ART EXHIBITION: PRÊT-ART-PORTER

FASHION ARTIST STÉPHANE KOERWYN EXHIBITS HIS WORK AT SOFITEL FRANKFURT OPERA
Fashion and art connect Frankfurt and Paris

At the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera, from 1 August to 31 January, guests and Frankfurt residents can once again witness a symbiosis of art and fashion as well as Paris and Frankfurt in the latest exhibition at the five-star superior hotel on Opernplatz. In keeping with the style of the house, Stéphane Koerwyn is showing his signature Prêt-Art-Porter artworks: 3-D sculptures of his painted aluminium dresses. The Frenchman’s preference for aluminium does not come from nowhere; before his career change, he worked for 20 years as Marketing Director for Coca-Cola, among others. In his contrasting works, Koerwyn cleverly manages to combine his past and present through his choice of materials and colouring.
The fashion exhibition is part of a three-year global partnership between the French hotel brand Sofitel and the fashion magazine VOGUE, which aims to let Sofitel guests into the secret of the French Art de Vivre. On 12 September, Koerwyn will showcase his original aluminium designs in a vernissage fashion show at Sofitel Frankfurt Opera.

Koerwyn discovered his passion for painting at an art therapy workshop. The idea for a new career path came about by chance: after his workshop, Koerwyn travelled to New York to sort out his thoughts. He was approached by passers-by in Central Park about the paintings he was working on. Asked if he would sell his paintings, Koerwyn’s second career practically began. Returning to Paris, he enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts as well as the Ecole du Louvre. Three months later, Koerwyn held his first exhibition in a Paris gallery in the famous 16th arrondissement near the Place du Trocadéro.

Koerwyn was inspired by Pierre Soulages and Gerhard Richter. The contrast of his two muses, especially in the palette of colours used, is clearly evident in his works. Expressive colours on a dark background characterise his sculptures and clothes as well as his canvas works. His strong and dynamic brushstrokes on the solid and rigid aluminium create a fascinating contrast that captivates observers.

The idea to make his Prêt-Art-Porter artworks out of aluminium came about after he had already held the material in his hand countless times during company meetings. His collections have been presented by models at numerous fashion shows in Paris, London, Rome, New York, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. Each dress is a unique piece that has been transformed into small 3-D sculptures after the fashion shows, making it accessible to art lovers around the world.

With its latest exhibition, the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera once again manages to combine its two homes: Frankfurt and France. At the same time, Koerwyn’s works combine two of the thematic pillars of the five-star superior hotel, fashion and art. The Sofitel Frankfurt Opera’s relations to the world of fashion are manifold; discreet references can be found in all areas of the hotel. The interior decoration and design of the luxury hotel bear the signature of the French interior designer Nicolas Adnet and his Parisian studio MHNA. Adnet began his professional career in the luxury fashion industry, one of his great idols being Yves Saint Laurent. As a partner of the Frankfurt Fashion Lounge, the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera regularly makes its lobby and rooms available as a catwalk for the fashion shows of up-and-coming design talent, most recently for the fifth anniversary of Frankfurt Fashion Week on 30 June and 1 July 2023.

General Manager Steffen Opitz is very much looking forward to the upcoming exhibits: “With Stéphane Koerwyn, we have once again found an artist for our semi-annual temporary exhibitions who embodies the DNA of our hotel. We are always pleased to have the opportunity to bring our enthusiasm for fashion and art closer to our overnight guests as well as to Frankfurt residents. With the vernissage on 12 September, it is also wonderful that after the Frankfurt Fashion Lounge in the summer, another fashion show will be taking place so soon at our hotel.”
Instagram: @stephanekoerwyn