Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/380083
It looks as if Hedi Slimane isn't done shaking up the fashion world. For the first time in its history, the esteemed Fondation Pierre Bergé - Yves Laurent Saint in Paris will present an exhibition that celebrates Slimane's oeuvre. But instead of focusing on his talents as a fashion designer, the show, titled "Sonic," celebrates his highly regarded work as a photographer. Opening on September 18 and on view through January 11, the exhibition is perfectly timed to debut during the monthlong fashion marathon of ready-to-wear shows. However, "Sonic" centers on Slimane's longtime fascination with the artists and the atmosphere of the music industry rather than the fashion world. Pierre Bergé, who founded the Saint Laurent fashion house with its namesake designer in 1966, has long been a supporter of Slimane and his artistic endeavors. The two men initially connected back in the late '90s when Slimane made waves as the brand's menswear director with his ultra-slim designs. He returned to the label in 2012, this time as creative director. Bergé has attended all of Slimane's shows since he took over (and rebaptized) the fashion brand, so it therefore comes as no surprise that he would green light a retrospective that lauded one of Slimane's many talents. "Sonic" is the first major exhibition of Slimane's photographic work since "California Song," which took place at MOCA Pacific Design Center in 2011. It pulls together a body of thought-provoking photographs that span 15 years of Slimane's work. The striking black- and-white images (many of them never-before-seen) of rock legends such as Keith Richards, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson and Amy Winehouse, reveal Slimane's impressive ability to view iconic artists in an original, unvarnished way. Shot in the clubs and music festivals of New York, London and Los Angeles as well as the designer's own photo studio, the images bring into sharp relief the major players of the music industry, both past and present. Also included in the exhibit will be a documentary video installation that compares and contrasts the rock scene in London from 2003 to 2007 to the current music movement in California (from 2007 to the present). A limited-edition book that highlights an even broader selection of Slimane's musical muses and moods will be available for purchase at the museum and on the Editions Xavier Barral website. Snap Shot A new exhibition of Saint Laurent creative director Hedi Slimane's photography debuts at Fondation Pierre Bergé. BY JESSICA MICHAULT PHOTOS BY Y.R. (TOP); HEDI SLIMANE COURTESY ALMINE RECH GALLERY 68 CULTURED Top, Hedi Slimane in Hollywood, California; Christopher at Hedi's House, 2011, by Hedi Slimane.