CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN EXHIBITION[NISTE] PRESS KIT CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN EXHIBITION TH TH 26 FEBRUARY - 26 JULY PALAIS DE LA PORTE DORÉE 293 AVENUE DAUMESNIL - 75012 PARIS MÉTRO 8 • TRAMWAY 3A • BUS 46 • PORTE DORÉE LEXPOSITION.CHRISTIANLOUBOUTIN.COM | 1 | CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LOUBOUTIN L’EXHIBITION[NISTE] EXHIBITION[NISTE] PRESSPress KITKit TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESS RELEASE p. 3 THE POSTER p. 4 INTRODUCTION BY HÉLÈNE ORAIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PALAIS DE LA PORTE DORÉE p. 5 THE EXHIBITION p. 6 BY OLIVIER GABET, CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION THE PALAIS DE LA PORTE DORÉE p. 7 AS SEEN BY CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN EXHIBITION ITINERARY p. 8 CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN p. 14 BIOGRAPHY OLIVIER GABET p. 15 BIOGRAPHY ARTISTS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE IN THE EXHIBITION p. 16 VISUALS AVAILABLE FOR PRESS p. 20 THE PALAIS DE LA PORTE DORÉE p. 35 THE MAISON CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN p. 35 BOOK: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN EXHIBITION[IST] p. 36 ARTE DOCUMENTARY p. 38 NORDSTROM p. 39 MAIN SPONSOR OF THE EXHIBITION PRACTICAL INFORMATION p. 40 || 2 || CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LOUBOUTIN L’EXHIBITION[NISTE] EXHIBITION[NISTE] PRESSPress KITKit THE POSTER « L’Exhibition[niste] is a title that came to me quite quickly. It is a play on the idea of an exhibit and the act of exhibitionism. An exhibit, meaning to expose or display to the public and exhibitionism as drawing attention to oneself. Both are quite close, but I like the more subversive notion that in exhibiting my work I am exposing myself in a more intimate way. I’ve put a lot of myself in this project from both a professional and personal perspective. I reveal a lot of myself, of my inspirations, of my creative processes in this exhibition and I wanted this to be reflected in the title.» Christian Louboutin © Christian Louboutin L’Exhibition[niste] Poster of Poster | 3 | CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN L’EXHIBITION[NISTE] Press Kit PRESS RELEASE THE PALAIS DE LA PORTE DORÉE PRESENTS CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN’S RICH CREATIVITY AND HIS SOURCES OF INSPIRATION CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN: THE EXHIBITION[IST] 26 FEBRUARY TO 26 JULY 2020 EXHIBITION CURATOR: OLIVIER GABET, DIRECTOR OF THE MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS From 26 February 2020, the Palais de la Porte Dorée panels created by the Maison du Vitrail, a Sevillian silver presents a major exhibition devoted to the work palanquin and a cabaret sculpted in Bhutan. The exhibi- and creativity of Christian Louboutin, the internatio- tion also unveils collaborations, never seen before, with nally renowned footwear designer and key figure in artists who are important to him: the director and pho- the fashion world. Designed as an invitation to disco- tographer David Lynch, the New Zealand multimedia ver Christian Louboutin’s rich universe, the exhibition artist Lisa Reihana, the British designer duo Whitaker explores every facet of his multi-referential work, in an Malem, the Spanish choreographer Blanca Li, and the institution that has played an important role in inspi- Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi, amongst others. ring his vocation. Born in the 12th district of Paris, close to the Palais de From the beginning, Christian Louboutin infused his la Porte Dorée, Christian Louboutin was fascinated from designs with a great wealth of motifs and colours ins- an early age by the architectural beauty and ornamental pired by his love of art and different cultures. Flam- richness of the institution, which was one of the earliest boyant, daring, open to the world, generous and at influences feeding his love of art and applied arts. He times caustic, the designer’s creativity is informed by borrowed a whole repertoire of forms and motifs from a passion for travel and references from the worlds of the Palais for his first designs, including the Maquereau pop culture, theatre, dance, literature and cinema. In shoe – made of metallic leather and directly inspired revealing Christian Louboutin’s inspirations and crea- by the iridescence of the fish in the Palais de la Porte tive processes, the exhibition showcases the designer’s Dorée’s tropical aquarium. It was also at the Palais, a vision through a selection of the most precious works masterpiece of Art deco, that Christian Louboutin, then from his personal collection and loans from public col- a young adolescent, noticed a sign forbidding visitors to lections. A large selection of shoes are on display, some wear high heeled shoes. This sign subsequently inspired of which have never been exhibited before. the iconic Pigalle shoe which has been reinvented over the course of the seasons. These historic and artistic pieces are shown along- side a number of exclusive collaborations which pay With this exhibition, the Palais de la Porte Dorée ini- tribute to Christian Louboutin’s admiration for crafts- tiates a new programme of events dedicated to contem- man’s know