Rolf Snoeren, at left, and Viktor Horsting with dolls from there 'The House of Viktor & Rolf" exhibit at London's Barbican Art Gallery. (Christopher Moore)

Quinze ans de mode en miniature. “The House of Viktor & Rolf” est le concept imaginé par le duo néerlandais pour leur première retrospective. L’installation se présente sous forme de maison de poupées. Les modèles miniatures y arborent 54 looks marquants de leur carrière, depuis leur première collection présentée au Festival de Hyères en 1993. Jusqu’au 21 septembre, les visiteurs de la Barbican Gallery de Londres découvriront le show des figurines en porcelaine créées spécialement pour l’événement. Tous les codes maison sont là : volumes oversized, jeux de superposition, accumulation, vêtements à l’envers et influence artistique… Les deux créateurs inauguraient hier soir l’installation en présence de nombreuses stars : Mika, Kelly Osbourne, Gareth Pugh, Twiggy, Matthew Williamson, Hussein Chalayan, Roland Mouret, Astrid Munoz, Mischa Barton… Pour beaucoup habillés en Viktor & Rolf. Julie De Los Rios www.vogue.fr

“The house of Viktor & Rolf”. Du 18 juin au 21 septembre. Silk Street London EC2Y 8DS - Tel : 0044 207 638 4141

Rolf Snoeren, left, and Viktor Horsting on the balcony of the Barbican Art Gallery in London, a spot that gives a panoramic view of their exhibit "The House of Viktor & Rolf" -- a gigantic doll house with mannequins wearing tiny versions of their fashions. "We wanted it to be a narrative - we chose all the iconic pieces and re-worked them in miniature," said Snoeren. (Christopher Moore)

The exhibition is dominated by a gigantic doll house, a graceful three-level structure with Palladian proportions. "We are hoping we have built the largest doll house in the world," said Snoeren. (Christopher Moore)

A Viktor & Rolf runway look that was transformed into....

....A tiny version for a porcelain-faced doll. (both photos Peter Stigter)

By embracing multi media, the exhibition goes beyond the doll house. Videos of the life-sized outfits appear behind the mannequins to help bring the miniature fashions to life. (Peter Stigter)

To match the original runway effect, the porcelain faces of the dolls were made up in the same style and color palettes used for the shows. (Peter Stigter)

A similar attention to detail went into every aspect of the exhibition. Here a "doll" version of a Viktor & Rolf dress is prepared for display. (Peter Stigter)

The exhibition poses the question of whether Viktor & Rolf are designers or conceptual artists who work their surreal ideas in fashion. (Christopher Moore) (source www.iht.com)