FASHIONCLASH afterparty 2024
The FASHIONCLASH Afterparty played with the idea of letting the night bring us closer together in a space that celebrated individual expression through dancing in unity. The Afterparty sought the boundlessness of our authentic selves as we moved and transformed together — a celebration of all! The night revolved around the idea of how we wished to be chiseled as a statue and how we wanted to be remembered. Of course, this statue was fashionable, opulent, and a limitless version of ourselves! Participants joined movement and/or fashion-making workshops and became living legendary statues, assisted in performances and/or joined group performances during the Afterparty! Participation in both workshop series was free, and no prior experience was required. The FASHIONCLASH Festival Afterparty took place at Dans-en Partycentrum Bernaards in Maastricht on Saturday 16 November (22:00 – 02:00).
FASHIONCLASH invited participants to join a series of both movement and fashion-making workshops. The movement workshops were all about self-expression and were designed for anyone who dared to take the stage – no experience was needed! For those who preferred to express their creativity through fashion, the fashion-making workshops were open to all. These workshops focused on visual research into your legendary statue, adding a twist by exploring an alter ego. Participants worked on an outfit, accessory, or prop to wear themselves during the Afterparty, or to be worn by one of the performers from the movement workshops.
Fashion Making Workshops
The fashion-making workshops centered on visual research into your legendary statue, with a creative twist on the concept of the alter ego. Participants worked on an outfit, accessory, or prop to wear themselves during the Afterparty, or for one of the performers from the movement workshops. The workshops were led by fashion designers Tessa van den Eeden and Max Niereisel
Movement workshops
In these workshops, guided by Jento Schaf, Mikael De Geyter and Renzo Pepers, participants explored their unique movement qualities associated with creating an alter ego. They explored individual expression and internalized it within their bodies. Together, we focused on presenting the inner and physical 'higher self' and investigated what that higher self could bring. In a universe of catwalks and runways, the central themes of these workshops were empowerment, safe space, and self-confidence.
About the FASHIONCLASH Festival Afterparty
The concept for the FASHIONCLASH Afterparty was co-created with Samuel Valor Reyes (1996, he/him – they/them), a theatre maker (Maastricht Theatre Academy) and performance artist of Spanish origin. In the work, bodies and how they communicate always play a central role. Through movement, Samuel aims to spark electricity, disruption, and joy.
Samuel always started from clashing or blending crossovers in which image, formality, and meaning came together. The work tested the limits of a space in relation to people. The result was an absurd, colorful world where connection, empowerment, queerness, identity, rituals, and jumping and falling bodies took center stage.
The Afterparty is part of the Queer Activity Program, within the Fashion Makes Sense program line, and supported by Fonds 21, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Provincie Limburg, Gemeente Maastricht and Limburgs Museum.