Jean-Paul Lespagnard's 'Reflection' at Musée Mode & Dentelle in Brussels

The Musée Mode & Dentelle in Brussels celebrates its 40th anniversary by renaming itself from a costume museum to a museum of fashion and lace, and by hosting 'Reflection', a solo exhibition by Belgian fashion designer Jean-Paul Lespagnard (born 1979). Curated by Lespagnard himself, the show runs until April 15, 2018, and is spread over three levels. The first floor presents a wunderkammer of inspirations, including pop culture objects like a Manneken-Pis in traditional Belgian carnival costume, a Balinese evil goddess, and personal memorabilia, alongside works by contemporary masters Jan Fabre and Wim Delvoye. A piece by Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury is displayed to highlight the dialogue between art and fashion, as it influenced Marc Jacobs' silver bag for Louis Vuitton. The second floor features about twenty garments and scarves from Lespagnard's collections, such as 'Ich will nen Cowboy als Mann', which incorporate lace, masks by Maison Margiela, and references to Mehdi-Georges Lalou and Wim Delvoye's tire. Mirrors with frames emphasize details. The top floor is a participatory workshop where visitors can create their own scarf, which Lespagnard may one day produce. The exhibition's silhouettes will enter the museum's permanent collection, underscoring its new focus on contemporary creation. The lace section is being renewed through a biennial project called 'Textile Box' that will host emerging creators exploring contemporary applications of this ancient art.