I saw JP Gaultier’s exhibition today, in its final weeks at the Barbican Till the 25 th of Aug 2014.Almost like an end of summer treat to do and see.
When I think of him,it’s like a film of roller coaster images that spin through my visual memory : his ever repeating striped sailors T-shirts from Breton,his eccentric corset creativity,extreme body exposure,extravagant yet approachable SM,his subtle hints at bondage and a colourful variety of races and cultures.
One thing is for sure; this man lives with his eyes wide open !The way he observes the world with a personal interpretation in his collections is very original ,strong and enjoyable .It can be quite ‘in your face’when it’s presented but it’s more like he taps you gently on the shoulder reminding you,’what you see is what you get’ .It is his way of sharing and communicating . Combine this with his nostalgic memories of his grand-mere,the films noirs he can’t forget,his Paris forever associated with Folies Bergeres and Crazy Horse voyeurisme , the punk and Mc Laren of 70s London and his teddybear Nana and Gaultier has given us some amazing ,surprising shows for the last 30 years ( or more)!
Walking through the exh and enjoying all of his themed catwalk shows in the eighties and nineties ,whether his pret-a-porter or haute couture ,it struck me that certain pieces are very ‘IN’ like the ripped jeans,the corset cropped tops,skinny jumpsuits and leather pieces…
Therefore there’s is only conclusion from his first retrospective : Jean-Paul Gaultier will never go out of Fashion!
To be continued.
TeDe.
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