Text / Chen Chi-Hsiang | Venue: Grand Palais, Paris | Dates: April 1 – August 3

"I believe that contemporary clothing is a form of stylistic expression. As in the case of Saint Laurent, whose approach to assembling complete outfits serves as an example of art. And Jean Paul Gaultier’s work is indeed art."

Andy Warhol

Jean Paul Gaultier (born 1952) is one of France’s most representative and renowned fashion designers, a figure who has led revolutionary creativity in Parisian fashion since postmodernism. He liberated the prestigious fashion of the middle class by integrating the attire cultures of marginalized groups (such as punks or other social groups like Indians), and pioneered new situations on the runway (using non-professional models, even overweight women), expanding and opening up new horizons for fashion. Gaultier’s inspiration comes from marginalized groups and popular culture. His bold originality in styling, color, structure, and materials gives his style a distinctly French sensibility and warmth. Gaultier is a self-taught fashion designer; as a child, he hid in beauty salons and stayed with his grandmother, watching variety shows and movies with her. He was particularly fascinated by theatrical costumes in song-and-dance performances. Another source of learning came from Parisian fashion magazines found in those beauty salons, which sparked his passion for fashion design.