What does your clothing say about who you are? How do we use fashion to signal power, status and belonging? And how different are our own fashion codes from those that governed dress in the Roman Empire?
Drawing on the exhibition Power and Fashion in the Roman Empire, we explore how clothing, jewellery, colours, hairstyles and fragrances have always been about far more than adornment. They have been ways of presenting ourselves, marking social hierarchies and expressing who we are – or who we want to be.
Program:
5:00-5:30 pm
A Welcome Beer and sparkling water from Carlsberg
The Winter Garden
Workshop. Make Your Own Imperial Wreath
Follow in the footsteps of the emperors and create your own ruscus wreath inspired by the laurel wreaths of antiquity, together with STILK Copenhagen. All materials and guidance will be provided to help you get started. Please note that quantities are limited.
Introduction to Exhibition. The Power of Fashion in the Roman Empire
Join us for an introduction to our new exhibition on power and fashion in the Roman Empire. Discover how drapery, beautiful colours and fabulous hairstyles tell a compelling story of the era’s beauty ideals and their political significance. Explore the art of self-presentation and the visual communication between those in power and the people.
An In-Depth Look at a Work. Wigs, Power and Egyptian Glamour
Why did the ancient Egyptians wear wigs – and what did their hairstyles communicate about the people who wore them? In ancient Egypt, hair was never just hair. Wigs were fashion statements, status symbols and beauty accessories, signalling everything from wealth and power to divine glamour. Get up close with Egyptian hairstyles, their surprising functions and the beauty ideals that defined the look along the banks of the Nile.
An In-Depth Look at a Work. From Arsenic to Goddess-Like Beauty
In the Roman Empire, beauty was not merely a private matter – it was social, political and subject to strict conventions. From precious purple dye extracted from sea snails to skin-lightening creams made with arsenic and crocodile dung, the Romans used a range of surprising ingredients to enhance their beauty and allure. Discover their beauty practices and how ideals, the body and social hierarchy were inextricably linked.
An In-Depth Look at a Work. Fashion in Impressionism
From corsets and elegant dresses to practical workwear: in Impressionist Paris, clothing was much more than fashion – it could signal class, gender, occupation and identity. We take a closer look at Berthe Morisot’s The Wet Nurse and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s portrait of Suzanne Valadon, exploring what the women’s clothing reveals.
Introduction. Toga pop-up
Toga Pop-up Discover the story of the iconic Roman toga and get up close with ancient dress as historian Sander Funch and archaeologist Sandi Rizvic explore its significance and demonstrate how it was tied and draped.
Music. DKDM x Glyptoteket. When Baroque Meets Antiquity
Experience soprano Mari Aschehoug and lutenist Nichlas Overgaard in an intimate concert where the musical world of the Baroque meets antiquity’s fascination with status, identity and self-presentation. Through works by Monteverdi, Caccini, Charpentier and Dowland – including Laudate Dominum and Dalla porta d’oriente – the duo explores how voice and music can express emotions, character and social status.
Talk. The Colours of Power (DK)
In antiquity, colour was power. Access to certain colours was restricted, and the exclusive purple dye was reserved for the ruling elite of the Roman Empire. In this talk, exhibition curator Cecilie Brøns introduces Power and Fashion in the Roman Empire and explores how colours were used to signal rank, wealth, identity and belonging. She will discuss the extraction of precious pigments and the production of luxury textiles in antiquity, drawing parallels and contrasts with the language of power in fashion today.
Talk. From Ancient Fragrances to Modern Beauty (DK)
What did power smell like in the Roman Empire? And what can ancient perfumes tell us about beauty, identity and desire today? Exhibition curator Cecilie Brøns and Mette Skjærbæk, founder of Karmameju Skincare, take us on a journey from the world of ancient fragrances to modern beauty, while author Leonora Christina Skov explores the unique ability of scent to evoke memories, create atmospheres and tell stories. Moderated by Chris Pedersen, host of Popsmart on Danish radio station P1.
Talk. The Uniforms of Power (DK)
Clothing is a powerful form of communication. Join designer Søren Le Schmidt, who created Queen Mary’s gown for the 2024 accession of the throne, and Associate Professor Else Skjold from the Royal Danish Academy for a conversation about how clothing is used to signal authority, identity and status. From politicians in dark suits to tech billionaires in sneakers and influencers in designer fashion, we all use clothing to communicate. It is not simply about looking good, but about expressing a person, a role and a situation. Moderated by fashion expert and journalist Chris Pedersen, the conversation explores the codes that shape the wardrobes of power, from antiquity to the present day.
Concert. Soleima
Experience Soleima – a boundary-pushing artist with a distinctive identity, striking vocals and a raw attitude – taking over the Winter Garden with a sound that refuses to be put in a box.
Nightcap
After the concert, take some time to let the evening’s many impressions sink in over a complimentary Carlsberg beer. Stay a little longer, enjoy one last drink, and let the evening slowly wind down.
10:00 pm
Thank you for tonight!
As always you can enjoy a free welcome beer from Carlsberg, and throughout the evening you can buy snacks and dinner prepared by former Michelin chef, Lasse Askov.
Read more about the exhibition here.
Food and drinks may not be enjoyed in the exhibition halls.
