Madrid’s ARCO contemporary art fair is well underway and one of the most talked about works on view is a sculptural corpse of Pablo Picasso. Created by Spanish artist Eugenio Merino in collaboration with Los Interventores and ADN Gallery, ‘Aquí Murió Picasso’ (Picasso Died Here), 2017, features the larger-than-life artist laying on a plinth in his signature Breton shirt and linen trousers.
The sculpture is exaggerated on multiple levels. Firstly, the work measures 6 feet long, while Picasso was actually 5 feet and 4 inches tall. Additionally, Merino and the curators involved looked to critique the spectacle that has become of modern day art fairs — where selfies and tourism have arguably taken over the experience of viewing and buying art.
In an interview with ARTnews, Merino explains how the sculpture was inspired by Dean MacCannell’s 1976 book, ‘The Tourist’. “Institutions and companies wash their image in culture”, said Merino, adding, “that’s why it’s important that this work presents itself, openly, as an object to be sold but also from which to extract symbolic value. A place where a ‘tourist art consumer’ can have its selfie…a souvenir that reminds us they were here, where Picasso died. Obviously, it’s as fake as any tourist attraction”.
For those looking to purchase, ‘Aquí Murió Picasso’ (Picasso Died Here), 2017 is an edition of three and sells for €45,000 EUR / $47,448 USD. ARCO is on view in Madrid until February 26.
ARCO Av. del Partenón, 5, 28042 Madrid, Spain
For more information, come into the beautiful world of ARCO.
Gucci announces ‘Gucci Cosmos’, a major new exhibition of the Italian fashion house’s most iconic and timeless designs from its 102-year history. A playful voyage that spirals backwards and forwards through the decades, ‘Gucci Cosmos’ consists of eight immersive ‘worlds’ devised by renowned British artist Es Devlin to create a cutting-edge audio, visual, and kinetic experience.
Curated by Italian fashion theorist and critic Maria Luisa Frisa, Gucci Cosmos showcases era-defining pieces from the Gucci Archive in Florence. Encompassing work by founder Guccio Gucci and his creative successors, up to Tom Ford, Frida Giannini, and Alessandro Michele, the exhibition demonstrates how the visionary ethos at the heart of the House has continuously reflected and defined the times.
Gucci archive space at Palazzo Settimanni in Florence, Italy
Gucci plans to present ‘Gucci Cosmos’ at West Bund Art Center in Shanghai from April 28 to June 25 before touring the world. For more information, come into the beautiful world of Gucci.
The past isn’t just the present, but it is also very much the future at the Brooklyn Museum’s new exhibition ‘Thierry Mugler: Couturissime’.
That message rang loud and clear, during a walk-through Monday morning with the museum’s senior curator of fashion and material culture Matthew Yokobosky, Mugler creative director Casey Cadwallader, and the head of the Mugler archives, Marion Bourdée.Enthralling and forward-thinking as the show is, it also will sound a knell, as Manfred Thierry Mugler died unexpectedly in January at the age of 73. The Brooklyn exhibition will be the final stop in a five-city tour.
First shown at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, then in Germany, the Netherlands and France, the traveling ‘Thierry Mugler: Couturissime’ exhibition has officially landed at its final destination: New York City’s Brooklyn Museum. There, exhibition curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and the museum’s senior curator of fashion Matthew Yokobosky have adapted the limitless, historical showcase for New York’s fashion crowd, now on view from November 18, 2022, to May 7, 2023.
Spanning Haute Couture designs and unpublished archives, the exhibition houses more than 100 looks (most of which are on view for the first time) along with accessories, videos, photographs, sketches and fragrances that define Thierry Mugler’s unequivocal stamp on fashion. It’s the first retrospective to explore the French designer’s imaginative, no-holds-barred universe — a daring world that he first began curating in the 1970s.
Originally a dancer for the Ballet de l’Ópera national du Rhin, Mugler had an intimate understanding of the human form, one that proved pivotal in the creation of his legacy-defining silhouettes. In the ’70s, the designer coined his clientele ‘glamazon’ (a conflation of ‘glamour’ and ‘Amazon’), a fashionable, modern woman whose style had elevated since the hippie codes of the ’60s. Throughout his career,
Mugler’s penchant for risk-taking, be it through boundary-pushing silhouettes or unlikely fabrics (think glass, PVC, vinyl, latex and chrome), set a new tone in fashion via stylized provocation, fembot couture and rewritten codes. In the ’80s and ’90s, he spearheaded the renaissance of haute couture with thought-provoking collections and theatrical presentations, which, to this day, continue to impact fashion’s landscape.
