Gallery takes on costumer's legacy

By LANE NICHOLS - The Dominion Post Thursday, 24 May 2007
His intricate costumes have adorned the finest international dancers.
Now, 30 of Kristian Fredrikson's most beautiful designs are being gifted to Lower Hutt's NewDowse gallery in a gesture that honours one of his dying wishes.
The renowned Petone-born costumer designed outfits for countless international ballet, opera, theatre and film productions.
Though he died in 2005, his artistic vision lives on.
Hundreds of his designs – including about 45 tutus – will grace 32 dancers in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's Swan Lake production, which opens at Wellington's Saint James Theatre tomorrow.
Wardrobe supervisor Andrew Pfeiffer said Fredrikson's genius set him apart.
"Over the years he took a lot of photos of dancers in various poses, so he always knew what he could do in a costume.
"He's just one of those people that was never limited by his imagination."
The ballet company is gifting 30 Fredrikson costumes and 200 design drawings to the NewDowse.
The gallery's collections manager Bev Eng said the costumer had wanted his designs to be publicly available.
A Fredrikson tutu was on display and a 2004 exhibition of his work had attracted overwhelming national interest.
The costumes and drawings would be exhibited within the next year.
NewDowse director Tim Walker said the gallery would show how Fredrikson's signature designs became the hallmark of New Zealand's national dance company.
Royal New Zealand Ballet general manager Amanda Skoog said the gift would give future generations access to Fredrikson's vision.