Extraordinary Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier Arrives at the NGV, Melbourne.

Kylie Minogue – Immaculata gown, Virgins (or Madonnas) collection.
Jean Paul Gaultier, haute couture Spring/Summer 2007.
Net lace dress with large patterned embroidery and white linen cut-outs.
Photo © William Baker.

Jean Paul Gaultier.
Photo © Stéphane Sednaoui, 2014. All rights reserved.

Andreja Pejić in The Boy Can’t Help It, 7 Hollywood magazine, Fantasy Edition 2013
Incroyable Ensmeble, Confessions of a Child of the Century collection, haute couture autumn–winter 2012–2013.
Black leather mini tailcoat, black tattoo dévoré pleated velvet jacquard dress.
Photo © Alix Malka.

Video directed by Stéphane Sednaoui.

If you follow along on Instagram (and if you don’t, like srsly – wtf?) you would’ve noticed I attended a very special media preview of Jean Paul Gaultier’s exhibition at the NGV, which opened it’s extremely fabulous silk-lined-deep-buttoned-grafittied-trans-gender-haute-fashion doors last week. Hundreds upon hundreds of journalists and media across the country gathered underneath Leonard French’s spectacular stained glass ceiling at The Great Hall at the NGV, eager for the first glimpse of the cheeky, charming and ground-breaking French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier and his highly anticipated show.

Since 2011, when the exhibition was launched by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1.2 million visitors worldwide have witness Gaultier’s relentless passion for fashion. In Melbourne, exhibition’s ninth stop, Gaultier and curator Thierry Maxime ­Loriot have added a segment ­focusing especially on Gaultier’s Australian muses and collaborations, such as Nicole Kidman – Gaultier’s first haute couture client, Kylie Minogue, Cate Blanchett and Andreja Pejic.

As I moved between the seven rooms that make up the entire exhibition, housing the collection of more than 140 garments, photographs, sketches, film and video paying homage to Gaulter’s creative output of almost 40 years – I gasped a lot and often. There was so much to take in – from the overall concept and the big picture, to 32 custom ‘talking’ mannequins, the theatrical ambiance of every single room, down to the smallest of details, not to mention the clothes… I wished that every exhibition could be as good as this – a total concept, an immersive experience, one you could go back for over and over again.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.
The National Gallery of Victoria.
Photo © Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.
The National Gallery of Victoria.
Photo © Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.
The National Gallery of Victoria.
Photo © Brooke Holm.

Barbarella body-corset, Les Actrices (Movie Stars) collection.
Haute couture, autumn-winter 2009–2010.
Photo © Patrice Stable/ Jean Paul Gaultier.

Apparitions dress, Les Vierges (Virgins) collection.
Haute couture, spring-summer 2007.
Photo © Patrice Stable/ Jean Paul Gaultier.

Andreja Pejić 2013. Confession of a Child of the Century collection.
Jean Paul Gaultier, haute couture, autumn- winter 2012–2013.
Photo © Alix Malka.

The “Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” is organised into seven thematic sections:

The Odyssey / Introduces couturier’s universe and his trademark themes – sailors, mermaids and religious iconography set the tone.
The Boudoir / Reveals the designer’s fascination with lingerie and corsetry.
Punk Cancan / Demonstrates the contrasting styles and themes Gaultier has blended through his career, from Parisian classicism (e.g the beret, trench coat and Eiffel Tower) and elegance to London punk (e.g latex, leather, lace and fishnet).
Skin Deep / Illustrates how Gaultier creates clothing that become a second skin.
Metropolis / Showcases the designers collaborations with filmmakers, choreographers and pop icons, exploring high technology and science fictions.
Urban Jungle / Cultures from around the world come together to form a new aesthetic integrated in haute couture.
Muses / Shows how the couturier created new ideal of beauty beyond the established codes of fashion and society, erasing all boundaries of body size, skin colour, age, religion and sexuality.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.
The National Gallery of Victoria.
Photo © Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.
The National Gallery of Victoria.
Photo © Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.
The National Gallery of Victoria.
Photo © Brooke Holm.

I am honoured and flattered that my exhibition is opening in Australia and I am thrilled to return to a country that I have visited only once, many years ago. Preparing this exhibition I have realised how strong my ties to Australia are – Nicole Kidman was my first couture client; Kylie is a dear friend and I have had the pleasure of working closely with her on her tours. I have also been working for many years with models Gemma Ward, Catherine McNeil, Jarrod Scott, and the list goes on. The people are what make this country great and you Australians certainly excel!’ – Jean Paul Gaultier.

‘The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk’ at the NGV runs until 8th February 2015.

Seriously, just make sure you go see it, ok?

Apparitions dress, Les Vierges (Virgins) collection haute couture, spring-summer 2007 © Patrice Stable/ Jean Paul Gaultier.

French Cancan collection women’s prêt-à-porter autumn–winter 1991–1992 © Patrice Stable/ Jean Paul Gaultier

Tanel Bedrossiantz, in a dress from the Barbès collection Jean Paul Gaultier, women’s prêt-à-porter, autumn-winter 1984–1985 Private collection © Paolo Roversi, courtesy of Art + Commerce.

Dita Von Teese: Flaunt 2003 Dada collection Jean Paul Gaultier, women’s prêt-à-porter, spring-summer 1983 © Perou.

Barbarella body-corset, Les Actrices (Movie Stars) collection haute couture, autumn-winter 2009–2010 © Patrice Stable/ Jean Paul Gaultier.

Lascar dress, Les Indes galantes (Romantic India) collection haute couture, spring-summer 2000 © Patrice Stable/ Jean Paul Gaultier.

Andreja Pejić 2013 Confession of a Child of the Century collection Jean Paul Gaultier, haute couture, autumn- winter 2012–2013 © Alix Malka.

Jean Paul Gaultier 2014 © 2014, Stéphane Sednaoui. All rights reserved.

Kylie Minogue Immaculata gown, Virgins (or Madonnas) collection Jean Paul Gaultier, haute couture spring– summer 2007 net lace dress with large patterned embroidery and white linen cut-outs © William Baker.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.The National Gallery of Victoria Photo by Brooke Holm

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.The National Gallery of Victoria Photo by Brooke Holm

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.The National Gallery of Victoria Photo by Brooke Holm

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk / The National Gallery of Victoria / Photo by Brooke Holm.

[Photography credits as noted. All images courtesy of The National Gallery of Victoria.]