The stroke of a pen gives its soul and greatness to both the artwork and the Haute Couture dress. The concept is for the first time embodied in the form of a stroke. This exhibition « Art and Fashion » explores this link between the creative process in each domain.
From the end of 19th century until today, the History of Europe has been strewn with achievements, tragedies and transforming events. To some extent, Fashion is a reflection of these experiences and is sometimes an initiator of the evolutions we have experienced. From the recklessness at the turn-of-the-century (Belle Epoque) to the refusal of constraints during the Roaring Twenties and the societal revolution of the 1960s, all these periods have been accompanied by creative revolutions that have progressively led to the emancipation of women in our society.
What better way to discover this history though the sketches and drawings of Karl Lagerfeld, Gianfranco Ferré, Christian Lacroix and many other designers? This exhibition invites us to take a rare and exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their creative process. It is also a journey through the depths and the blurred boundaries between Fashion and Art, since the first strokes of a sketch are the underlying foundations in the creation of both Haute Couture and Fine Art pieces. Through the light and feathery strokes of each designer, a fantasied physiological reality of stream-like silhouettes takes shape and the soul of a new collection is revealed before our eyes.
Presenting their collaborations with the fashion industry, renowned photographers Liu Bolin and Erwin Olaf give their own personal interpretation of the Haute Couture world in this exhibition. Both sensual and seductive, the wooden sculptures of Wang Keping and corsets of artistic director of Chanel’s Maison Lesage, Hubert Barrere, will also be displayed. The Chinese sculptor and master corsetiere seek to emphasize women’s curves and transform the female body into a piece of art while designers work to transform their original sketches into real garments that show off feminity.
Featured artists: Liu Bolin, Gael Davrinche, Wang Keping and Erwin Olaf.
-Magda Danysz Gallery
Image: © Liu Bolin
Courtesy of the artist and Magda Danysz Gallery