Exhibition — Feb 22 until Aug 23, 2014

A survey of the designs created by Gijs Bakker (1942) and Emmy van Leersum (1930 – 1984) from 1967 to 1972.

The Stedelijk Museum presents The Gijs+Emmy Spectacle, Fashion and Jewelry design by Gijs Bakker and Emmy van Leersum. The exhibition is based on a legendary fashion show presented by the artist duo Gijs Bakker (1942) and Emmy van Leersum 1930–1984) in 1967.

In the late 1960s, Bakker and Van Leersum, both trained jewelry designers, created a furor with their avant-garde jewelry and clothing that fused fashion, design, and art. Two one-off events and numerous exhibitions brought Gijs and Emmy international recognition in the world of 1960s jewelry design and sparked a true revolution. Bakker and Van Leersum’s breakthrough came in 1967 when they presented their vision of a total concept of fashion and jewelry with a spectacular show at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. The show was the opening event of the exhibition Edelsmeden 3.

The most famous item of jewelry featured in the show is undoubtedly Bakker’s Stovepipe Necklace (with matching bracelet), now an icon of Dutch design. Bakker was the first designer to create a piece of jewelry of such audacity and on such a scale. It was a provocation.

Publication

The exhibition is accompanied by an eponymous publication (written by Marjan Boot) and documentary (made by Lex Reitsma), the first film to offer an in-depth survey of the sensational show of 1967 and its subsequent impact (€ 19.95 | Published February 22, 2014 | English/Dutch edition | ISBN 978-94-6208-123-9 | paperback + DVD)

Public Program

A Public Program focusing on the exhibition offers Gallery Talks by Marjan Boot, Gijs Bakker and art historian Antje von Graevenitz, among others. On March 20, the fashion film shapes the context for a forum event with Marjan Boot and Prof. Dr. Anneke Smelik 3/3 Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is sponsored by:  Main Sponsor Partner (Radboud University of Nijmegen).

stedelijk|forum, Mar 20, 2014
Gijs+Emmy: FASHION! The film genre
Language: Dutch
Location:Teijin Auditorium, Stedelijk Museum
More info

stedelijk|gallery talk
Gijs+Emmy with...

Made possible by

The exhibition was curated by Marjan Boot, assisted by James Tergau. The exhibition was designed by Bart Hess and Harm Rensink. Gijs Bakker acted as consultant on the project.

The documentary was made possible with the support of the Netherlands Creative Industries Fund and the SNS REAAL Fonds. The publication and dvd accompanying the exhibition were made possible by the Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds.

The exhibition and publication The Gijs+Emmy Spectacle mark the end of Marjan Boot’s career.