The Met celebrates “Manus x Machina”, another blockbuster exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” was a glamorous and memorable affair, from the star-studded opening gala in May to the very last day of the wildly successful exhibition on September 5.  Designed by OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu and curated by The Costume Institute Curator in Charge Andrew Bolton, “Manus x Machina” explored technology's influence on fashion throughout history, as well as the blurring distinction between handmade and machine-made processes of crafting haute couture and ready-to-wear. 

Scroll down for some photos and a video from the exhibition.

The exquisite garments were displayed throughout the museum's Robert Lehman Wing, which OMA New York/Shigematsu transformed into a pared-down, cathedral-like space.

“The diverse range of garments required a neutral, integrated environment to focus on the pairings of manual and mechanical processes,” Shohei Shigematsu stated. “An armature of scaffolding wrapped with a translucent fabric introduces a unique temporality within a historic institution.”

“We are thrilled that so many people from around the world experienced this exploration of the artistry of fashion," stated Thomas P. Campbell, director and CEO of The Met. “The exhibition required the transformation of the Robert Lehman Wing into a domed cathedral-like space that invited people to slow down and contemplate the process and craft of the objects.”

Aside the exhibition itself, attendance figures were quite off-the-charts. Following a three-week extension, “Manus x Machina” attracted a grand total of 752,995 visitors, making it The Met's seventh most visited exhibition in its history and the Costume Institute's second most visited exhibition. 

See the exhibition design in action in the video below.

All photos courtesy of OMA