COLLECTION 5 THE MALE - A FASHION SPECIAL!

ything you can attach to your body is
wearable. Then again, of course there‘s a big
difference between wearable and ready-to-wear.
KALTBLUT: Why did you originally move to Berlin?
REIN: I‘m born in The Netherlands that used to be a
very liberal country in the eighties. Unfortunately
those times have faded and nowadays the Dutch
mentality feels, suppressive and conservative to me.
I feel free in Berlin, it‘s the city of opportunities, a
city where I don‘t feel judged by my sexual preference,
the clothes I wear and the life I wanna live.
Berlin is the city where I can be who I wanna be.
KALTBLUT: Your wearable pieces are all made as
masks for the face. Could you also imagine doing
wearable sculptures for any other body part?
REIN: I‘ve created several body pieces in collaboration
with Sebastien Peigné and Nicola Formichetti for
MUGLER. It varied from shoulder pieces to bracelets.
But its true I do have a fascination for the head.
KALTBLUT: There are historical connotations linked
to the covering the face, like changing the appearance,
gender, or personality of a person. Do you
draw on these kinds of ideas with your designs?
REIN: No I don‘t. For me it‘s about mystery, fantasy
and illusion. I try to trigger the viewers imagination
by creating a dialogue between the object and the
body. The artificial versus the organic.
KALTBLUT: Do you create your pieces for yourself?
Like a fantasy character or alter-ego?
REIN: This depends on the destination of the piece
or the client. I never make something for myself
and I don‘t believe in alter-ego‘s thats just an “art“
definition to me, anyway isn‘t alter-ego just split
personality or Schizophrenia?!
KALTBLUT: Who do you think will wear your pieces?
Is there a typical “client” profile you consider with
your designs?
REIN: There‘s no typical client profile. I‘ve worked
with pop musicians, Hip Hop artists choreographers,
K-pop girl groups and underground performers. But
if I could choose it would be a super human with lots
sex appeal!
KALTBLUT: When we look at your work we think
about fetish and obsessions… maybe because
of the colour or the way you present your
work. What is the definition of a fetish for you?
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REIN: Object of desire.....and that can be anything.
KALTBLUT: Your work is often presented in relation
to fashion. Is fashion an inspiration for you too?
REIN: Fashion and pop musicians have always been
an inspiration to me. The great part of showing my
work in relation to fashion is that my pieces get seen
by a wide audience. And not only reaches a selective
crowd that visits galleries and museums. It makes
my work available for everyone as art should be!
KALTBLUT: You‘ve said that you like collecting
objects and cutting them, re-cutting them, putting
them together to create new shape, or new object.
There is here an Idea of like someone playing
puzzle. Is it the way you see it, doing a puzzle?
REIN: It‘s very primitive and visceral. I demolish and
reconstruct and look for shapes that are beyond
functional and speak to my imagination.
KALTBLUT: All your pieces are handmade, you
obviously like the contact with the material. Is it a
way of making out of theses pieces a continuity of
yourself?
REIN: Yes definitely! Well, I just realised how freaky
that might sound…ha ha!
KALTBLUT: I personally, related your work to a
famous sculpture of Auguste Rodin, “La Porte de
L‘enfer”. Do you know this piece? Am I right to
see a connection between this art work and your
wearable sculpture?
REIN: Yes I know the work “The Gates of Hell”...it‘s
great! I Understand what you mean, lots of bodies
and drama melted into bronze. The main connection
to me is the craftsmen ship of Rodin, but I wouldn‘t
dare to compare myself to the master!
KALTBLUT: Is there any exciting news coming up we
should share with our readers?
REIN: Hmmm, yes I‘m working on a big project in
Hong Kong, please check my website I‘ll update you
soon.
www.reinvollenga.com
www.reinvollenga.blogspot.de