When fashion meets future, the result is spellbinding. This is precisely what unfolds at the ArtScience Museum’s latest blockbuster exhibition, Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses. Marking her first solo show in Asia, Dutch couturier Iris van Herpen brings her genre-defying works to Singapore, revealing a body of work that pushes fashion into the realms of art, technology, and science.
Renowned for her otherworldly designs and avant-garde approach, van Herpen is not merely a fashion designer—she is a storyteller, an inventor, and above all, a visionary. Her creations often defy gravity and challenge the limits of the human form, weaving biology, architecture, and physics into each meticulously engineered piece.
Sculpting the Future of Fashion
Running as a key part of the museum’s “Season of Mind and Body,” the exhibition is a retrospective journey through van Herpen’s career. From her early explorations in fabric manipulation to her most recent feats in 3D printing and algorithmic design, Sculpting the Senses reveals how van Herpen sculpts not only material but also perception.
The show features over 100 pieces, including some of her most iconic haute couture looks, films, installations, and collaborative works. Highlights include pieces from her Hypnosis, Magnetic Motion, and Aeriform collections, alongside immersive installations that invite visitors to physically engage with the sensory worlds that inspire her.
“Iris van Herpen is transforming fashion from a tactile art into a multi-sensory experience,” says Honor Harger, Vice President of ArtScience Museum. “Her work is a celebration of what happens when design transcends disciplines and dares to reimagine the body.”
Innovation at Every Stitch
One of the most fascinating aspects of van Herpen’s practice is her seamless collaboration with experts in fields ranging from quantum physics to marine biology. She has partnered with institutions like CERN, artists such as Philip Beesley, and even NASA engineers to create garments that are both aesthetically breathtaking and intellectually rich.
Her dress designs often incorporate elements like hydrodynamic principles, electromagnetic forces, or fractal growth patterns—translated into wearable forms via cutting-edge techniques like laser cutting, CNC machining, and biodegradable materials. The results are fluid, sculptural, and hypnotic.
An Invitation to Awaken the Senses
The exhibition’s design mirrors van Herpen’s organic aesthetic. Undulating walls, shadow play, and sensory-triggering soundscapes immerse guests in a holistic experience. Visitors move not just through fashion, but through emotion and idea—experiencing the interconnectedness of the human body with nature and technology.
For those seeking to explore the crossover between art, science, and style, Sculpting the Senses is a must-see. It’s more than an exhibition—it’s a window into the future of design thinking and a celebration of creativity without borders.
Exhibition Details:
Title: Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses
Venue: ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
March 15 to August 10, 2025
