back side, dos à la mode
I always look at a woman from behind so as to avoid being disturbed by her gaze. Azzedine Alaïa
azzedine alaïa, body and skirt set, ready-to-wear, spring-summer 1986 ph. Françoise Cochennec/Galliera/roger-viollet
The Palais Galliera has presented a new exhibition outside its’ walls, at the Musée Bourdelle, the museum which had played host to the exhibition « Balenciaga l’œuvre au noir » in 2017.
The exhibition entitled « Back Side, Dos à la mode », examines the links between fashion and a specific part of the body… the back. This part of our body – that we are incapable of seeing – has been the fascination of a great many couturiers since the XVIIIth century. Left naked, embroidered, embellished with a train or exaggerated by protruding volumes, the ornaments of the back reveal the traditions and the taboos of each era.
Back Side, proposed a thematic exploration, unveiling around 100 silhouettes from the XVIIIth century to today, accompanied by film extracts and photographs. From the Great Hall to the extension built by Christian de Portzamparc, the works of hellenic allure by the sculptor Bourdelle entered in dialogue with designs by Azzedine Alaïa, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Yohji Yamamoto, amongst others.
photo home page © Richard Burbridge/Art+Commerce