In a glittering, multi media show, the Kunsthal Rotterdam presents an abundant overview of Jean Paul Gaultier's fashion designs in the first retrospective of this ‘enfant terrible' of the fashion world. For his collections, Jean Paul Gaultier was inspired by various countries ranging from Africa and India to Russia and Mexico. With an infallible feeling for the spirit of the era, he taps into existing subcultures such as French Existentialism, Jewish Rabbis, English White Trash and the world of mariners. Gaultier's work blurs the line between ‘male' and ‘female'. His subversive and extravagant designs for stars such as Madonna and Lady Gaga are world-famous; Gaultier has determined the face of fashion over the last 35 years. Over 120 original designs are exhibited together with video footage of fashion shows, concerts, dance performances, films and music videos, drawings and sketches, and photographs by leading photographers such as Cindy Sherman, Bettina Rheims, Mario Testino, David LaChapelle, Helmut Newton and Robert Doisneau.
The Exhibition The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: from the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in collaboration with Maison Jean Paul Gaultier.
