Three of the Summer’s Most Sensational Exhibitions in Paris

24 June 2015

Known for its chic taste and home to many a renowned artist, there is no better city for absorbing the arts and design than Paris. July is set to be an outstanding month in the city’s exhibition calendar, with offerings including modern masterpieces set in 17th century surroundings and the capital’s first exhibition dedicated to its very own “enfant terrible of fashion”. Plan an outstanding summer escape to the City of Light with our go-to guide to what’s on next month.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk

This season saw Jean Paul Gaultier’s final ready-to-wear collection hit boutiques, and as if pre-empting the flood of mourning fashionistas, the Grand Palais is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the French designer until the 3rd of August. It is the first ever Parisian exhibition devoted to Gaultier, and the first dedicated to any fashion designer at the Grand Palais, which, fittingly, was also the venue of his first ever show 39 years ago.

Though famed for collections characterised by chic Breton stripes and curve-creating corsetry, Gaultier’s career to date cannot be singularly defined as that of a fashion designer. From a TV co-host to dance single singer and costume designer for The Fifth Element, he has never quite fit the high fashion mould, and neither does this multi-media exhibition.

Thanks to 3D mapping, a selection of blinking, chatting and singing mannequins may momentarily distract from the 336 garments on offer. Childhood teddy bear ‘Nana’ can be found wearing Gaultier’s first every conical bra design, while sketches, photography, archived videos and graphics offer an all-encompassing look into Gaultier’s world. On its 10th stop since launching in Montréal, this seven section exhibition explores his many reoccurring themes and influences and is unmissable for any fashion fan.

Oracles Du Design

To bestow an object the title ‘oracle’ is high praise indeed; singling it out as something higher, more valuable and more personal than mere matter. Therefore a collection of over 200 such items, each chosen and curated by one of the world’s most respected trend forecasters, would be an exciting sight to behold… and Gaîté Lyrique’s ‘Oracles Du Design’ exhibition is offering just that.

Every modern home is filled with chairs, vases and lamps, each hand-picked to express the owner’s lifestyle preferences and gathered to create an inspirational and personalised space to live within. It’s this power that Lidewij Edelkoort has sought to pay homage to; though part of our everyday lives, these products have taken on a form that exceeds expectation.

Items are sourced from Centre National Des Arts Plastiques and were created by renowned designers including home-grown talent Philippe Stark, fashion designer Issey Miyake and Andrea Branzi, co-founder of ‘the home of Italian design’ Domus Academy. The pieces, some almost art-like in appearance, are split into 10 themes, from humble to inflated, abstract to archaic, and offer the chance to admire current trends that’ll become ‘the cultural heritage of tomorrow’ up until the 16th of August.

Anish Kapoor at Versailles

Sitting inbetween the elegant façade of the Château de Versailles and three marble-tiled tiers of the Latona Fountain, Anish Kapoor’s Sky Mirror provides a stunning juxtaposition between the contemporary and classical. It is one of six sculptures the Turner Prize winning artist is exhibiting at the grand palace; its 5.5 metre diameter offering a distorted reflection of a 17th century garden in the 21st century, complete with crowds of tourists, perfectly manicured lawns and another of Kapoor’s creations, Dirty Corner.

Though the English artist stated that “the dialogue between the work and place has to remain speculative…” it has been reported that the exhibition explores the history and hedonism surrounding the former home of King Louis XIV and Queen Marie-Antoinette. Controversy arose and the interior of the 10 metre high steel funnel of Dirty Corner was defaced with graffiti within 10 days of the exhibition opening, however, despite making headlines for all the wrong reasons, the exhibition is definitely worth a look.

Located only 40 minutes from the boutique surroundings of Amarante Beau Manoir, art lovers can look forward to viewing a wealth of historic and modern creations until the 1st of November. While the Palace’s Hall of Mirrors boasts 357 17th century mirrors, a look into Kapoor’s ‘C-Curve’ will reveal a stainless steel reflection of the entire palace. Take the chance to view Shooting into the Corner, a cannon that fires red wax onto a white background within the grand surroundings of the Salle Du Jeu de Paume and head to the gardens to see Descension, a seemingly endless whirlpool, which will look all the more spectacular bathed in summer sunshine.

Stay at Amarante Beau Manoir this Summer

With such a diverse and exciting array of exhibitions on offer, head to Paris this July to enjoy the ultimate cultural escape. With easy access to public transport, beautiful interiors and an array of stunning facilities including complimentary Wi-Fi, Amarante Beau Manoir will deliver the perfect boutique stay with character this summer. Find the latest offers and packages here.