9 June 2022

Exploring the creation of identity at the exhibition '(Con)temporary Fashion Showcase: Susanne Bisovsky' at the MAK-branch Geymüllerschlössel from 11 June until 28 August 2022

The creation of identity is the core topic at the upcoming exhibition of the 2nd edition of the '(Con)temporary Fashion Showcase'-series at the MAK - Museum of Applied Arts Vienna branch Geymüllerschlössel. Austrian award-winning designer Susanne Bisovsky explores since she moved around 30 years ago from Linz, Upper Austria to Vienna folk art, clothing and the history of Austria with focus on areas with relation to the country's capital. Traditional clothing customs as in rural regions aren't practiced in Vienna; Vienna hasn't a typical 'Tracht' (traditional clothing). The reason is simple. The population of Vienna consists - typical for metropolitan cities in general - in large parts of migrants from provinces and other countries. Significant styles of Austrian traditional clothing were developed in smaller communities and functioned also for recognition purposes on occasion of region-crossing festivities.

At the upcoming exhibition '(Con)temporary Fashion Showcase: Susanne Bisovsky', the designer presents her ideal-typical cosmopolitan woman as a kind of homage and idealized personification of her vision of Vienna, where she has lived and worked for over three decades. It's announced that the designer will present and sign her book 'Wiener Chic. Mode für eine große Stadt' (published in February 2022 in German/English) at the opening on 11 June.

Images: Susanne Bisovsky ensembles from the 'Chic Slavique' collection, 2010. Photo (left): © Wolfgang Zac. Photo (right): © Atelier Olschinsky.
At the press release, Susanne Bisovsky's work is described as "Textiles souvenirs of an imagined metropolis" where citations of regional garments lose their clear legibility and become 'international': "Her "Chic Slavique," for example, may evoke reminiscences of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, but originates from the contrast of heterogeneous elements like colorful woven rugs from Romania and the typical Austrian golden cap."