So not worth the queue (although to be fair it moves quickly and by the time I emerged at 5pm, there wasn't a queue at all). But the Chanel exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery feels like a glitzy display of the emperor's new clothes and I came out feeling as if I'd seen a nicely-designed set for an exhibition that had yet to be installed. Was that it? ... apparently it was. It's not about Chanel, it's about a brand - it looks like a fancy shop window display - and it's completely of our time because it's an utterly vacuous 'experience' with no purpose, it seems to me, other than as a backdrop to selfies.
# Wish I'd gone here instead.
6 comments:
Well, the quick peek of the Liotard exhibit made me gasp. So beautiful! You're just going to have to get back on the tube, Mary.
Might get there tomorrow, Darlene - isn't that a fabulous painting of the woman reading? I can't quite work out whether she's kicked her shoes off, but thrilled to see that lounging on sofa with a book isn't a modern invention.
I saw it a few days ago and quite agree. More style than substance but seriously very disappointing and I think Chanel would be turning in her grave. Considering that she has been outed as a Nazi collaborator in WWII it is rather ironic that the German Karl Largerfeld now runs her brand. But I was mostly outraged by the display of the reproductions of her only collection of real diamond jewellery surrounded by electronic alarms and tough looking security guards. Stunning, but these were created in collaboration with established jewellery designers, whereas she was more famous for promoting the pleasure and fun of wearing costume jewellery. And very much more famous for her clothing designs inspired by the sporting associations of her British upper class lovers.
On the same day I visited the Fashion and Textile Museum exhibition on Liberty fashions that I enjoyed more but was also sadly limiting in that it hardly covered the scarves or the fabrics and designers (apart from yet again Collier Campbell).
It was bizarre, wasn't it? So many people and so little to see. I haven't been to the LIberty exhibition yet; they are rather limited for space there but I always enjoy their exhibitions.
Once again Mary, you have done me a great service. I was ruing not having gone to this with my daughter when we were in London. Will def try and get to the RA though.
How do you cram in so much?
Definitely not worth a special journey, Sue; and don't feel disappointed, because you didn't miss much. Even as I was going round, I felt I'd have got just as much from rummaging through the fabric dept in Peter Jones. But the RA was packed this afternoon; all queuing for Ai Weiwei.
I feel as if I've been flagging lately and haven't crammed in much at all; but I live in London, so it doesn't mean a special trip or great expense.
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