walker, David Fischer and Virgil Abloh* share their personal stories about their role in hip-hop history and influence on the fashion industry today. At the start of their career they hit high walls, but now the doors of renowned fashion houses are wide open. The Netherlands also has major game changers, including Edson Sabajo, co-founder of the clothing brand Patta, who also shares his story in 'The Masters'.
The Streets
Hip-hop, once started in The Bronx, is now a worldwide phenomenon! Young people queue for hours for a product launch of a unique collaboration like Nike x Patta. Wearing sneakers to the office, wearing sportswear outside the gym; it has become very normal. New hip-hop talent stands up and takes over from their predecessors. 'The Street' reflects the current streetscape and offers the opportunity to think about 'the next step'.
Additional activities and events will take place during the exhibition, such as special tours, lectures, Masterclass and The Perfect Night on September 13. Keep an eye on the website for more information.
www.kunsthal.nl
Photo:Jamel Shabazz, Rude Boy, Brooklyn, NYC, 1981 ©photo Jamel Shabazz
