MMFA 2017: Jean Paul Gaultier

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
LOVE IS LOVE

May 27 - October 9, 2017

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is presenting LOVE IS LOVE: WEDDING BLISS FOR ALL À LA JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, an original installation that brings together thirty-five of the French designer’s haute couture and prêt-à-porter bridal creations.

Produced by the MMFA in collaboration with the Maison Jean Paul Gaultier, this exhibition presents wedding gowns and suits created between 1991 and 2017 by Gaultier himself, the renown couturier. The exhibition is curated by Thierry-Maxime Loriot (picture below, on the left) under the direction of Nathalie Bondil (on the right), Director General and Chief Curator of the MMFA.

The daring lines and exquisite artistry of these outstanding creations reveal a highly original designer and the virtuosity of his ateliers.

The exhibition spotlights thirty-seven haute couture and prêt-à-porter pieces, which are imaginative, out of ordinary creations. The central piece at the exhibition is a huge three tier wedding cake installation. Each tier showcases unusual wedding apparel for a wide diversity of couples.

The middle layer has animated figurines, where the all dressed up mannequins appear to come alive, talking, opening and closing their mouths and eyes, and even smiling. They are the animated faces of well known fashion personalities projected onto the faces of mannequins sculpted to those personages' likeness. For instance, on the image just below to the left is the likeness of Jean-Paul Gaultier himself.

This exhibition will especially inspire those who are planning to marry in the newr future.

Click on images to enlarge them.

For more information about the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts exhibitions and activities, visit the museum's website.

PAC 2017: Fort Ville-Marie Inauguration

Fort Ville-Marie Commemorative Space
Where Montreal Began 375 Years Ago

May 17, 2017 

May 19 - June 20, 2017
Free admission to PAC Museum and all its exhibitions.

The city of Montreal and Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal's Archaeology and History Complex, had unveiled a new pavillion Fort Ville-Marie, where Montrealers are invited to follow in the footsteps of the pioneers who founded their city. It is a unique commemorative space: the site where Montreal began.

As a special gesture to all Montrealers, as well as to the founders of the city of Montreal (which was first named Ville-Marie), the unveiling of the new pavilion took place on May 17, 2017, the date of the Montreal's 375th anniversary.

The new pavilion is built atop remains of the Ford Ville-Marie where the first settlers build their protected settlement. This is the soil trod by Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, Jeanne Mance and some forty other pioneers who arrived from France an founded Montréal in 1642.

With the showcasing of Fort Ville-Marie, the very first settlement that housed the European arrivals to the Montreal island, the public is invited to visit the site where they will learn about these handful of men and women whose courage and determination ensured the founding and perpetuation of the city of Montreal till today.

The new pavilion was inaugurated in the presence of Francine Lelièvre, the director of the Pointe-à-Callière museum, and the mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre who also cut the ribbon to the new pavilion.

The visitors will literally walk above the remains of the site where Montreal was founded, thanks to the glass floor protecting the archaeological digging site. The transparent floor reveals the framing and showcasing of the traces left by its inhabitants back when Montreal began.

A virtual model of the fort shows visitors the layout of the first Montreal settlement. A sound and light installation pays tribute to the 49 founding pioneers without whom Montreal would not have been born.

A display case presents period artefacts allowing visitors to imagine everyday life on the site, to learn about trade with the Indigenous people and to witness the pioneers’ survival strategies. In the fort space, a large audiovisual projection transports visitors outside the fort, into the natural surroundings at the time, when the forest and its creatures prevailed on the island that was destined to become the city of Montreal.

To reach the new pavilion, the visitors will walk through the just opened and inaugurated portion of the former Sewage collector canal.

At the end of the route, visitors will revisit the exact spot where in 1701 the Great Peace of Montréal treaty was signed between Governor Louis-Hector de Callière and delegates from 39 Indigenous Nations.

Click on images to enlarge them.

For more information about the museum and its 2017 activities, visit the PAC Museum's website.

SIDIM 2017

SIDIM - Salon du Design
29th Edition

May 4 - 6, 2017

More than a trade show, the Montreal's annual Design Show offers a cultural outing to explore individuals' and various Quebec companies' active contribution to the Montreal’s design milieux, and to discover their products and ideas that make the design world exciting and inspiring.

A significant floor space is offered to works of art, as they go hand in hand with the interior and exterior design settings. This year, the artistic presence is quite remarkable.

There is also a good number of sculptural and installation works. Just below see sculptures made of old sawing machines.

 More imaginative sculptural works:

Some examples of the artistic wall coverings.

Open to the public, design lovers and consumers, the SIDIM offers the opportunity to meet the experts to discuss various future projects, to attend product launches, and get inspired by the latest interior design trends. 

Every year, this major Canadian design event is a unique chance to interact directly with suppliers and designers, where actual contacts replace virtual encounters, providing quality personal time. Over three consecutive days, visitors meet face to face with 300 firms offering hands-on solutions to all their design, decoration and space planning requirements.

Click on any image to enlarge it.
For more information, visit SIDIM website.

View all SIDIM previous posts here and also here.