After the huge success at at the musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris, the Exhibition Christian Dior: Designer Of Dreams opened its doors at the Brooklyn Museum on September 10th, 2021 thanks to curator Florence Müller, accompanied by curator Matthew Yokobosky. In a new scenographic narrative – featuring several silhouettes on display for the first time – this event crowns more than seventy years of virtuoso passion initiated by the pioneering vision of Christian Dior. In September 1947, just a few months after the triumph of the New Look, the couturier flew to America, going on to establish a New York subsidiary the following year.
The exhibition opens with a journey through time and space – Paris to New York – from 30 Avenue Montaigne to the cosmopolitan heart of the United States, with which Dior has forged a long and enduring friendship. Dior’s earliest haute couture creations – some of which have never been revealed to the general public before – interact with exceptional pieces, a striking encounter between Dior’s unique heritage and the Brooklyn Museum’s rich collections. Models from the Corolle and En Huit lines are displayed alongside paintings, including a work by Paul-César Helleu , one of Monsieur Dior’s favorite artists.
From painting to the decisive moment: a dedicated space celebrates American masters of photography. Richard Avedon’s iconic photograph, Dovima and the Elephants, is surrounded by an array of captivating prints, past and present. Among these great names and talents, Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn, Henry Clarke, Lillian Bassman, Frances McLaughlin-Gill, William Klein, Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, and David Lachapelle all captured the founding couturier’s flamboyant silhouettes and those of his successors; an inclusive collection that transcends borders, eras, and styles.
The journey continues through the creations of the House’s successive Artistic Directors, showcased with respect to art history: Yves Saint Laurent, whose key influences included the beatniks and The Wild One ;
Marc Bohan, who was fascinated by Jackson Pollock; Gianfranco Ferré, some of whose looks echo the museum’s architecture; John Galliano and his dazzling extravagances, accentuated by sumptuous Egyptian antiquities or a portrait by Giovanni Boldini; Raf Simons, a fervent collector of Sterling Ruby; and of course Maria Grazia Chiuri, who chose to dialogue with several American artists such as the feminist Judy Chicago
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The House’s multiple sources of inspiration – from Versailles to the splendor of flowers – are on display, while the Colorama, a magical cabinet of curiosities brimming with chromatic nuances, reveals the essential role of Dior accessories, from makeup to perfumes, including hats by Stephen Jones. The must-see toile room, a tribute to the Ateliers, showcases the excellence of Dior’s petites mains. In a final magical touch, the central vault has been redesigned as an enchanted garden with a sky constellated by stars – an echo of Christian Dior’s lucky star. Visitors may also discover dresses that have graced the most dazzling actresses, from Grace Kelly to Jennifer Lawrence. The American dream meets the Dior dream, from art to fashion.
