There is more than frivolous fashion and fabulous stories within Hannelore Knuts’ exhibition ‘ULTRAMEGALORE’ that opened last month in Hasselt, Belgium. Rather than sitting pretty as a muse for the project, Hannelore went ‘hands-on’, curating the entire exhibition herself – to impressive results. We already took a look at the fashion pieces here, but the artistic works are no less impressive – boasting contemporary pieces from internationally renowned artists with whom Hannelore shares mutual respect, friendships and shared histories. With a strong nod to her Belgian roots, many of the artists hail from her homeland, and others from her adopted playground of New York.

From Kendell Geers’ 2007 work ‘The devil you know’ dominating the main gallery with it’s flashing police lights, to Edward Lipski’s bambi statue, there is a sense of innocence and fun with an underlying darkness and questioning that permeates her selection. Belgian model and artist Griet Troch’s ballerina rabbit statues stand in sweeping curtsies alongside Lacroix bridal couture, and Peter Rogiers’ giant aquamarine insect ‘Bootsmann’ stands like an alien lifeform – framed on all sides by glossy fashion images from the likes of Inez & Vinoodh and David Sims.

David Altmejd’s untitled crystalline, hairy face sculpture is one of the eeriest sights in the exhibition, a study of metamorphosis and animalistic mutation that is suitably unsettling when placed next to the designer garments and personal artifacts from Hannelore’s past. Softer and with a more distinctly Belgian feel are the watercolours from Luc Tuymans, and Elizabeth Peyton’s portrait of the Libertine’s Pete Doherty and Carl Barat is a nod to her musical leanings (as are the videos and costumes from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

From her artistic selection Hannelore paints a clear picture of herself – a 21st century rock chick with a little girl still hiding inside – still dreaming of a fairytale, but with a little grime mixed with the glitter.

‘Untitled, 2005′ by David Altmejd.

‘Bootsmann’ by Peter Rogiers.

‘Bunnies’ by Griet Troch.

‘Apoteek’ by Luc Tuymans.
‘Bambi’ by Edward Lipski.

‘Pete & Carl’ by Elizabeth Peyton.