how. Some examples include stained glass porary creation. | 4 | CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LOUBOUTIN L’EXHIBITION[NISTE] EXHIBITION[NISTE] PRESSPress KITKit INTRODUCTION BY HÉLÈNE ORAIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PALAIS DE LA PORTE DORÉE Built for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition, the Palais de and his sources of inspiration. That is when the idea la Porte Dorée, with its iconic architecture, frescos of this exhibition, dedicated to Christian Louboutin’s and bas-relief facade, is recognised as a masterpiece imagination, was born. We decided to call on Olivier of the Art Deco period. The monument represents a Gabet, Director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs whose collaboration of the great artists of the time - architect expertise on such exhibitions is well established, to Albert Laprade, sculptor Alfred Janniot, painter Pierre- curate the exhibition. With him, this is an exhibition Henri Ducos de la Haille, and interior designers that is poised to be exemplary in every way. Jacques-Émile Rulhmann and Eugène Printz, among others. Since its creation, the exotic design has It marks a new chapter in the history of the Palais de fascinated visitors and stimulated their imaginations. la Porte Dorée, with a special programme presenting the many facets of this monument which has remained Among these visitors was Christian Louboutin. Growing forgotten for far too long. up in the 12th arrondissement he enjoyed spending his Sundays visiting the Palais galleries and aquarium. His ties to the monument are as much artistic as they are emotional. In 2017, Christian Louboutin contacted me. At the time, we were looking for patrons to participate in the restoration of the facades, the furniture of the salons and the museum’s library. It is during conversations with Christian on these projects that we understood the importance of the Palais in his work | 5 | CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN L’EXHIBITION[NISTE] Press Kit THE EXHIBITION BY OLIVIER GABET CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION, DIRECTOR OF THE MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS Today fashion is recognized as a key artistic domain, The entire exhibition is a challenge: how to give a fully represented in all major cultural institutions such sense of the passage of time without stopping it, how as the Palais de la Porte Dorée, Musée d’histoire de to show the designer’s effervescence without sterili- l’Immigration, as evidenced by the Fashion-mix exhi- zing it, how to reveal what constituted the network bition in 2014. The creative area that it occupies of such vital inspirations and friendships? Christian and the historical, political, social and anthropologi- Louboutin chose a generous approach, reflecting his cal questions that it raises make it an open, popular, personality, an imagination and a freedom rooted in inclusive, and universal space that often deeply rede- a sound knowledge of the world, of art and fashion, fines the very principle of access to the museum. For a voyage in which inventiveness, emotion and know- many segments of the population, and in the case of how, taste for showmanship and sense of humor are a growing number of first-time visitors, it is usually never dissociated. The unprecedented space that the reason to visit a cultural institution. Present in Christian Louboutin occupies in the world of contem- many public spaces, in the media and on social media, porary fashion is also attributable to the fact that his fashion is an intriguing and fascinating subject. work has its roots in popular culture, in the noblest sense of the word. Through metonymy, in cinema, and It is with those considerations in mind that the first music, Louboutins are now the quintessential shoes, major Parisian exhibition of the creations of Christian favored by all sexes, genders and origins, via the Louboutin has been conceived at the Palais de la Porte Nudes series. A child of the Palace (the iconic Parisian Dorée in 2020, covering nearly 30 years of a proli- nightclub in the late 70s and early 80s), Christian fic, learned and joyful activity. More than any other Louboutin connected his work and his name very early Parisian space, Christian Louboutin cares about the on to inclusive and positive figures, athletes or musi- Palais de la Porte Dorée: the neighborhood where cians, as illustrated by the famous photo on the cover he grew up, the museum that he visited as a young of the New York Post in memory of Aretha Franklin: boy, when this absolute Art Deco masterpiece then “Going in style, dressed in peace: Fire-red Louboutins, housed the national collections of the Arts of Africa gold-plated coffin, three costume changes.” and Oceania. As a young boy, it was the beauty of this architecture, the refinement of its décor and the poe- tic and human magic of those much-admired works, which opened up the imagination to the geography of the world and to all civilizations, that left an impres- sion on Christian Louboutin. It is also the site of an early revelation: the sign forbidding visitors from walking with heels on the museum’s precious floors, the first shoe that was viewed, viewed again and revi- sited, and, forever more, the first step in the world of creativity.