The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier at Rotterdam

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"From Sidewalk to Catwalk", Jean Paul Gaultier put his Breton stripes all over Rotterdam. You can feel the Gaultier's spirit walking around at every corner of the town. The well-known Euromaster tower, McCarthy's Santa Claus, the route from Central Station to Kunsthal, the Thalys train coming from Paris, trees, columns, buildings are all navy striped and this created a fabulous charm around the city.

Stepping into Rotterdam is, in fact, stepping into the Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier. That's the spirit and that's the big event starting 10 February. The famous French designer is having his own exhibition, though he is not "yet dead" as he declared at the Kunsthal opening. The exhibition honors the 35 years of haute couture, futuristic designs, prêt à porter, iconic pieces made for celebrity stars like Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Mylene Farmer. Some pieces have never been exposed in Holland like that from Madonna or Pedro Almodovar.

The exhibition itself is an interactive event with TV programmes, films and fashion shows videos, with sketches and photographs about Jean Paul Gaultier's life and works. On one of the black walls, there is the photography of the little boy Jean Paul Gaultier standing at the Park of Luxembourg, Paris just before his grandmother initiated to this artistic world. This way, his different way to be when he was at school had an appreciated twist when starting to draw sketches. Also, in the "dark room" of the exhibition, there are "wagons" that carry pieces like Madonna's body corset worn on the Ambition World Tour in 1990.

Surprising for this exhibition are the mannequins with their interactive faces like audiovideo projections that impress the viewers. Even the mannequin with Jean Paul Gaultier's face projection and voice messages amuse the visitors and give the impression that the designer himself is among them. The mannequins are wearing wigs and headdresses by Odile Gilbert, founder of Atelier 68 in Paris and the designer's creations.

Inspired by the religious catholic theme, (a theme also seen at Dolce&Gabbana with its latest Sicilian collection), plunging into the navy world of sailors and mermaids, Jean Paul Gaultier's exhibition is glam, is punk, is out of the box, is an introspection into the world of corsets, feathers, but most of all into the world of the designer across his carreer.  

Jean Paul Gaultier has definitely come to Rotterdam town! His vibe can be felt all over the city! It is worth making a visit to the Kunsthal exhibition, The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier. This can be visited from 10 February to 12 May 2013. More information here: http://www.kunsthal.nl

Editor: Andra Oprea

Photo credit: Stylezza.com