SLOW COSTUMING by Chris Snik: Performance and book launch

In the MoMu Atrium, the two-year research project Character through Coupe Towards an Integrated Costume Design Method at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp (2021-23), will be completed with a performance and release of the book SLOW COSTUMING, Creating characters through coupe.

The concept of the performance is to reveal the process of Slow costuming, a method developed by Chris Snik where the work of costume designer and performer merge through close collaboration on and with the unique performer’s body in motion. The performers are, Pieter Desmet, Jakobe Geens en Wietse Vendrig.

The book can be used as a handbook for Slow costuming. In this book, Chris Snik shares her findings from both her theoretical and practical research using images, photographs, and film stills (by Geert Goiris). Costumes with a good fit are not possible without coupe, which can give the right accents to body shapes and thus construct the character of a performer. Time, technical skills, and freedom to experiment with coupe, patternmaking, use of materials, shapes, and movements are essential and should be scheduled into the rehearsing period and taught in various educational programmes.

The book is published by Track Report and co-published by MER., the art imprint of Borgerhoff & Lamberigts.