Brooklyn Museum: Killer Heels Exhibit Response
The ‘Killer Heels’ exhibit features over 160 experimental high-heels, deriving from the 17th Century to present day, displaying works of both old and contemporary, emerging fashion designers. Since heels are an iconic symbol of popular culture, the objective of the exhibition is meant to examine the transformative power of the shoe and how it can connect to and represent themes of “power, fantasy, sexuality and identity” through the display of innovative designs. Heels have always been portrayed in different lights – as fetishistic objects, instruments of power, and as a fashion statement. The exhibit explores the history behind these shoes, and how they have developed over time – architecturally, sculpturally, and artistically. Not only does the exhibit appeal to lovers of fashion, but it also makes a broader statement about our material society, revealing the social and cultural concerns about the era in which the design derives from.
The curation of the exhibit not only presents the objects themselves, but also features six films that were inspired by high heels. The shoes themselves are arranged by theme, with emphasis on the societal and historical roles that these objects embodied in their time. They also detailed the use of materials and the various meanings ascribed to them, as well as their appeal as objects in their own right. They were displayed along with other collections in the museum, such as paintings, sculptures, and other decorative pieces which were all related by either theme, inspiration, material, historical period or recurrence of an idea. The display of the shoes themselves were rather simple and the lighting in some sections rather sterile. There was also not a lot of space in the exhibit, and all of the displays were set rather low. Although I didn’t think that the display of the objects did much justice, it didn’t make the shoes themselves any less interesting.
I think the shoes evoked emotion on their own terms – they each had their own verbal authority, and viewers were able to examine the shoes from different angles and through the history provided, they could view the concept of heels from a different perspective. High heels are often associated with sex, danger and objectification. The curation of the exhibit works to familiarize people with both contemporary and historic design that might transcend their overarching vision of the iconic object. By pulling representative works from the past 10 years, and as far back as the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and organizing them thematically, we are able to see the chronology and development and what role they play in our modern day consumer culture. What I was mainly interested in was how the exhibition spurs discussion on power dynamics, the confidence, objectification and perception of people who wear heels, and the challenging ideas of status, privilege and commodification that are associated with them. Over time, heels have always been indicative of class and privilege and to this day, that association still exists. In terms of design, heels are such a popular item in culture that it has many future opportunities in developing innovatively. Overall, the exhibit is fascinating because it focuses so deeply on this object – which on the surface, can be seen as a perfect commodity for consumers – but also holds a lot of historical and cultural depth, challenging us to think about our own perceptions of such topics.
Coming back from the exhibit, I spent time examining my own small collection of shoes. I personally think that even without a structural arrangement, that the consistency of color and type of my shoes tell a story alone. I have mostly black shoes, all of which are a certain style – either ankle-high boots, shoes with a platform, or ones with a particular element that stand out (such as my wedge heels with studs). Just by looking at them, one could create a narrative in their head about the type of person that I am and my own personal taste. I like shoes that are comfortable, shoes that are durable, but also shoes that present an image, shoes that stand out, and follow a consistent style. I also like shoes that match with any outfit, which is why I keep them neutral shades, such as black or white. If I were to arrange them in any way, it would be in order of how often I wear them based on comfort and durability. For instance, I wear one pair of ankle boots frequently, knowing they can get me comfortably through a day and look good. It’s interesting to think that these objects can tell a story. Through both their appearance and the accumulation, we are able to create an impression.
