At Close Range:
Kostas Murkudis and the MMK Collection
17 July 2015–14 February 2016
Opening: Thursday, 16 July, 8pm
MMK 2 of the MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main
Taunustor 1
60310 Frankfurt am Main
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6pm,
Wednesday 10am–8pm
“Art has accompanied me all my life; it’s part of my life, part of my curiosity.” – Kostas Murkudis
Kostas Murkudis (b. 1959, Dresden) is a crosser of borders. On a constant search for new challenges and ideas, he roams between fashion and the visual arts. His presentation forms undermine the conventions of the fashion world and his designs address performative, sculptural and conceptual issues; together, they change our accustomed conception of fashion.
Kostas Murkudis is among the most influential designers in Germany. His oeuvre occupies a realm between free artistic endeavour and commercial work for the fashion industry. In the position of creative director, he has developed fashion lines and looks for companies such as New York Industrie, Pringle of Scotland, Closed and, most recently, Ter et Bantine. In 1994, he founded his own label—KOSTAS MURKUDIS—and over the years has frequently cooperated with artists in the creation of his designs. With his “laboratory collections,” Murkudis has been experimenting with fashion independently of the industry’s marketing and production conditions since 2009.
In 2013, Murkudis donated three complete fashion lines of the past years to the MMK. Parts of these collections are here being presented in combination with earlier and more recent ones as well as individual Murkudis creations in an exhibition designed by the artist Carsten Nicolai and the architect Aaron Werbick. For the presentation at the MMK 2, Murkudis has moreover selected numerous works from the museum’s holdings which he is staging in dialogue with his own designs and works. The exchange with art, an aspect Murkudis describes as central to his life and work, is here made comprehensively visible for the first time.
The opening on Thursday, 16 July will be accompanied by a summer party featuring Dj hell and many refreshing drinks.
Curated by Peter Gorschlüter
Publication
The exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive monograph on Kostas Murkudis published by Prestel.
Supporters
The exhibition is funded by the German Federal Cultural Foundation, the Sparkassen-Kulturfonds of the German Savings Banks Association, and Gahrens + Battermann GmbH Media Event Solutions.