Albert Kriemler, who was awarded this week by the Couture Council of The Museum at FIT with its award for Artistry in Fashion, is one of the designers who has been impressing me with the creative background of his designs since many seasons. He is taking the term «inspiration» to the next level. For the first time, the Swiss designer showed in NYC at Lever House. The collection, which is one of his best ones, is dedicated to the work of New York artist Carmen Herrera.
Carmen Herrera (b. 1915), Blanco y Verde, 1959. Acrylic on canvas, two panels: 68 1/8 × 60 1/2 in. (173 × 153.7 cm) overall. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee 2014.63 © Carmen Herrera; courtesy Lisson Gallery, London
Albert Kriemler’s sketch for his first look.
The first look of the Akris S/S 2017 collection has obviously been inspired by Carmen Herrera’s work «Blanco y Verde».
“On my first visit to the new Whitney Museum in New York, in June 2015, I saw a painting I could not take my eyes off. It was „Blanco y Verde “, from 1959, an off-white plane with a green arrow-shaped triangle, by Carmen Herrera, born in 1915 and living in New York. Her sense of color and proportion, a blend of euphoria and perfect order, stunned me.” – Albert Kriemler
Albert Kriemler at the finale of his S/S 2017 show.
“The starting point in my creative thinking is pure intuition. It started with „Blanco y Verde “. It is a process of choosing from a multitude of options the one that blends emotion and purpose perfectly. I set out to translate her abstract, geometric lines which captured my mind and heart into a woman’s body language expressed in a relaxed and refined wardrobe.” – Albert Kriemler
„To Albert, My best wishes for a great success, Carmen Herrera, May 31st, 2016“ (her 101st birthday).
“On her 101st birthday, I met Carmen Herrera in her studio and we spoke about our work. I received her approval to design my next collection with the inspiration of her exceptional paintings.” – Albert Kriemler
Albert Kriemler seems to have truly a nose for trends. On September 16, 2016, Carmen Herrera‘s solo exhibition «Lines of Sight» opens at the Whitney Museum. It is her first museum exhibition in New York City in nearly two decades and it will close on January 2, 2017. Find out more about the amazing artist and the upcoming show here.
Below you can enjoy some of my favourite looks of the show!
LoL, Sandra
Carmen Herrera (b. 1915), Iberic, 1949. Acrylic on canvas on board, diameter: 40 in. (101.6 cm). Courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery © Carmen Herrera
Photos: Courtesy of the Whitney Museum and © Akris
