New York Fashion Designer Narciso Rodriguezs Exhibit Debuts in Miami
Narciso Rodriguez may be Cuban-American, but that isnt why the New York-based fashion designers first solo museum exhibition is opening at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU in Miami on October 16. It all came about through kismet according to the museums director, Dr. Jordana Pomeroy. She and the museums curator, Klaudio Rodriguez (no relation), had been toying with expanding into fashion when they were introduced to Narciso by artist and FIU graduate Teresita Fernndez during a benefactor luncheon in New York last year. Alex Gonzalez, Elle magazines creative director who also was there, signed on as co-curator.
We liked the idea of generating our own exhibit for our foray into fashion, said Klaudio. Klaudio co-curated nearly 40 ready-to-wear pieces and accessories dating from 2003 to today, as well as complementary works by visual artists for themed vignettes. Rather than a retrospective, we concentrated on the evolution of his aesthetic and his intellectual approach to keystone garments.
Narciso Rodriguez: An Exercise in Minimalism explores its namesake motif through linear silhouettes and a black-and-white palette, as well as stitching, embroidery and metallics. Each grouping receives its own custom-built display, where fashions mingle with works by the likes of Donald Judd, Carmen Herrera and Jennifer Steinkamp to form distinct installations. The artworks and buildout materials echo the dresses, said Klaudio, who even incorporated an aluminum sculpture by Lygia Clark for a trio of handbags, the only accessories represented in the exhibit. The layout allows 360-degree views so people can really see and understand how he constructed the garments.
Though Narciso designed mens wear for a period, the show focuses exclusively on his womens line. It also features sketches and a video from a runway presentation. The designer plans to attend a private reception on Saturday, October 15, from 6-9 p.m., and a members preview on Sunday, from 2-3 p.m., followed by the official, free opening from 3-6 p.m. Fans who would like to wear his fashions to the premiere can find the collection at Neiman Marcus in Bal Harbour and Coral Gables. The exhibit is on view through January, 8, 2017.
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