Weltmuseum Wien : Who's Wearing the Pants?
From March 25 2025 to 1 February 2026
In its major special exhibition 2025, the Weltmuseum Wien takes a journey through 3,000 years of trouser history from around the world and uses this symbolic item of clothing to pose the question: ‘Who wears the trousers?’
The exhibits tell a tale of perfected functionality as well as craftsmanship and design. They bear witness to the conditions of human existence – in luxury or poverty, during daily routines, and in finery. British artist Ian Berry’s piece ‘the Morning After’ is included in the show with his work all made of denim pants.
sokoto Maker unknown, Nigeria, c.1980, Jacquard fabric made of cotton, synthetic fibres, and lurex with machine stitching, Weltmuseum Wien, Barbara Plankensteiner Collection © KHM-Museumsverband
Skinny, baggy, formal, PJ-style: they are a deeply familiar global phenomenon that comes in all shapes and sizes. To many of us, they form a part of a personal identity, they trigger gender and generational conflicts, they are a marker of cultural and social belonging. Trousers. The Weltmuseum Wien takes one on a journey through 3,000 years of global legwear history, from the oldest types of pants from the Bronze Age to the present day!
Trousers are everywhere – yet they hold much more meaning than meets the eye. From ancient riding trousers to modern jeans, Who’s Wearing the Pants? explores cultural norms, social change, and personal identity. Treasures and quite a few oddities from the collections of the Weltmuseum Wien, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and the Theatermuseum meet loans from Austrian and international institutions. Historical originals, presented alongside selected contemporary artworks, create a multifaceted picture of this symbol-laden garment.
The narrative spans from the Bronze Age and the oldest kinds of trousers to rebellious women and their striving for social and political equality. It addresses the religious roots of laws against cross-dressing as well as the transgressions against the resulting rigid gender norms in theatre, carnival and dance. Representing the evolution of trousers in European menswear, iconic sports and military legwear and trousers are shown. More and less known trousers from the Habsburg wardrobe are contrasted with fascinating legwear shapes from Latin America that blend colonial orders and indigenous tradition. Last but not least, we turn to undergarments and conclude our journey of by casting a look at current challenges in legwear production.
Ian Berry, THE MORNING AFTER U.K., 2014 Assemblage of denim fragments AWWG Collection, Pepe Jeans®, Madrid Courtesy of Pepe Jeans® © Bildrecht, Wien 2025
The large annual exhibition shows treasures and many a bizarre finds from the collections from around the world. In the show, historical objects enter into dialogue with contemporary art. Ian Berry’s 2014 piece is loaned from the collection of the AWWG Collection and is displayed next to a selection of denim garments.
The entrance of Who’s Wearing the Pant’s? at Weltmuseum Wien
Maker unknown Haiti, before 1947, Cotton twill with leg buttons and machine stitching, Weltmuseum Wien, Kurt Fisher Collection © KHM-Museumsverband
pantalón de charro Joseph Kowarz, Mexico, 1864–1867, Goatskin, gold and silver embroidery on leather, silver buckle, gold-plated decorative buttons, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Department of Court Uniforms, © KHM-Museumsverband
Who's Wearing the Pants? Exhibition view, © KHM-Museumsverband, Photo: Daniel Sostaric
Videos, films, and interactive media and hands-on stations invite you to explore a wide variety of
fabrics and functional details, try on virtual pants, and reflect on the downsides of textile
production, AI-supported production on demand, or even greenwashing and upcycling.
Young visitors can discover Who’s wearing the pants through special child-friendly exhibition texts.
Curators: Barbara Pönighaus-Matuella, Julia Zeindl, Bettina Zorn, and Hanin Hannouch
Exhibition designer: büro wien. Inszenierte Kommunikation Marketing GmbH
The Morning After Ian Berry, U.K., 2014, Assemblage of denim fragments, AWWG Collection
Neue Hofburg, Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna, Austria
+43 1 534 30-5052
info@weltmuseumwien.at
Opening Hours
Daily (except Monday)
10 am to 6 pm
Tuesday
10 am to 9 pm
News
News from the studio of Ian Berry
NEW!
Ian Berry’s, SPLENDID ISOLATION is out now and available to order online. The book is a collaboration with publisher Jap Sam Books in The Netherlands with the Museum Rijswijk to coincide with the Solo Museum show of the same name.
The book includes
· a foreward by Museum Rijswijk curator Diana Wind and Director Arnoud van Aalst
· 160 page paperback book
· Over 150 images in full colour (well, full of blue)
· Looks over some of his 15 years of making his artwork using only denim
· Many images show detail shots of his work that have to be seen to be believed.
The book was launched at the 2020 Virtual Art Book Fair (VABF) organized by Tokyo Art Book Fair (TABF) with Jap Sam. The fair was originally scheduled for Fall 2020 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. It then debuted at the Museum shop at Museum Rijswijk and was popular with visitors. You can now get it here.
The book comes signed by the artist Ian Berry and you can also request a message to be sent. We can post around the world with the postages below, including a special launch offer.
Postage
· £2.50 to the UK (Free with FREESHIPPING code at check out)
Postage outside the UK will come up at Check out.
Along with Museum Rijswijk and Jap Sam Books the book was made possible by the museum show principle sponsor Pepe Jeans London, along with Tencel, Famore Cutlery, Cone Denim and Tonello.