The Art Gallery of South Australia will stay open until 10pm each Friday throughout January to give people more opportunity to see the once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, Fashion Icons: Masterpieces from the Collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
This exclusive to Adelaide exhibition, already seen and enjoyed by thousands of people, is one exhibition in Australia not to be missed as it is an opportunity to see the fashions which caught the world’s attention from the 1940s to more recently from some of the world’s most famous designers, said Nick Mitzevich, Director, Art Gallery of South Australia.
Fashion Icons paints a unique picture of Parisian style in the context of contemporary fashion design since 1947, when the couturier Christian Dior relaunched haute couture with his ‘New Look’.
From that time, fashion design blossomed, with the lavish splendour of the 1950s, the dynamism of the 1960s, the inspired emancipation of the 1970s, the unbridled excess of the 1980s, and the pure minimalism of the 1990s.
Over ninety emblematic haute couture garments by 55 of the world’s leading fashion designers including Dior, Laurent, Chanel, Cardin, Dolce & Gabbana, Givency, Laroche, Balmain, Westwood, Rabanne and Yamamoto are included.
In the 21st century, because things are moving so quickly, things can be reproduced quite effortlessly and this exhibition puts the emphasis back on the artistry of fashion over several decades. The hand of the designer and the hand of the artist is something truly unique. This exhibition defines the designers as true artists said Nick Mitzevich.
Fashion Icons has been curated exclusively for the Art Gallery of South Australia by Pamela Golbin Chief Curator from the Musee Des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. Each garment has been specially chosen as they were fashions which attracted the attention over the prevailing fashions of their time said Nick Mitzevich.
Fashion has certainly currently taken over the major art institutions in Australia but fashion has always had a place in art history and has been staking a claim on the halls of fine arts museums around the world since Diane Vreeland’s exhibition of then-living designer Yves Saint Laurent’s creations at the Metropolitan Museum in 1983. Fashion can be democratic, a conversation in which anyone can have a voice, much like contemporary art so I am encouraging people to see Fashion Icons and let people decide for themselves said Nick Mitzevich.
Fashion Icons, open until February 15, is also supported by many public programs celebrating theGlamorous 50’S (9 January), Living in the 70’S (16 January), 80’S Punk to Power Dressing (23 January) and 90’s to Now (30 January). There are also many activities for children.
Fashion Icons has been organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris in association with Art Exhibitions Australia and the Art Gallery of South Australia.
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