The opening show of the 16th edition was dedicated to fashion performances with The CLASH House. This is a showcase and development program for designers who focus on crossovers between fashion and other art disciplines - especially the performing arts. These designers explore alternative ways of making and presenting fashion. This year’s participants: Megan van Engelen, Julia Burak, SHIFT Studio, bzrkna and Paula Dischinger, received a coaching program in which they were supported by theater maker Nadîja Roza Broekhart and dancer and choreographer Laisvie Andrea Ochoa. Theater maker Giovanni Brand was responsible for the overall direction of the evening.
Danata Shaikenova from bzrkna presented the performance “DID I”? an emotional journey through the fragmented landscape of personal experiences, where the body becomes both frame and fracture. In “Berry”, Megan van Engelen explored romanticized childhood memories through various fashion items and a blackberry bush that is related to a broken family. In addition to the performance, the fashion film for “Berry” also premiered. Under the name SHIFT studio, Ana Krgović explored the universal journey of personal transformation through five stages: life, pain, suffering, transformation and rebirth. Inspired by the philosophy of self-transformation, the performance “Pieces of You” explored how confronting and overcoming profound obstacles can lead to significant growth, self-discovery and ultimately wholeness. With "Human Herd”, Paula Dischinger asked whether man is a herd animal, and translated this into everyday human performativity through actions such as running, walking, and following each other. It highlighted the battle of the individual versus the group. On Sunday morning 17 November, the performance was repeated again in public space, where the group of performers moved like a flock of birds across Plein 1992. Polish Julia Burak concluded The CLASH House with 'Ate and left no crumbs', a celebration of body diversity and a statement against prejudices about how overweight and obese people are perceived.