The exhibition champions Mugler’s industry-altering portfolio by theme, separating the designer’s interests into rooms dedicated to fantasy, glamour, science fiction, eroticism and the natural world. In the Brooklyn Museum’s Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery, the showcase begins with a life-size hologram of Mugler’s designs for a theatrical production of ‘La Tragédie de Macbeth’, presented by the Comédie-Française at the 1985 Festival d’Avignon. To the left, there’s a wall filled with sketches for the play; and on the right, enlarged text chronicles Mugler’s journey over five decades.
In the following corridors, the visionary’s designs claim the spotlight, lined against the wall in sartorial coordination. Upon entrance, Mugler’s FW95 Venus dress, which Cardi B wore to the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019, attracts the eye at first glance. Next to it, Mugler’s Haute Couture FW97 embroidered velvet pagoda jacket and baroque basques Muslin-crested skirt become acquainted with a FW95 fitted, velvet evening coat with crystal and feather embellishments.
A fashion visionary, Mugler established himself as one of the most daring and innovative designers of the late twentieth century. His bold silhouettes and unorthodox techniques and materials—including glass, Plexiglas, vinyl, latex, and chrome—made their mark on fashion history.
In galleries designed by Berlin artist Philipp Fürhofer, Mugler’s futuristic silhouettes, inspired by science fiction and comic-book superheroines, medieval armor and uniforms, appear in battle-ready legions. He collaborated with Jean-Pierre Delcros and Jean-Jacques Urcun to create robotic humans, which wear FW95 metal and Plexiglas full-body catsuits and FW89 bustiers with ‘radiator grille’ and ‘headlight’ adornments at the showcase. A standout, the designer’s prized creation, ‘Maschinenmensch’, which debuted in 1995 during his 20th-anniversary show, reflects a full armor suit that took six months to produce.
In the foreground of natural scenes, the ‘Metamorphosis’ gallery highlights adventurous silhouettes from Mugler’s ‘Les Insectes’ and ‘La Chimère’ collections from 1997-98. Front and center, the exhibition spotlights a black velvet sheath and train adorned with feathered butterfly wings and a dress donning iridescent scales with crystal embroidery. In the left corner, the designer’s Haute Couture FW99 ‘Méduse de bal’ gown stands confidently, with coated and pleated organza bodice and double crinoline; and on the opposite side, there’s an Haute Couture SS97 catsuit and velvet satin cape, worn by Kylie Jenner during the exhibition’s opening.
In the 1970s, Mugler defined trends with his acclaimed ‘glamazon’, a chic, modern woman whose style evolved from the hippie fashions of the 1960s. In the 1980s and ’90s, Mugler galvanized the renaissance of haute couture through his provocative collections and theatrical fashion shows, which involved grandiose locations and the era’s most iconic models.
Elsewhere, there’s a gallery dedicated to Mugler’s iconic fragrances, with a new section honoring the 30th anniversary of the Maison’s Angel scent. (Notably, the fragrance’s inclusion of ethyl maltol, a sweetening food compound, single-handedly launched a new perfume category: gourmand.) ‘Couturissime’ also traverses Mugler’s iconic fashion photography, showcasing works by artists and collaborators including Lillian Bassman, Guy Bourdin, David LaChapelle, Karl Lagerfeld, Sarah Moon, Pierreet Gilles, Herb Ritts and Ellen von Unwerth. Naturally, the exhibition dedicates a sizable portion to Mugler’s lifelong collaborations with photographer Helmut Newton, specifically with 23 works on view.
“The constant innovations, inventions, and avant-garde architectural silhouettes in the work of Mugler have marked an era”, said Loriot. “His singular style found a place in the history of fashion that still has a powerful influence on today’s generation of couturiers, not only because of its designs but also because of the strong message of inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment in his body of work”.
Casey Cadwallader, creative director of Mugler, added, “I’m so excited to bring ‘Couturissime’ to Brooklyn. The exhibition is a vibrant journey through Manfred Thierry Mugler’s vision and legacy. A true creative running in his own lane, everything he touched, from silhouettes and craft to casting and fragrance, was different. He was always true to himself because it was the only way he knew how to be”.
The exhibition features over one hundred outfits ranging from haute couture pieces to stage costumes, alongside custom accessories, sketches, videos, images by leading fashion photographers, and spectacular installations that mirror Mugler’s futuristic approach. The Brooklyn Museum’s presentation also introduces an expanded section dedicated to fragrance, centered on Mugler’s trailblazing scent Angel. ‘Thierry Mugler: Couturissime’ is an opportunity to discover and rediscover the fantastical work of this multidisciplinary artist, who revolutionized the world of fashion.
