Here is the City
The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk
by Clare Morris
Looking for something to do in London this weekend? Why not visit the Barbican ...
British artist Annie Kevans has been commissioned by exhibition curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot to create a series of works for the exhibition The Fashion World of Jean Gaultier: From The Sidewalk To The Catwalk. Exhibited for the first time at the Barbican Galleries from 9th April to 25th August 2014.
“I am impressed by the way Annie Kevans captured the different types of beauties that have been my inspiration and my muses from my grandmother to artists like David Bowie and Boy George.” Jean Paul Gaultier
On Kevans’ new series, Loriot says: “Annie Kevans’ work caught my attention years ago when I saw her fantastic oil paintings ‘All The Presidents Girls’ at Volta in New York. As she is a great storyteller who works in series, I thought she was the best artist to create these eye-catching and delicate portraits that tell Gaultier’s story about his muses and inspirations, all great characters, these paintings translate well the humanist message in his work. I am delighted Kevans is now taking part in the exhibition tour.”
Annie was delighted to be commissioned to create a series depicting Jean Paul Gaultier’s 30 muses, as well as 2 paintings of Jean Paul Gaultier himself, for the touring exhibition already seen by more than one million visitors. The artist sees the series as an exploration of creativity. Annie Kevans said: “In fashion, and in culture in general, we always wonder where ideas come from. I think it’s wonderful that Jean Paul Gaultier is able to honour his muses and their creativity which has inspired his own. I think we’ve all been influenced by Jean Paul Gaultier’s ideas, from his celebration of the unusual to his subverting of the familiar. The strong social message in his work is very inspiring to create works that reflect society and celebrate different types of beauty, without following the fixed standards of beauty presented by the fashion industry - all genders, body sizes, skin colours, religions and ages are included in his world.”
The Muses are:
Tanel Bedrossiantz
Christine Bergstrom
David Bowie
Boy George
Naomi Campbell
Lily Cole
Tim Curry
Agyness Deyn
Beth Ditto
Jourdan Dunn
Karen Elson
Aitize Hanson
Farida Khelfa
Fredérique Lorca
Madonna
Françis Menuge
Kate Moss
Kristen McMenamy
Kylie Minogue
Erin O'Connor
Rossy de Palma
Jade Parfitt
Gaultier’s Grandmother Marie
Micheline Presle
Stella Tenant
Andrej Pejic
Anna Pawlowski
Stéphane Sednaoui
Dita von Teese
Amy Winehouse
All works are oil on paper and 40 x 30 cm. Annie Kevans has also produced a painting of Jean Paul Gaultier and a copy of this is available to buy as a limited edition print through the Barbican.