MoMu In Conversation with Jan-Jan Van Essche: Feeling Before Seeing

MoMu offers insight into the world of Antwerp fashion designer Jan-Jan Van Essche on the occasion of the exhibition JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE - KHAYAL.

Antwerp fashion designer Jan-Jan Van Essche is fully dressed in black and looks at the camera as his picture is being taken.

"The silhouettes within this installation harmoniously showcase the recurring elements central to my work," notes Jan-Jan Van Essche. In the role of guest curator for MoMu, he selected ten looks from his Khayal collection (Spring-Summer 2025). This selection showcases his ethical approach to design, which breaks away from traditional Western clothing norms and embraces inclusivity across genders, ages, and body types.

Exhibiton view of JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE - KHAYAL

The fashion designer did not just limit himself to choosing the silhouettes on display. Van Essche: "The wooden aisle around the installation with desert sand is inspired by the engawa, a traditional Japanese architectural element that serves as a transitional space between the interior and exterior of a building. The semi-transparent textile panels work in concert to create an environment where visitors sense everything at once, even if their direct vision is somewhat obscured. This subtly encourages visitors to move around the installation."

Jan-Jan Van Essche has moreover invited members of his own community to share aspects of their lives by way of an associated and varied programme of music, dance and film. On 9 May, Van Essche will host a musical evening featuring Ramy Moharam Fouad and Willem Ardui centred around their collaborative films. Buy your tickets to BETWEEN PARENTHESIS - An audiovisual journey through the world of Jan-Jan Van Essche

JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE - KHAYAL is on view from 7 December 2024 through 8 June 2025. More info and tickets available here

Written by Baptiste Painblanc.