Thierry Mugler: Couturissime November 18, 2022 – May 7, 2023 Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery, 5th Floor
Come into the beautiful world of Thierry Mugler. Tickets for The Brooklyn Museum’s ‘Thierry Mugler: Couturissime exhibition’ can be reserved on the museum’s website.
Let’s Celebrate Princess Diana’s 25th Anniversary with a one-of-a-kind tour of the largest most comprehensive private collection of never seen before personal clothing items, art pieces and exclusive interviews with designers and Diana’s most trusted friends.
Originally launched in early 2020, The Princess Diane Museum and its 14 galleries spanning Diana’s entire life and incredible legacy has now been vastly expanded and updated with hundreds of new personal items and media incorporated to this private collection during the past 2 years.
As always, you can share your experiences with your loved ones in real time through our exclusive Community Chat and Video feature when touring the museum and much, much more.
Click on the link to start this completely FREE One Month Membership Access to celebrate Princess Diana’s 25th Anniversary from the comfort of your home. High Speed Internet Connection Required. For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) visit – The Princess and the Platypus.org
Princess Diana Museum 1 Month Free Membership Checkout Page
Free One Month Membership Access LINK. – Fill in all boxes marked in red in the checkout page link above. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and you are accessing it through your laptop or desktop computer.
Note: You can add more than 1 Membership in the ‘Access Membership’ section in the checkout page and share your registered email and password with a friend or family member. Log in to the museum at the same time to use our community video chat to share experiences in real time.
French Maison Chaumet is presenting its new exhibition, Botanical, at the Beaux-Arts de Paris until September 4. The exhibition proposes a striking dialogue between the Maison’s exceptional jewelry creations and a botanical vision that resonates with all forms of art, creating an immersive experience that recounts the beauty of plants across 7,000 years of art.
Celebrating nature in art, the Botanical exhibition features nearly 400 artworks – paintings, sculptures, textiles, photographs and furniture – alongside a hundred jewelry pieces from Chaumet and other jewelers. Scientific works and creations by botanists and artists combine for a discovery of the extraordinary beauty of nature. Maria Merian and Émile Gallé are joined by Delacroix, Arcimboldo and Monet, as well as Redouté, Eva Jospin, Le Corbusier and Anna Atkins. To curate the exhibition, Chaumet called on Marc Jeanson, botanical director of the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech.
Nature and botanical motifs figure at the heart of Chaumet’s heritage. The exhibition fuses jewelry-making savoir-faire and art history in the exceptional setting of the Beaux-Arts de Paris. Chaumet has enjoyed a special relationship with the school for many years and has provided funding for the ‘Dessin Extra Large’ chair since its creation in 2020.
The Chaumet Botanical exhibition is open to the public by reservation from Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm-8pm. More information come into the beautiful world of Chaumet.
From July 6, 2022 to January 22, 2023, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is honoring the bold and inspiring work of Elsa Schiaparelli, an Italian designer whose inspiration was nourished by a privileged relationship with artists from the Parisian avant-garde of the 1920s and 1930s. Nearly 20 years after the retrospective dedicated to him in 2004, the museum wanted to revisit his work in order to rediscover to the public his innovative fantasy, his taste for the show and his artistic modernity.
Shocking! The Surrealist Worlds of Elsa Schiaparelli, brings together 520 works including 272 costumes and fashion accessories, compared with paintings, sculptures, jewelry, perfume flacons, ceramics, posters, and photographs signed by the greatest names of the time, from Man Ray to Salvador Dalí, from Jean Cocteau to Meret Oppenheim or Elsa Triolet. This major retrospective also highlights the legacy of the Schiaparelli style with silhouettes interpreted by famous couturiers paying tribute to it: Yves Saint Laurent, Azzedine Alaïa, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, Daniel Roseberry, artistic director of Schiaparelli since 2019, interprets the legacy of Elsa Schiaparelli. The exhibition is presented in the fashion galleries Christine & Stephen A. Schwarzman in a poetic and immersive scenography entrusted to Nathalie Crinière.
Marking Tiffany and Co.’s 150th anniversary in London, ‘Vision & Virtuosity’, an astounding exhibition from this iconic jeweller, debuts at the Saatchi Gallery, London, from 10th June – 19th August, with complimentary tickets going live from this week.
Bringing over 400 objects from the House’s archives to London, the immersive exhibition is a celebration of Tiffany’s authority as the purveyor of the world’s finest diamonds and a showcase of how two core values—vision and virtuosity—have guided the House for 185 years.
A visual chronicle of the storied jeweller since its founding in New York City in 1837, the exhibition is split into seven different chapters. Visitors will journey through everything from archival high jewellery designs, Tiffany’s famed window displays and its recently acquired Empire Diamond of over 80 carats to important relics of popular culture such as the original script from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’.
