Yves Saint Laurent, renowned for his iconic fashion designs, is being celebrated in a new exhibition at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris. Titled “Gold by Yves Saint Laurent,” the exhibition offers a deeper look into the designer’s artistry and explores the theme of gold in his work. Running from October 14 to May 14, 2022, this exhibition marks the 60th anniversary of Yves Saint Laurent’s first fashion show and the fifth anniversary of the museum dedicated to him.
In preparation for the exhibition, a team of women meticulously arranged the mansion on 5 Avenue Marceau in Paris, where Yves Saint Laurent established his fashion house in 1974. Dressed in white coats and using gloved hands, these specialists delicately handled the designer’s shimmering dresses. However, “Gold by Yves Saint Laurent” aims to break away from traditional fashion presentations. The exhibition establishes a dialogue between Yves Saint Laurent’s clothing and accessories and artworks by various artists.
Curator Elsa Janssen had a dual objective for the exhibition – carefully selecting the pieces and meticulously presenting them. Janssen wanted to emphasize the archives while creating a connection to contemporary creations. The exhibition is structured around five themes, including the opulent world of Yves Saint Laurent, the empowerment of women, and the vibrant era of the Seventies. A standout piece is the jeweled dress from the fall-winter 1966 collection, completely covered in gold sequins and adorned with a belt and necklace encrusted with stones.
Janssen emphasizes that Yves Saint Laurent’s imagination was greatly influenced by art history. The designer’s regular visits to churches, Versailles, and his personal collection of 15th and 16th-century bronze objects inspired his incorporation of gold in his creations. Janssen carefully selected around 40 pieces from the museum’s extensive collection of over 10,000 items, mainly haute couture, spanning from 1962 to 2002. Alongside these loaned creations, the exhibition also showcases contributions from contemporary artists and talents to underscore the designer’s modernity and genius.
Collaborators for the exhibition include Anna Klossowski, an art publisher and daughter of Loulou de la Falaise, Yves Saint Laurent’s muse and jewelry designer. Klossowski created a dazzling installation featuring 300 pieces of jewelry. Sound designer Pierre-Arnaud Alunni crafted a soundtrack using period archives for the section dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent’s Palace years. Set designer Valérie Weill composed artistic displays reminiscent of cabinets of curiosities.
Visitors to the exhibition also have the opportunity to explore Yves Saint Laurent’s preserved studio, which remains in its original state. The space showcases the designer’s library, drawings, and photographs on the walls, and his desk with pots of forgotten pencils. Rolls of shimmering gold fabric and boxes of precious gold buttons give the impression that Yves Saint Laurent has only momentarily stepped away.
“Gold by Yves Saint Laurent” transcends a typical fashion exhibition to become a tribute to the designer’s artistic vision and enduring influence on the worlds of fashion and art. Through the exploration of gold in his creations, the exhibition offers a unique chance to appreciate the brilliance and creativity of Yves Saint Laurent.
To learn more about the exhibition “Gold by Yves Saint Laurent” and Yves Saint Laurent’s artistry, visit the Yves Saint Laurent Museum’s website: museeyslparis.com. You can also explore the iconic fashion creations of Yves Saint Laurent: ysl.com.
