6 December 2024
 Art isn't confined to museums; it happens in galleries and even in stores. Yesterday, Fashion.at explored the city and attended a special event at Galerie V&V, an art, crafts, and jewelry gallery. The occasion showcased new artworks and art fashion by Eva Petric alongside 'fish your BAG' creations by Tanja Krexner. Galerie V&V has been featured in Fashion.at before. In July, Slovenian artist Eva Petric, who splits her life and work between New York, Vienna, and Ljubljana, presented her art fashion and jewelry at the gallery (article). Now, two tapestry-like lace pieces from her Chromosome Games series are on display. Petric's fashion pieces - lace-printed coats and jackets - adorned the window display, offering a glimpse of her innovative fusion of tradition and contemporary design. Fashion.at spoke with Eva Petric about her Chromosome Games series, particularly a centerpiece work measuring approximately two by two meters. This striking piece is crafted from vintage lace - reminiscent of tablecloths used by great-grandmothers to serve coffee and cake during family visits. The work evokes a sense of generational inheritance, suggesting that such heirlooms inevitably pass down to descendants, whether they desire them or not. The artwork features the artist's shadow in its center — a female figure with horns resembling a Krampus, the devilish folkloric companion of Saint Nicholas in Alpine traditions. Coincidentally, the event took place on Austria's Krampus Day. The resemblance was intentional; Petric designed the figure to evoke the sinister possibilities of DNA manipulation through CRISPR technology. Her work critiques both the promise and peril of genetic engineering, drawing parallels between familial inheritance, dining table traditions, and the profound ethical questions raised by scientific advancements. Lace, a symbol of human connection, is a recurring motif in Eva Petric's art. This theme is evident in her commissioned multi-part work, Totem for Humanity – Tree of Life, currently on display at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York. View it on Instagram. Fashion.at continued exploring Galerie V&V to speak with Tanja Krexner, the Vienna-based designer behind 'fish Your BAG'. Krexner's belt bags, shaped like various fish species, are designed for sports activities or as compact makeup and beauty bags. Another standout collection features tote bags crafted from Austrian trachten fabrics, traditionally used for dirndl dresses. These totes pay homage to Austria's heritage, incorporating a playful touch with fish fin details made from scaly faux reptile material. A vintage print on the bags depicts Emperor Franz Joseph in traditional attire, referencing his time in Bad Ischl, his beloved summer residence. These bags were created as a tribute to Bad Ischl – Salzkammergut, the European Capital of Culture 2024. The evening concluded with a look back at Galerie V&V's rich history, including its 42nd-anniversary retrospective, and a preview of upcoming events. Notably, fish your BAG will be featured at the die weiberei Christmas market in Vienna on December 7, 2024. Images: Left: Veronika Schwarzinger, co-founder of Galerie V&V in 1982, stands with Eva Petric in front of 'X Chromosome' (2016) from the Chromosome Games series. Right: Tanja Krexner, creator of 'fish your BAG', showcases her tote bags in the gallery's window display on December 5, 2024, in Vienna. Photos: © Fashion.at. |
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