An accompanying exhibition catalogue presents the exhibition’s highlights, showcasing creations by everyone from Louis Comfort Tiffany and Gene Moore to Jean Schlumberger, Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso, John Loring, and the House’s most influential visionaries.
The 128.54 carat Tiffany Diamond in its current setting: a breath-taking necklace featuring over 100 carats of diamond
Additionally, an exclusive curation of artist collaborations and limited-release items in Tiffany Blue® will be available at the gift shop. Collaborations include T-shirts and hoodies designed by Daniel Arsham, Tiffany & Co. x Wilson® footballs, Quartersnacks skateboards, Mellow Gemini vases, Krink paint markers, Caran d’Ache pen and pencil sets and Bellocq tea sets.
A series of ‘Late’ evenings, events, talks and workshops will feature across the summer as part of the exhibition. Featuring experts from the worlds of jewellery, art, design, fashion and culture, visitors can get even closer to the jewellery, with some even being available for try-ons. A once in a life-time opportunity to experience some of the world’s most beautiful jewels up close. Details on the programme to be released in due course.
Complimentary tickets are available now through the Tiffany & Co. exhibition app where you can also discover exhibition highlights, exclusive content and more.
‘Beyond King Tut’ will transport audiences 3,000 years in the past. The new immersive exhibition is made by National Geographic and will open this summer in Boston and Washington D.C.
Immersive exhibitions were certainly an art trend that doesn’t look like it will go away anytime soon. While San Francisco’s Skylight at The Armory is getting ready to play host to a new event encapsulating the work of Pablo Picasso, on the opposite coast, visitors will get the chance to immerse themselves in the world of ancient Egypt.
‘Beyond King Tut‘ will take visitors on a time-traveling journey flooded with sight, sound and intrigue through the world of King Tutankhamun – thenine year old boy who reigned nine years as pharaoh of Egypt more than 3,000 years ago – and the discovery of his tomb and precious treasures in 1922. The discovery of the intact tomb of King Tutankhamun captured the imagination of the world, and the mysteries surrounding the tomb still resonate today. Drawing from the storied archives of the National Geographic Society, the exhibition combines the power of cinematic storytelling and soaring imagery made possible with state-of-the-art projection mapping to invite visitors into the golden king’s world like never before.
‘Beyond King Tut’ will be a must-see for anyone interested in Egypt and the history of King Tutankhamun. New technologies are making it possible to fully immerse people like never before in important stories from our past, allowing us to develop connections and understand history’s influence on our present and future generations.
Kathryn Keane, vice president of public programming for the National Geographic Society.
‘Beyond King Tut’ is produced by Paquin Entertainment Group and Immersive Experiences. Paquin Entertainment Group’s exhibition portfolio includes the acclaimed Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet exhibitions that have attracted more than 3 million visitors around the world.
The North American debut of the award-winning virtual reality experience ‘Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb’ will be presented alongside ‘Beyond King Tut’ in select venues, including SoWa Power Station, as an optional add-on experience. Created by immersive cinematic storytelling company CityLights and voiced by lauded English actor Hugh Bonneville, the groundbreaking experience whisks guests through a photorealistic version of King Tut’s tomb and all its treasures, just as archeologist Howard Carter and his financier Lord Carnarvon found it when they first peered inside in 1922.
In addition to the premiere of ‘Beyond King Tut’, National Geographic is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in November 2022 with content including a documentary and a National Geographic magazine feature.
From February 12th to 20th, 2022, Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates some of its emblematic sources of inspiration in Singapore. Pieces from the Maison’s patrimonial collection and contemporary creations will be revealed in an immersive environment that recreates the charm of Paris.
Best known for its inventive, quirky mechanics and elaborate ornamentation, Van Cleef & Arpels has pulled out all the stops of the exhibition. The event encompasses most the Maison’s most lavish creations, ranging from its charming complicated watches to incredible high-jewellery sets.
Alongside the Jewelry and High Jewelry collections, the Maison’s watches take center stage in four of its cherished universes: love stories – notably with the ‘Pont des Amoureux’ collection –, ballerinas and fairies, ‘Poetic Astronomy’® and ‘Enchanting Nature’
Ever faithful to a poetic view of life, Van Cleef & Arpels instills a distinctive dimension into the art of watchmaking: that of dreams and emotions. A blend of inventiveness and fantasy, its creations interpret the measurement of time as an invitation to imagine, wander and revel in happiness.
