Jean Paul Gaultier from the sidewalk to the catwalk
9 April 2014 – 25 August 2014
Barbican, London
“The first fetish I did was the corset. That was because of my grandmother.” Gaultier
This show is all about tease. As soon as you enter the exhibition you are greeted by pouting mannequins with hologram faces whispering to you in French. The gowns are bathed in blue light, their velvets, brocades and lace close enough to touch. Ascending to the second floor, you are in a boudoir setting of ruffles and feathers, then a peep show of red lights and leather.
This is a show that celebrates the corset, a story of how Gaultier took his inspiration from the past and re-claimed the classic shape for modern generations. Even amongst his denim punk collections of the 00s there is always a nod to the nipped waist and boned bodice. Corsets are shown here as works of art, regardless of the celebrities that wore his pieces (Madonna, Dita, Kylie) and is cleverly curated so you can appreciate them as such. A rare exhibition that invites you to take time and fantasize.
Review by: Carly Deering