The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier

Overview

There's a reason this exhibition's title references a whole different world. Once you step inside the signature blue and white striped archways of the entry, you become enveloped in an alternate reality. Like stepping inside the mind of the infamous designer, you are now in the realm of spectacle, ferocity, drama and glamour. No matter what you're wearing, prepare to feel wildly underdressed.

Featuring 140 garments, this exhibition is both a celebration of the ornate and original craftsmanship of the legendary French designer as well as a celebration of his outlandish philosophy in style. Separated into seven sections including The Boudoir, Muses, and Metropolis, The Fashion World gives you a thematic history of Gaultier's iconic work and his varied influences. You don't need to be a fashionista to appreciate it either. The world of JPG is entrenched in pop culture, film, celebrity, humour and eroticism.

Because of this diversity, the exhibition feels a lot more like a regular art exhibit than a fashion show. There are fairytale dresses made out of nothing but pink silk ribbon. There's a tartan and leather clad section dedicated to the punk scene of Paris' outer suburbs. One dimly lit room is even set up as Amsterdam's infamous red light district — all velveteen and dirty. With such stark differences striking you on each section of the journey, the experience is much less didactic than you might imagine. There's a lot of history to be gleaned, of course, but the story is not so much about the man who made the clothes, but the worlds he created.

Even if you know nothing of the fashion, you'll find significant touchstones in the way of celebrities. As you enter the space, you'll be greeted by wall-scale portraits of Cate Blanchett, Kylie Minogue, Andreja Pejic and Gemma Ward by local street artist Rone — some of the designer's most influential Australian muses. A chorus of 32 custom mannequins are among the first works on display. Using incredible projection technology, the faces speaking to you are recognisable as JPG himself and Melissa Auf der Maur of The Smashing Pumpkins. Drawing on his friends in the art world, some of the photography on display also includes work by Cindy Sherman and Andy Warhol.

"I think the way people dress today is a form of artistic expression," reads a Warhol quote on display. "Art lies in the way the outfit is put together. Take Jean Paul Gaultier. What he does is really art."

Like always, Warhol is right. JPG is a master. But, instead of oil paints and landscapes he deals in feathers, cone bras, and bejewelled pubic hairs.