The Emperor's New Clothes – A project by Edwina Hörl

Edwina Hörl prints delineations of her collection "the emperor's new clothes" on loo paper. In reference to the fairy-tale of H.C.Andersen her articles of clothing transform into almost intangible objects. Refusing any material, they outline the vacancy of the bodies of the figures. The play with absence, which could be the absence of reality, or better, the pretence of reality, reflects the aspect of clothes as an image and a carrier of identity. With this ideal cancellation of materiality, labels as carriers of identity also momentarily vanish. The status of clothes as exclusive, unattainable objects of desire is both confirmed, and denied. The discrepancy between of the luxury of an item of fashion, and the same object's daily use in real life becomes clear. Edwina Hörl, by using loo paper as medium or as agency for her clothes, releases their nonentity. The toilet, as the place where we defecate, will be the stage for the cancellation of our cultural assets - at least for one day.

sabine winkler

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art direction + graphic design / so+ba
photography / seiji shibuya
model / hikaru