Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibit at MMFA

Every now and then, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts shocks us with their creative and current exhibitions on pop culture related subjects (like the 2008 Yves Saint Laurent exhibit and last year’s Beatles installation). Since June 17th, and on through October 2, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has been presenting The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, and it has been getting serious acclaim. Not only is this the first international exhibition devoted to the celebrated French couturier, but it happens to be taking place in our belle ville and marks the 35th anniversary of the designer’s label.

Gaultier, better known as fashion’s enfant terrible, launched his first pret-a-porter collection in 1976 and founded his own couture house in 1997. Since then, he has been coined as one of the most important fashion designers of recent decades. His style reflects an understanding of a multicultural society’s issues.

The installation features 140 ensembles along with numerous documents. The animated mannequins on which his outfits are presented give the installation a theatrical mise-en-scene multimedia vibe – the mannequins wink and speak, and the jaws even move! The overall essence is jovial (similar to that of the personality of Gaultier himself) and his work is spectacular, current, and really tells a story. This is one of the more notable art exhibitions to date, and we strongly urge you to check it out if you have not yet already. (Go a second time if you have!) And, if you wear sailor stripes today and tomorrow from 5 to 9pm you’ll get in for half price. Note it! Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1380 Sherbrooke West, 2nd Floor.