Geometrically Wired. IO Van Oostveldt between clothing and art

Written by: Lotte Leenknegt. Reviewed by: Lucinda Chen.

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‘I was a maverick, not a real fashion designer. I did what I wanted back then, I had no pretensions about that. I always wanted to try things that weren't on the market yet: different materials and experiments.’

When conducting our research, we pay attention to the latest happenings in the fashion industry. That's how we came across the “Geometrically Wired. IO Van Oostveldt: Between Clothing and Art” at MoMu in Antwerp. This exhibition highlights the Belgian artist's impressive designs, including her unique dresses and sweaters.

IO Van Oostveldt, born Charlotte Van Oostveldt 1928, studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. In the 1960s she started designing clothes, using knitwork and developed chenille wire with lurex.

IO Van Oostveldt was always a bit hidden behind the success of her husband Mark Verstockt (1930-2014), a member of the ZERO movement in Belgium around the 1950s. The couple found each other in their fascination for geometric shapes. This exhibition highlights her contribution to the avant-garde movement in Belgium and shows her unique works to the broader public.

Visitors to the exhibition get an insight into Van Oostveldt's creative process as the sketchbooks that inspired her designs are displayed, and some images of these copies are also presented to give attendees an idea of her creations. Moreover, there is a video that showcases the designer flipping through the pages of her sketchbook, adding a personal touch to the exhibition. Her work is inspired by geometrical shapes and experiments.The exhibition is an interesting example to exhibit the work of a fashion designer, showcasing her works, design process, and her life.

Aside from her fashion designs, the exhibition also features some of Van Oostveldt's visual artwork, creating an intriguing link between these two art forms.

The exhibition ‘Geometrically Wired’ runs until July 30 at the MoMu in Antwerp.

Sources:

De Tijd. “De geometrische modepatronen van IO Van Oostveldt in het ModeMuseum,” March 21, 2023. https://www.tijd.be/cultuur/expo/de-geometrische-modepatronen-van-io-van-oostveldt-in-het-modemuseum/10450805.html.

“Io Van Oostveldt | Kunstenaars | Collecties | M HKA, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen.” Accessed May 2, 2023. https://www.muhka.be/nl/programme/detail/1497-harmonieus-denken-een-blik-op-het-archief-mark-verstockt-io-van-oostveldt-/artist/4367-io-van-oostveldt.

MoMu Antwerp. “Geometrically Wired. IO Van Oostveldt tussen kleding en kunst / MoMu - ModeMuseum Antwerpen,” January 31, 2023.https://www.momu.be/nl/tentoonstellingen/geometrically-wired.