L’EXHIBISTION(NISTE), a Retrospective of Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin's retrospective, l’Exhibition(niste), his first in France, opened in Paris on 26^th February. It explores 30 years of his creation and lesser known artistic collaborations. Says the designer, “I like the more subversive notion that in exhibiting my work I am exposing myself in a more intimate way. I’ve put a lot of myself in this project from both a professional and personal perspective. I reveal a lot of myself, my inspirations, my creative processes in this exhibition and I wanted this to be reflected in the title.”

It takes place at the Palais de la Porte Dorée museum in the 12th arrondissement, a doubly significant venue because this is where he grew up, and visited this Tropical Fish Aquarium regularly throughout his childhood.  It was here that he first saw an African poster requesting visitors to a cultural monument not to wear stilettos, illustrated by a black stiletto with a bright scarlet sole. This inspired  him to create his signature Pigalle shoe which reappears in each of his collections.  The museum also inspired the creation of his first surreal shoe exhibited here, the Maquereau, in iridescence metallic leather.

[caption id="attachment_11952" align="aligncenter" width="213"] Rétrospective des créations et collaborations de Louboutin[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_11956" align="aligncenter" width="1494"] Rétrospective des créations et collaborations de Louboutin[/caption]

L’Exhibitionniste features previously unseen artistic collaborations with Christian Louboutin, with producer David Lynch, British designer duo Whitaker Malem and Spanish choreographer Blanca Li, amongst others.   From 26th February to 3r January 2021  Palais de la Porte Dorée  293, avenue Daumesnil 75012 Paris https://lexposition.christianlouboutin.com/en/   Jean Grogan