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V&A presents ’Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ can be visited until 31 January

United Kingdom Architecture News - Jan 07, 2016 - 16:02 6254 views

The Invisible Shoe by Andreia Chaves, 2011. Shoes: Pleasure and Pain - About the Exhibition. image © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Shoes: Pleasure and Pain

13 June 2015 – 31 January 2016

Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) exhibition looks at the extremes of footwear from around the globe, presenting around 200 pairs of shoes ranging from a sandal decorated in pure gold leaf originating from ancient Egypt to the most elaborate designs by contemporary makers. Titled 'Shoes: Pleasure and Pain', it considers the cultural significance and transformative capacity of shoes and examines the latest developments in footwear technology creating the possibility of ever higher heels and dramatic shapes. Examples from famous shoe wearers and collectors are shown alongside a dazzling range of historic shoes, many of which have not been displayed before.

V&A presents ’Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ can be visited until 31 January

book of Shoes: Pleasure and Pain

V&A also presents a wide range of information about the exhibition including events, interactive timeline of shoes, articles, animation, videos of The Art of Shoe Making and shopping that can be found here. This is a peerless verbal and visual material flow about shoes in order to understand how shoe designs are shaped and transformed itself as an art piece?. Further, Shoes: Pleasure and Pain also featured in a book detailing shoes described as 'As beautiful, sculptural objects, shoes are powerful indicators of gender, status, identity, taste, and even sexual preference. Our choice in shoes can be aspirational, even fantastical – and projects an image not just of who we are, but who we want to be. Feet are made for walking, but shoes may not be. Featuring extensive new photography, this is a beautiful and authoritative guide to the history and culture of footwear.'

V&A presents ’Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ can be visited until 31 January

image © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

'Iconic creations by celebrated designers sit alongside masterpieces by unknown craftsmen in this book. Embracing both men’s and women’s footwear, from the Chinese lotus shoe to laser-printed contemporary shoes-as-sculpture, Shoes: Pleasure and Pain engages with the cultural significance of shoes – the source of their allure, how they are made, and the people who buy and wear them'

Helen Persson is Curator of Chinese Textiles and Dress in the V&A’s Asia Department.

V&A presents ’Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ can be visited until 31 January