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)

David Bailey - Stardust Exhibition

(Bailey, David, Photographs of [Left] Michael Caine, [Right] Kate Moss)

David Bailey’s Stardust exhibition is not one to miss, showcased is over 250 pieces ranging from his classic 60’s pin ups to a beautiful collection from the likes of Sudan and Naga Hills. The exhibit takes over almost the entirety of the ground floor, displaying photographs in varying arrangements; from huge fully coloured images of Vivienne Westwood and Abbey Lee Kershaw for ID magazine to small intimate images of his wife, Catherine Bailey.

(Bailey, David Abbey Lee Kershaw for ID magazine)

The exhibition was curated thematically and not chronologically starting with the entrance which is dedicated to the Rolling Stones that Bailey first met when Mick Jagger was in a relationship with the sister of Jean Shrimpton. Bailey would go on tour with them and photograph them. As well as the selection of iconic images of Mick Jagger, Jean Shrimpton and Francis Bacon, there are images included from his trip to Africa. These images of those devastated by the famine in east Africa were taken in support of the Band Aid charity in 1985.

Bailey burst into photographic history with his ‘Box of Pin-Ups’ portraits in 1965. Complete with his signature style, they started a trend which has spanned his career – blank white, sharp lighting and no set dressing.  These photos are the epitome of pop culture and a motive behind a lifelong relationship with fashion and celebrity. Bailey has produced more than 350 covers for VOGUE but for this exhibition, he chose distinctive personalities – the subjects that were most exciting to capture. Bailey exposes the celebrity to the viewer, giving his famed subject nothing to hide behind, making each portrait achingly cool and painfully unique. All in all a truly amazing experience, there are photographs I have never seen before, and ones that are still not available to see on the internet, I felt it was an honour to have the opportunity to see these exclusive images.