Who? Coco Chanel, a woman who needs little introduction, and the house of Chanel which she founded in 1909.
What? A groundbreaking exhibition, which took Jean-Louis Froment two years to curate, Culture Chanel examines the rich life of Coco Chanel as well as her many influences. Ranging from the stained glass windows that inspired the iconic double 'C' logo, the lion face representing her starsign which became one of her key symbols, the poetry of Jean Cocteau and the paintings of Salvador Dali, the exhibition showcases 400 works.
Why? There are few designers whose reputation can command a two-floor exhibition of their work at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Shanghai but Coco Chanel is undoubtedly one of them. In a radical departure from the formulaic exhibitions of work by designers of similar standing, Culture Chanel replaces conventional continuity with a fresher approach, skillfully separating exhibits into the five themes: Origin, Abstraction, Invisibility, Liberty and Imaginary. Through a series of photographs, illustrations, films, transcripts and of course, her iconic designs, the exhibition examines how a girl abandoned at a French orphanage went on to establish one of the most recognisable fashion house emblems in contemporary culture.
Culture Chanel at at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Shanhgai runs until 14 March 2011.
Text by Fiona Cook
