Never has a designer left such an indelible mark on a fashion house years after his departure. Such is the case of Kenzo Takada, irrevocably attached in the collective imagination to the fashion house he created.
And yet, since the sale of his brand in 1999 to the luxury group LVMH, the creator of the House of Kenzo has devoted his life to his work. to his travels and his passions, the strongest of which is painting. And we are delighted to discover that fashion is not the only talent of the famous Japanese designer: his painting is a real discovery and a dreamlike voyage that he offers us, with the same taste for color that characterized him in fashion.
At the age of 71, Kenzo Takada unveils his talents as a painter, hitherto reserved for the intimate sphere, and exhibits eight self-portraits for the first time in Paris as part of the group show“Un certain style de vie” at Studio 55 until July 10, 2010. This exhibition, organized by Emmanuel de Brantes and Studio 55, offers a unique opportunity to stroll through a space where the expression “art de vivre” takes on its full meaning, but with a little more style.
Let’s take our seats in the different areas of Espace Cardin, amidst Pierre Cardin’s colorful and original furniture. These graphic chairs and chests of drawers It’s in the comfort of Joy de Rohan Chabot’s gilded bronze chairs that we can dine face to face with Salvador Dali’s famous vermeil cutlery, and drink from Raphaël Boccafuso’s glasses with their indelible lipstick trace between the Cyclop’s eyes as we contemplate the master’s works.
Kenzo’s painting is imbued with Japanese culture. It is expressive, colorful, with relief and depth, giving pride of place to the character and his make-up. Kenzo Takada depicts himself in traditional costume wearing masks, immortalized in action, as in theUkiyo-e movement. Flowers are omnipresent but not ostentatious. These self-portraits remind me of an homage to Japanese Noh theater, as if the designer were staging himself in costumes of striking realism, always very colorful. He wears a mask, which he chooses to remove or keep on as he wishes. When he puts on the mask, the noh actor symbolically leaves behind his own personality to take on that of the character he is about to embody. Contemplation of the mask is thus part of the preparation for his role, as the stylist does in several of his self-portraits.
Other works on display for our enjoyment include those by urban graffiti artist C215 and paintings by Jean Faucheur. We can also observe and compare the glamorous past of René gruau with the luminous poetry of Ruddy Candillon, or praise the art of Marc Sparfel’s art of recycling and the carriage-like fantasy of Cyril Anguelidis.
How about borrowing Yosh’s customized Flower Power Solex for a little digestive stroll? Let’s enjoy the last moments of a certain lifestyle…
Group show with Kenzo Takada, C215, Cyril Anguelidis, Jean Faucheur, Joy de Rohan Chabot, Le Cyklop, Marc Sparfel, Method Graphic, Psyckoze, Raphaël Boccanfuso, René Gruau, Ruddy Candillon, Salvador Dalì and Yosh.
STUDIO 55 – urban arts gallery in residence at PIERRE CARDIN 3, 5 et 9 rue de Duras – 75008 Paris, France
Tel : +33(0)6.75.50.61.93 – +33(0)1.44.94.06.58
Marie-Odile Radom
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