Anneke Smelik Books

Contemporary fashion in the Netherlands is successful globally and shows a rich, paradoxical diversity. Delft Blue to Denim Blue maps the landscape of Dutch fashion in all its rich variety and complexity. Luxuriously illustrated in colour and black & white, The book uncovers the cultural heritage of Dutch fashion and explores the individual designers and brands, including romantic designer Jan Taminiau who creates spectacular gala gowns for Queen Maxima, Iris Van Herpen, Kichael Van Der Ham and conceptual designer duo Viktor&Rolf; , as well as the many popular brands, such as G-Star jeans, Mexx, Supertrash, CoraKemperman, Vanilla, Sjaak Hullekes, and the affordable retailer, C&A.; Fashion photographers like Inez Van Lamsweerde and Erwin Olaf are explored too. Delft Blue to Denim Blue also looks into the future of Dutch fashion, discussing the vanguard of wearable technology, with cybercouture designers like Pauline vanDongen and Bart Hess.

Popular media, art and science are intricately interlinked in contemporary visual culture. This book analyses the ›scientific imaginary‹ that is the result of the profound effects of science upon the imagination, and conversely, of the imagination in and upon science. As scientific developments in genetics, information technology and cybernetics open up new possibilities of intervention in human lives, cultural theorists have explored the notion of the ›posthuman‹. The Scientific Imaginary in Visual Culture analyses figurations of the ›posthuman‹ in history and philosophy, as well as in its utopian and dystopian forms in art and popular culture. The authors thus address the blurring boundaries between art and science in diverse media like science fiction film, futurist art, video art and the new phenomenon of ›bio-art‹. In their evaluations of the scientific imaginary in visual culture, the authors engage critically with current scientific and technological concerns.