Jasmin Ladenhaufen

copy alltag gegen copy

Starting off from a work of art created by the Chinese artist CHEN KE which is on display in the MUMOK – Museum für moderne Kunst Wien, Vienna, an 

exact replica of the dress in the painting was created. This outfit was handed over from designer to designer in some sort of ‘Chinese whisper’ process, 

amended, reinterpreted and redesigned according to each individual designer’s own concept and style. In addition to this ‘copy dress’ each label developed 

further pieces that reflect its own style. Thus a 20-item collection was created which was first presented as the fashion performance copy alltag gegen copy, 

copy everyday against copy in the MUMOK. In a second step the collection was further developed in Beijing and staged and photographed in public space with 

models in a specially developed stage setting (a box). Finally, the photographs shot on that occasion serve as the source material for a new painting by 

CHEN KE, which she paints exclusively for this project. Thus CHEN KE marks both the beginning and the end of this project. 

The main issue of the project “COPY ALLTAG” was its focus on the different meanings of copying clothing/fashion in Europe and in Asia, or, more 

specifically, in China. It is a fact that in Europe copying is perhaps not socially acceptable but still it has been common usage for a long time –mainly but 

not exclusively for commercial reasons. The European culture‘s permanent impetus is characterized by the creation of new things, future mindedness 

and the celebration of individuality. Yet over the past decades historical styles in the visual arts, in music and in fashion were time and again rediscovered, 

brought to the fore and reinterpreted. And in this context it is interesting to have a look at the Chinese model, where copying or, in other words, the handing

 down and sticking to tradition is an important cultural activity. In a certain sense different models are meeting under different circumstances now.

DesignerInnen: 

unartig (A), MANGELWARE (A) , ulliKo (A) , Gina Drewes (A), art point (A/RU), 

house of boing (A/UK), Jasper Garvida (UK), LISA D (GER), 

Xue Sunfei (CN) und Su BU (CN)

Models:  Xiao Wang, Seven/Qi Cai, Yuetong Zhao, Chengjing Sun, Jitong Wang, Tianshu Xing, Shengnan Pang, Luying Fei, Siwen Wang, Jia Gao, Di Wu

Projektassistenz: Gong Lin     

Photos: Ladenhaufen, Kapschamedia, Stefanie Honeder