Taking visitors from the depths of the ocean to the outer reaches of the universe, Sculpting the Senses illuminates the core questions of the designer’s practice—about the body in space, its relationship to fashion and the environment, and its future in a rapidly changing world. Featuring themes that explore the mystery and might of water, the architecture of the skeleton and anatomical systems, the physics of motion, the perception of sound and light, and the generative interconnectedness of nature, each section in the exhibition showcases Van Herpen’s innovative approach to materials, movement, and technology. Her designs reflect the dynamic systems of the natural world, achieving the impossible with water-like sculptural gowns and air-like fabrics. Sculpting the Senses also includes an evocation of the designer’s atelier, offering visitors a unique opportunity to engage firsthand with the handcraftsmanship and tactile nature of couture creation.   Over 140 of Van Herpen’s avant-garde designs are placed in dialogue with works of contemporary art—by artists including Philip Beesley, Lanny Bergner, Rogan Brown, the Collectif Mé, Casey Curran, Wim Delvoye, Kim Keever, Nick Knight, Jacques Rougerie, David Spriggs, and Tim Walker. The exhibition also features design pieces by Ferruccio Laviani, Tomáš Libertíny, and Ren Ri alongside loans of scientific artifacts and natural history specimens, such as coral, fossils, and skeletons. The exhibition’s interdisciplinary nature thus nods to the Museum’s 1890 origins as the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, which held both fine art and scientific specimen collections..."