The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk

20thMay2014

(Authors Own, GIFF of rotating catwalk at the Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibition)

This is the first major exhibition devoted to the French designer, Jean Paul Gaultier . With his avant-garde fashion creations and cutting-edge designs, Gaultier has shaped the look of fashion over the last 40 years. His reputation for witty and daring designs and a ceaseless interest in society, identity and a beauty borne of difference has earned him a place in fashion history.  Gaultier is fascinated by world cultures and countercultures, conceiving a new kind of fashion in both the way it is made and worn. Through twists, transformations, transgressions and reinterpretations, he not only erases the boundaries between cultures but also the sexes, redefining the idea of androgyny or subverting fashion codes. This theatrically-staged exhibition brings together more than 165 cutting-edge couture and ready-to-wear garments including iconic costumes for film and performance from the early 1970s to the present day. The infamous conical bra and corsets Madonna wore during her 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour are showcased alongside stage costumes designed for Kylie Minogue as well as pieces created for the films of Pedro Almodóvar, among others. 

(http://www.agentofstyle.com, Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibition Talking Mannequins)

Everything about the exhibition was mesmerising, the fabrics and materials are extremely luxurious, and the way there are fabricated is so captivating.  But what really grabbed my attention when visiting the Jean Gaultier exhibition was the way the garments where displayed. A series of mannequins dressed in Gaultier's dazzling apparel, have faces projected onto their heads, unnervingly bringing the figures to life, as they blink, sing, chat and appear to make eye contact with visitors. This gave me loads of ideas on how I can display my final pieces. The exhibit itself was really fun.  Since creating my final imagery I have always wanted to give them a really 3D appearance. Visiting this exhibition has given me fantastic ideas of creating an extra dimension of movement in my final imagery. The idea of projecting something moving onto a still image will really emphasise my concept. Im planning on printing my series of overlapping imagery onto fabric and then film it moving in the wind. This can then be projected onto an identical still image. I think that it should work well, the two combined methods of capturing movement will hopefully create an interesting and slightly distorted outcome.

(Authors Own, Imagery at Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibition)