Last month, Dutch design-duo Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren of Viktor&Rolf are bringing their dolls to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
The ROM’s exhibition, titled Dolls, is a recreation of the duo’s 15th anniversary celebration exhibit in 2008 titled “The House of Viktor & Rolf.” The 2008 exhibit, held in London, featured Victorian porcelain dolls dressed in Viktor&Rolf couture designs. The same dolls have been brought over to the ROM to be presented for the very first time in North America.
The exhibit was presented as part of this year’s Luminato festival, a ten-day celebration of the creative culture of artists who work in different mediums, including visual art, film, music, theatre, and — in the case of Viktor & Rolf — fashion
The Dutch designers use fashion as an art form by emphasizing that fashion is about evolution, risk-taking and being playful; not every doll is dressed as a princess in haute couture. Some of the designs are crazy and theatrical. The alluring effect of the dolls is a reflection of Viktor&Rolf as a brand — their designs and ideas are unpredictable and unique, while still remaining timeless.
The exhibition is eerily haunting but dazzling in person. Set up as a catwalk with the lights dimmed and music playing in the background, it’s the closest you could get to an actual fashion show. The dolls have a creepy, disturbing quality similar to the ones you would see in horror films and yet, they are delicate and unique. No two dolls look alike — each one is styled differently when it comes to hair, make up, design, and shoes.
What stands out most is the variation in designs. Each outfit on display is a replica of a different season from Viktor&Rolf. These designs range from classic pieces such as evening dresses to ready-to-wear coats and pants, and even extend to slightly more eccentric pieces with crazy patterns, floral details, and odd shapes.
By mimicking the experience of a fashion show, Dolls gives people a chance to admire the artists’ work up close. Not only have I become more familiar with Viktor & Rolf’s work, but I also finally get the appeal of the brand. The dolls recreate the meaning of femininity in the designs. Each doll’s persona is reflected in its outfit — isn’t that what fashion is all about? Like the dolls, women are often considered delicate creatures. But Viktor & Rolf prove that once you’re wearing their designs, you can be bold, daring, feminine, and different. After all, fashion is the most powerful form of self-expression.
