WALK WALK FASHION BABY

EXHIBITION REVIEWS

BY: MADDY HOWARD

Fashion and art have strutted into the Bata Shoe Museum with the Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes. The exhibition offers a 45-year retrospective of Manolo Blahnik, one of the most influential figures within the fashion industry. This exhibition displays the blurring of boundaries between art and fashion by showcasing over 200 of his favourite shoes and 80 original drawings.

Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes Entrance. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

The exhibition, curated by Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz, began its exclusive tour in Milan in 2017 at the Palazzo Morando, from there travelling to Saint Petersburg, Prague and Madrid. Toronto is the final, and only North American stop for this innovative and spellbinding exhibition. 

Manolo Blahnik's career spans over 40 years, with his inventiveness and artisanship capturing the attention of the fashion industry. Blahnik started his career as a set designer, but by 1971, he relocated to London to focus on shoemaking. His career blossomed in 1972, when Ossie Clark (the most famous designer in London) used his shoes. A year later, he opened his first shop in Chelsea. His shoes continue to be made by hand, which produces little over one hundred pairs a day.

These feats of fashion have graced the feet of many celebrities over the years. Some fans of Blahnik's include Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker (and her Sex and the City character, Carrie Bradshaw), Michelle Obama, Anna Wintour, and Princess Diana. Blahnik also created the footwear for the film Marie Antoinette, directed by Sofia Coppola. Several of the shoes from the film are on display in the exhibition.

Fancy Footwear. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

The exhibition is divided into sections based on Blahnik's inspiration. Visitors are able to see the themes and ideas that shaped Blahnik's artistic vision over his career. These inspirations include fantasy, art and architecture, geography, botany, courtiers, and stylish influencers, all of which have come to life in his footwear. The sections help guide the visitors but there is no direct path to follow. Visitors have freedom to engage with these fancy pieces of footwear in any way they choose.

Botany Inspiration. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

Exhibition Interior. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

There are several aspects of this exhibition that work well to engage and intrigue the visitors. The first is the inclusion of the conceptual drawings of the footwear. The comparisons between the drawings and the finished product allows visitors to see how the design evolved from conception to completion. It is interesting and exciting to look at these incredible two-dimensional designs and see them recreated into an actual, physical object. To think about the detail and intricacy it takes to create such pieces of art truly boggles the mind. 

From Concept to Reality. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

Conceptual designs. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

It should also be noted that there is not a lot of text in the exhibition. The only text is the introduction at the beginning and brief explanations at the beginning of each section. The labels for the shoes only include the name of the shoe and the year. For some shoes, there is one sentence to indicate where inspiration came from or if a notable individual wore them. This was an appreciated aspect as it allowed the shoes to speak for themselves.

Example of Labels. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

Shoe Inspired by Alexander the Great. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

Finally, visitors are treated to a section inspired by Blahnik's workshop. There they can learn more about the technical aspects of Blahnik and his creative genius. This section works well to educate visitors about the astounding detail and work that goes into every shoe. It adds another layer to understanding how the pieces of art are given life, instead of just seeing the beginning and the end. A video screen also plays a short video of Blahnik discussing his work and giving advice to visitors.

Blahnik's Workshop. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

Putting Together the Perfect Shoe. Photo courtesy of Maddy Howard.

Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes brings art and fashion together and truly exemplifies the artistic nature of shoes. It also displays Blahnik's genius and innovation in a fun and engaging way, especially by allowing the shoes to speak for themselves.

The exhibition opened May 16, 2018 and runs until January 6, 2019, so strut over to the Bata Shoe Museum to kickback with some spectacular shoes.

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