The exhibit focuses on the evolution of perfume Chanel N5.
Plexiglas display cases/vitrines reflect perfectly the square austerity of the bottle's shape. An explanatory booklet is given out along with a free audio tape (only if you have your carte d'identite with you). I did not, so was left to make my own assumptions...
From the get go Chanel's photos are so graphically designed.
Her use of her own dark hair, sharp distinctive features and slim body
Are the perfect packaging for her house of Chanel.
Such powerful personal imagery. Was there ever another icon like her?
Chanel's art collection and refined taste seems to mirror her image always.
A severity plus grace.
And lyrical lines.
Yet when drawing her it's hard not to notice she rarely if ever smiles. Not a hint of warmth or empathy, but always line and grace are apparent...
I read Hal Vaughan's Sleeping With The Enemy when it first came out - a detailed, historic, somewhat dry account of Chanel during the war years. Nothing like the expose on YSL and Lagerfeld in Alice Drake's The Beautiful Fall, one of my all time favorite books on Paris couture.
Still the pervasive narcissism of her portraits does give one pause...
And make one wonder about the real life of the original mysterious French woman...
Perhaps I should go back with my carte d'identite/passport and find out what the Chanel exhibit is really about non?
Or you can go and report back.
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