Anyone looking for art exhibitions in Dubai need not look further. French Fashion’s “enfant terrible” Jean Paul Gaultier has temporarily taken over the France Pavilion at Expo 2020 to premiere his new exhibition “Jean Paul Gaultier, from A to Z.” The art installation is in collaboration with French curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot, who has previously worked on 16 prior projects prior to “Jean Paul Gaultier, from A to Z.” It commemorates Gaultier’s 50 years in the industry before withdrawing in 2020 and provides an in-depth look at his principles as a person and a designer. Expo 2020 visitors are able to reflect on his iconic designs in person from March 1st to March 31st at the France Pavilion before the roaming exhibition departs for Marseille, France.
Not only is “Jean Paul Gaultier, from A to Z” Loriot’s first-ever exhibition in the Middle East, but it’s also Gauliter’s first time coming to Dubai. The designer attended the opening night of the show, along with Loriot, to meet with gallery-goers and present their thoughts on the project. It reflected the reoccurring themes of Gaultier’s work–most notably the strength of women. This idea was embedded into the art installation through the curated selection of clothing featured, such as the cone bra worn by Madonna. The highly curated edit of Gaultier’s oeuvre gives us insight into how his ideas about people and the times transformed over five decades and reminds us of how tolerance, humanity, and inclusion have been integral to his work.
Fashion is a mode of self-expression that is personal to wearers. For designers, fashion is about understanding their customer’s ideas about themselves and showing them the potential of who they can be. That’s why Gaultier has been so successful and worn by powerful women, like Rihanna, Dita Von Teese, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga. “Jean Paul Gaultier, from A to Z” isn’t just about commemorating the designer’s work, it’s an invitation to revisit the progressive principles that he designed into his clothing. Discover it for yourself now, at the France Pavilion.