Love Stories
Born out of the marriage of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, the Maison has been celebrating love stories since its earliest creations. Like a sign of destiny, the first piece listed in the sales book in 1906 was a heart set with diamonds. Today, this founding theme continues to suffuse the Maison’s creations with poetry and enchantment.
The watches of the ‘Pont des Amoureux’ collection celebrate love and the intensity of longed-for reunions. United by tender feelings, a young woman and a young man decide to meet on a Paris bridge. Indicating the hours and minutes respectively thanks to a retrograde movement, they move towards each other to exchange a kiss at midday and midnight. To relive the poetry of that moment at any time, an animation-on-demand module enables the romantic scene to be replayed at will.
Fairies and Ballerinas
Symbols of joy and hope, fairies and ballerinas form an emblematic source of inspiration, which began in the early 1940s. Born out of Louis Arpels’ passion for the world of dance, the first dancer clips soon won over collectors with their elegant poses and beautiful costumes. Today, these feminine figures also adorn the Maison’s watches: like muses, they accompany the passage of time on creations that combine craft skills and watchmaking savoir-faire.
Poetic Astronomy
Since 1906, the wonders of the heavenly vault have inspired creations that elicit dreams and contemplation. After finding an echo throughout the years in the Maison’s Jewelry and High Jewelry pieces, the spectacle of the planets has been extended to Watchmaking with Poetic Astronomy. From the starry night to the constellations of the Zodiac, the trajectories of the Sun and Moon and the ballet of the planets, the timepieces combine the poetry of the celestial bodies and the measurement of time to evoke a unique emotion with every second.
Enchanting Nature
A cherished inspiration, nature breathes poetry and vitality into the creations. Enthralled by the constant metamorphoses of fauna and flora, the Maison transcribes spring in full bloom, the luxuriance of gardens or the beating of a butterfly’s wings. Closely linked to the passage of time, this theme is explored in Van Cleef & Arpels’ watchmaking collections through Enchanting Nature, a haven of beauty and harmony.
Couture Inspirations
As a tribute to the city where the Maison was born, Van Cleef & Arpels’ collections are inspired by the world of couture. Over the years, the Maison has reinterpreted the fluidity of fabric in gold and precious materials, giving rise to creations of timeless elegance.
An emblematic Van Cleef & Arpels piece since its creation in 1935, the Ludo™ model reflects the Couture inspiration that is ever so dear to the Maison. Its articulated gold ribbon is characterized by the flexibility of its mesh with the hexagon or briquette motifs. Van Cleef & Arpels honors the Ludo bracelet, an emblematic piece of the Maison, with new watch creations. Ludo secret watches combine two traditions dear to the Maison: secret watch and transformability.
Revisiting the style of the Ludo bracelets or presenting unique long necklaces hiding secret dials, Van Cleef & Arpels blends flowing lines and refined materials to bring new delight to the art of telling the time.
Timeless elegance
Bold and timeless, the Van Cleef & Arpels Cadenas® watch is as contemporary today as it was when first created in 1935. Its distinctive design features an angled dial enabling the time to be read discretely, while the straight lines of its case combine harmoniously with the curves of the clasp.
Also on show is a selection of historical items from the brand’s museum, including pocket watches, purse watches, as well as bracelet watches like the iconic Cadenas bangle.
But the exhibition is not merely about bling and baubles. One room is dedicated to an in-depth exploration of the brand’s technical achievements. Present to explain Van Cleef & Arpels’ proprietary complications is Rainer Bernard, the head of R&D for timepieces.
During your visit, immerse yourself in the romantic ambiance of Paris’ iconic landmarks and enjoy a cup of coffee and some pastry by the Seine.
Guided by their own taste and creativity, children aged from 4 to 10 will decorate and build their personal and exclusive city of Paris. Please remember to book your visit to enjoy this special moment.
Located at the Marina Bay Sands casino complex, the exhibition is open to the public from February 12-20, 10:00 am-9:45 pm daily. Visitors have to register in advance.
Sand Expo Hall B Marina Bay Sands 10 Bayfront Ave Singapore 018956
Van Cleef & Arpels watches and jewelry are available at Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques and selected stores worldwide. Come into the beautiful world of Van Cleef & Arpels.
‘Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto’ exhibition — Gabrielle Chanel devoted her long life to creating, perfecting and promoting a new kind of elegance based on freedom of movement, a natural, relaxed attitude, a subtle elegance free from extravagance, a timeless style for a new kind of woman. This was her ‘fashion manifesto’, an inescapable heritage that is more relevant than ever in today’s world.
Having premiered in Paris in 2020, the exhibition opens in December 2021 at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne in partnership with the Palais Galliera, the City of Paris Fashion Museum and with the support of Chanel.
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