7 May 2025  One of the next exhibition visits scheduled in the Fashion.at calendar leads to the atmospheric Geymüllerschlössel in Vienna's Pötzleinsdorf. Opening on 10 May 2025, SIDEKICKS. Rings and Bags from the MAK Collection marks the beginning of the new season at the MAK's branch in this historic Biedermeier villa. Co-curated by guest curator Ulrike Johannsen, the exhibition offers not only a visual journey through centuries of craftsmanship and fashion but also a conceptual reflection on how two intimate accessories—rings and bags—relate to the human body. Johannsen, a Vienna-based artist whose practice bridges applied and visual arts, addresses the challenge of display with a sculptural intervention: a circular pedestal in the domed hall, crowned with a cascade of wooden hands holding luxury handbags, visually reinforces the bodily connection of these carried objects. Carriers of Meaning: A Brief History of Bags and RingsAs introduced in the MAK's press material, Sidekicks traces the evolution of handbags and rings as carriers of both physical and symbolic significance. The exhibition highlights the development of the handbag from early embroidered pouches and ornate 19th-century travel bags to refined leather designs from the Wiener Werkstätte and iconic luxury pieces by Dior and Gucci. Among the objects on view, a surreal pig-shaped bag by Carol Christian Poell disrupts traditional narratives, injecting social commentary into the accessory's otherwise elegant trajectory.The rings on display span from medieval legate rings and iron-cast mourning rings to Jugendstil creations by René Lalique, Josef Hoffmann, and Dagobert Peche. Contemporary ring-sculptures by Austrian artists such as Petra Zimmermann, Peter Skubic, and Michelle Kraemer extend the conversation into the present, reflecting how jewelry continues to serve as a marker of identity, emotion, and authorship. By staging handbags and rings in direct relation to the human form—through sculptural hands and their intimate scale—the exhibition creates a dialogue between function, aesthetics, and bodily presence, bridging eras through objects of personal adornment and social meaning. Opening Weekend and a Glimpse AheadSidekicks opens to the public on 10 May 2025 with a program featuring music and garden events (weather permitting), as well as a tour led by Ulrike Johannsen and MAK curators Anne-Katrin Rossberg and Lara Steinhäußer. The exhibition will remain on view weekends only through 2 November 2025 at the MAK Geymüllerschlössel.Also scheduled in the Fashion.at calendar is the Eligius Prize 2025 exhibition, opening on 27 May 2025 at the MAK. Named after the patron saint of goldsmiths, the Eligius Prize is the most important award for contemporary jewelry in Austria. It showcases works by the nominees selected by a jury of international experts. The exhibition highlights a broad spectrum of conceptual and material approaches to jewelry, reflecting the evolving discourse on wearability, body politics, and the boundaries between design and fine art. Images (objects on view at the exhibition 'SIDEKICKS. Rings and Bags from the MAK Collection'): On the left, a richly embroidered Austrian travel bag from the mid-19th century features a detailed railroad motif crafted from leather, cotton, wool, glass, and metal beads—an object that reflects the growing importance of mobility and personal luxury at the end of the Biedermeier era. Photo: © MAK/Branislav Djordjevic On the right, a contemporary ring by Austrian artist Petra Zimmermann, created in 2016, fuses historical and modern elements: a gilded vintage metal clutch inscribed with 'XVII. Kochball 1934, Wien Hofburg' is embedded in transparent acrylic and accented with amethyst beads and gold-plated silver. Zimmermann is known for her sculptural jewelry, transforming found objects into bold, wearable statements. She was one of the nominees for the Eligius Award 2019, and previously won the prestigious prize in 2010. Photo: © Petra Zimmermann |