Jean Paul Gaultier Media Call

Posted by Natalie Thomas on October 18, 2014 in Australian Art, Melbourne Art | 1 Comment

I had so much fun at the Jean Paul Gaultier Media Call on Thursday morning that I took 267 photos. The legend was there. Jean Paul Gaultier took to the stage, grabbing the microphone with a bubbling and effervescent charm and transfixing the worn and weary media contingent with his enthusiasm for a life of design. In conversation with Curator Thierry Maxime Loriot,  he spoke about how Fashion can step to the forefront of social change, remembering the example set by visionary Yves St Laurent, who openly lived with lover Pierre Berge at a time when homosexual unions were still publicly discreet. It had meant a lot to a young JPG providing him confidence to live as he wanted. To be himself.

Broadmeadows’ most famous former resident, model Andreja Pejic joined him onstage and spoke lucidly about transgender issues. Jean Paul recalled the first time he saw Andreja how he thought only of beauty, not gender. Andreja has modeled for both Gaultier’s mens and womens wear collections and Jean Paul claimed Andreja made a better Bridal wear model than Rhianna! Jean Paul Gaultier has opened the door to allow transgender models to be celebrated as unique beauties. He often uses non-models in his runway shows including older and shorter people and challenges the idea of the clone like conformity to notions of there being one ultimate kind of beauty. Confidence has its own allure thank goodness.

This is an epic exhibition. Room after room of haute couture warrants more than one visit and I felt really vibed by Jean Paul Gautier’s eloquent words and his incredible body of word.

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/jeanpaulgaultier