Taffeta evening gown of panther design was embroidered in beads -took 1060 hours of embroidery work

Taffeta gown with panther design

-claw detail with rhine stones and pearl beads-

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has devoted an enchanting exhibition to the designs of Jean Paul Gaultier, affectionately known by the press as the enfant terrible of the fashion world since the time of his first runway shows in the late 70s.

Organized in collaboration with Maison Jean Paul Gaultier, the exhibit displays the artist's eclectic and daring sources of inspiration through a selection of 130 haute couture and pret-à-porter ensembles created between 1970–2010 as well as many archival documents, sketches, and video clips documenting his collaboration with filmmakers and choreographers. The dazzling inspiration of his fashions are illustrated in some never exhibited in public before prints by renowned photographers such as Richard Avedon, Andy Warhol, Mario Testino and Cindy Sherman.

Unlike all other exhibitions, the visitors to this are permitted to take photographs (sans flash) as they walk through the six sections symbolizing the odyssey of Jean Paul Gaultier. In the first section mermaids, sailors and virgins greet the visitors and through animation in both English and French, the mannequins invite them on a voyage through the designer's fascinating world.

The sections consist of The Boudoir, displaying Gaultier's interest in his childhood memories of his grandmother who introduced him to fine women's fashions as well as to the 1944 film Falbalas – about the rise of a young couturier.

As a born and bred Parisian, it would be unnatural to see Gaultier not pay tribute to his native city. Punk CanCan does just that as his elegant Parisians strut down the catwalk in their tailored dresses, crisp suits, trench coats just as non nonchalantly as they do in their punk, leather and bondage straps.

~ Note the inverted Eiffel Tower heels on the footwear ~

Skin Deep was described as the “first garment” by the designer whose fascination on skin and its ornamentation through various themes such as see through fabric, tattoos, “ready for sex” garments, corsets and skirts explore Gaultier's multi-gender approach.

Metropolis illustrates the artist's avant-garde approach and his flair for innovation as in his use of 3-D materials to add to other mediums such as film, dance and music. The visitor can sit to watch a wealth of video clips here to see the designer's contributions to pop and rock artists such as Beyoncé, Kylie Minogue, Les Rita Mitsouko, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga.

The same dress above seen from the back is unrecognizable in its hand-stitched white feathers

 

Gaultier explores cultures, folklore, and traditions in his Urban Jungle which reflects a powerful curiosity and innate lack of taboo. His most impressive haute-couture creations with a copious amount of detail and thousands of hours of fine work put into each piece are featured here. “Around the World in 168 Outfits” (1989) and “Tribute to Frida Kahlo” (1998) are just two films which have benefited from his artistic designs in fashion.

-Tribute to Frida Kahlo - 1998-

After its farewell to Montreal in October, Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition will move on to Dallas, San Francisco and return to Europe. I recommend it highly; if you get a chance, do see it!

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Photo credits: Füsun Atalay ~ Montreal, QC 

Füsun Atalay ~ Copyright © Will of my Own - 2011