The Fondation Alaia always has exceptional exhibitions and the newest show Alaia/Kuramata- Lightness in Creation, is a fascinating study of two master creators.
Azzedine Alaia was one of the greatest couturiers of the 20th century, creating stunning, form fitting garments worn by top models and celebrities. Shiro Kuramata, from Japan, designed innovative furniture that referenced ancient Japanese decorative arts but modernized it with his personal vision of furniture in the future. He passed away in 1991.
Alaia was an avid collector of furniture from many periods, and he attained many of Kuramata pieces and organized an exhibition of Kuramata’s furniture in 2005. Fast forward to 2024, twenty years later, the Fondation Alaia has decided to combine the talents of Alaia and Kuramata together. Curated by Carla Sozzani, an editor, book designer, and the owner of the world-famous store 10 Corso Como in Milan, and Olivier Saillard, a top curator of fashion exhibition, the sleek and flowing silhouettes of Alaia’s dresses alongside the futuristic look of Kuramata’s pieces terrifically complement each other.
Upstairs, is a moving tribute to the greatness of Alaia’s designs. In 1989, the year of the bicentennial of the French Revolution, Paris went all out to celebrate the momentous occasion. Alaia was commissioned to design a gown for Jessye Norman, the greatest opera singer of the time, who was going to sing La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France. He designed a stunning gown of red, white, and blue with a dramatic hood, using the fabric the French flags are made of. Make sure you see the amazing video of Norman singing La Marseillaise at the opening celebration on Place de la Concorde.
One last, special treat was a literal window inside of Alaia’s atelier. He never allowed anybody into his private studio except his staff until he died in 2017. For the first time, the public can see his atelier just as he left it when he died.
18 rue de la Verrerie, 75004
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