© Dior Gallery - Adrien Dirand, and Ulrike Ottinger - Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI/H.l.ne Mauri/Dist. RMN-GP
Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d´Hiver, Paris, August 1955 / © The Richard Avedon Foundation Courtesy Gagosian
No need to attend couture week runway shows to admire extraordinary outfits! Paris is buzzing with fashion exhibitions since the beginning of the year. Among the latest gems: a fusion of modern art and fashion at the Centre Pompidou, a tribute to Richard Avedon's centenary with his finest photographs at Gagosian, and the new exhibition at the Dior Gallery dedicated to women.
Crossing Fashion at Centre Pompidou
What do an Azzedine Alaïa dress and chairs by Marcel Duchamp have in common? Or the works of Giorgio De Chirico with those of Martin Margiela? Fashion journalist and writer Laurence Benaïm provides answers with the exhibition "La traversée des apparences. Quand la mode s’invite au musée" at Centre Pompidou. Benaïm had the opportunity to select key museum pieces and connect them with works by admired fashion designers, aiming to facilitate communication between modern art and fashion.
Visitors wander on the 5th floor of the museum to admire 17 outfits designed by couturiers like Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Iris van Herpen, and Azzedine Alaïa, alongside lesser-known figures like Popy Moreni and emerging talents like Charles de Vilmorin. Some associations are less obvious to understand, such as the pairing of a Dior dress playing with transparency, revealing the female body, with Henri Matisse's painting "Le luxe I'été". They differ in many aspects, except for their interest in nudity and light. With this exhibition, Laurence Benaïm clearly enjoys herself, and so do we as we try to find commonalities among these diverse works.
"La traversée des apparences : quand la mode s’invite au musée " runs until April 22 at Centre Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4th. Information and online reservations.
© Kevin Germanier - Laurent Delhourme, Centre Pompidou, December 2023, Wilhelm Freddie - Adagp 2024, Paris, Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI/Philippe Migeat/Dist. RMN-GP, and Ulrike Ottinger - Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI/H.l.ne Mauri/Dist. RMN-GP.
Iconic Avedon at Gagosian
On the occasion of Richard Avedon's centenary, Gagosian pays tribute to the photography genius. After a major retrospective in New York, the exhibition "Iconic Avedon: A Centennial Celebration of Richard Avedon" takes place in their Parisian gallery. Because, indeed, Richard Avedon was a photography icon. Armed with a camera during World War II while serving in the U.S. army, he began a 20-year collaboration with Harper’s Bazaar upon his return in 1945. This partnership produced the most expensive photograph in history: "Dovima with Elephants." A massive print of this spectacular photograph taken at Cirque d’Hiver in Paris is displayed at Gagosian. The cherry on top? The Yves Saint Laurent dress worn by the model on the shoot is also present in the gallery. Truly iconic!
Richard Avedon later joined Vogue for 25 years, capturing portraits of the 20th century's greatest personalities in fashion, cinema, and music: Gabrielle Chanel's laughter, Marilyn Monroe's melancholy and ecstasy, Brigitte Bardot's childlike face, and Bob Dylan's pout. The exhibition displays around fifty photographs showcasing Avedon's ability to break through the public personas of these figures to immortalize their true emotions. This is an exhibition not to be missed!
"Iconic Avedon: A Centennial Celebration of Richard Avedon" runs until March 2 at Gagosian Gallery, 4 Rue de Ponthieu, Paris 8th. Free admission. Information online.
The Vicomtesse Jacqueline de Ribes, hair by Kenneth, New York, December 14, 1955 / © The Richard Avedon Foundation Courtesy Gagosian
Charles Chaplin, actor, New York, September 13, 1952 / © The Richard Avedon Foundation Courtesy Gagosian
Tina Turner, performer, dress by Azzaro, New York, June 13, 1971 / © The Richard Avedon Foundation Courtesy Gagosian
Feminine Art at Dior Gallery
It's the most glamorous event of winter, a must-visit with your haute couture-obsessed BFF. Head to 30 Avenue Montaigne, where the spectacular Dior Gallery hosts a brand-new exhibition highlighting collaborations between Dior and female artists through hundreds of dresses and accessories (passion for Lady Dior!). Christian Dior, passionate about art since a young age, blends his two passions in his clothing—a tradition continued by all his successors.
Marc Bohan designs several models for his friend and artist Niki de Saint Phalle, some of whose works are displayed in the gallery. Decades later, Maria Grazia Chiuri also draws inspiration from the sculptor's universe for her spring-summer 2018 collection. The Italian designer then collaborates with Judy Chicago and Elina Chauvet, each time addressing sexism and gender inequalities, with their collaborations scattered throughout the Dior Gallery. An emotional moment is admiring Judy Chicago's immense banners in the Dior Ballroom.
"Feminine Art" runs until May 13 at Dior Gallery, 11 Rue François 1er, Paris 8th. Open every day except Saturdays from 11 am to 7 pm. Starting from €8. Information and online reservations.
© Dior Gallery - Adrien Dirand
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