Last week, the NSU Art Museum in Downtown Fort Lauderdale opened The World of Anna Sui exhibit, a retrospective exhibition showcasing the work of legendary fashion designer Anna Sui. Originally curated by Dennis Nothdruft for the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, the exhibit has traveled to Shanghai, Tokyo and New York and will be on display at the NSU Art Museum until Oct. 3.
In addition to over 100 looks from Sui herself, the exhibition invites viewers to step into Sui’s world and examine her diverse sources of inspiration and appreciate the creative processes that shape her designs.
Bonnie Clearwater, the director and chief curator of the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, explained that the exhibit does much more than showcase Sui’s work.
“The exhibition recreates her vision and creative world. It’s not just showing her designs, but also her design inspirations,” said Clearwater.
The exhibition highlights Sui’s complex and distinct styles alongside those who have influenced her work.
“There’s also a whole section on the creative process. You can go through this and see how it has really recreated her world,” said Clearwater.
A special Anna Sui pop-up shop will be available online and at the museum, including everything from her reissued vintage Florida print from her 2017 collection, to limited edition dresses, t-shirts, totes, books and her line of cosmetics and perfumes.
“It’s playful. It’s fun,” said Clearwater. “People who come, realize that we’ve been living her fashion. Throw on a leather biker jacket over a lace dress, that’s Anna Sui. Wear torn fishnet stockings cut off at your shins, that’s Anna Sui. Mix glamour with jeans, that’s Anna Sui. Even if you aren’t wearing Anna Sui herself, you are wearing the fashion she has influenced.”
The NSU Art Museum has also incorporated a self-guided tour element into the exhibition. Visitors are encouraged to bring their mobile devices and headphones so they can access the self-guided tour through the QR codes located throughout the exhibition.
In addition to the self-guided tour, the museum has also adjusted many of its exhibits to a virtual platform. Clearwater explained that, since last March, the museum has begun creating 3D virtual tours of the museum’s exhibits for those that may not be able to or feel uncomfortable visiting in person. Virtual tours of the museum’s current and past exhibitions are accessible on the NSU Art Museum website. Virtual interactive group tours with the museum’s educators are also offered to classes, clubs or other organizations and can be booked online.
Clearwater reminds NSU students that they are all automatic members of the museum. NSU students get free admission to the museum, receive 10% off at the shop and can participate in all of the museum’s public programs for free. To activate your membership, visit the membership page on the NSU Art Museum website.
For more information about The World of Anna Sui exhibit or to learn about other exhibitions coming to NSU Art Museum’s 30,000 square feet of exhibition space, visit their website at https://nsuartmuseum.org/.
