This coming autumn, Kunsthal Rotterdam’s HALL 2 will be entirely dedicated to the work of the world-famous Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen (1984). Van Herpen is one of the most avant-garde couturiers of her generation. With her pioneering use of innovative techniques in her profession, Van Herpen breaks with fashion conventions while at the same time embracing the traditional craftsmanship of haute couture. The exhibition Sculpting the Senses is a sensory exploration of the designer’s universe and presents an immersive retrospective that brings together fashion, contemporary art, design, and science. The Kunsthal is showcasing over a hundred iconic creations that illustrate how Van Herpen is constantly stretching the boundaries of haute couture. Sculpting the Senses celebrates Van Herpen’s multidisciplinary approach and offers a spectacular overview of her wide-ranging body of work. Her creations are highlighted through nine themes, a 21st-century cabinet of curiosities, and a replica of her Amsterdam atelier. The dazzling exhibition design guides visitors through immersive spaces, accompanied by a multisensory soundscape by Salvador Breed. From the tiniest to the biggest scale, the exhibition raises questions about the position of the body in the space, the relationship between clothes and the environment, and the future of the body in our rapidly changing world. In the exhibition, Van Herpen’s haute-couture pieces enter into a dialogue with contemporary artworks by, among others, Collectif Mé, Philip Beesley, Wim Delvoye, Kate MccGwire, Damien Jalet, Kohei Nawa, Casey Curran, Rogan Brown, Jacques Rougerie, and Tomáš Libertíny and with design objects by Neri Oxman, Ren Ri and Ferruccio Laviani.
September 27, 2025
