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Exhibition Review: Christian Louboutin, L’Exhibition[niste], Chapter II
Salle 1 "Entrée" ©GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO 2022 - Eric Zaragoza
Written by Ashley Mercado
Copy Edited by Chloë Rain
Photo Edited by Yanting Chen
The Chapter II Christian Louboutin exhibition shies away from anything that has to do with monotony. At first glance, the exhibition gleams with extravagance that only a designer as multidimensional as Christian Louboutin can pull off. You are welcomed with bright red walls that match Louboutin’s signature design of red bottom shoes, marking the beginning of how much of Louboutin is truly in this exhibition.
Salle 2 "Les premiers pas" ©GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO 2022 - Eric Zaragoza
He presents private collections that have never been seen by the public. As well as collections that expose his passions, influences, and interests that serve as inspirations for his designs. His inspirations consist of Andy Warhol, dance, African and Asian Art, the oceanographic universe, etc. Through this exhibition, it can be seen that Louboutin crafts his designs with intention and vulnerability. We learn more about Louboutin’s personal life through his creations.
Salle 14 "Pop Corridor" ©GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO 2022 - Eric Zaragoza - 146
Every corner of this exhibition is like walking into a new phase in Louboutin’s career. The exhibition has fourteen rooms, with the first room dedicated to Louboutin’s humble beginnings. The room is filled with Louboutin’s early works of sketches and designs that were made before he was a household name in the fashion industry. One of these designs includes the red bottom shoes that he is most known for. The story of how these shoes were brought to life has to do with Louboutin painting the sole of a prototype red with his assistant’s nail polish.
The first room also includes celebrities in Louboutin’s red bottom shoes, showing how far he has come in his journey as a shoe designer. The room showcases Louboutin’s shoes gracing the front cover of magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Wonderland. His shoes are worn to high fashion events like the MET Gala where A-list celebrities, such as Rihanna and Zendaya are seen flaunting Louboutins on the carpet.
Salle 4 "Couleurs peau" ©GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO 2022 - Eric Zaragoza
The Nude Room is where we see more of Louboutin in his work. The room is filled with his Nude series. This series has to do with shoes that match all skin colors. The Nude Room revolves around Louboutin’s fascinations that he may or may not have special connections with. For instance, the “Hall of Treasure” has sculptural pieces that pay homage to the aquarium at the Palais de la Porte Dorée in Paris, an aquarium that he went to when he was a child. One of these pieces being the Maquereau shoe that was made entirely of metal. The sculptural pieces also touch on Louboutin’s interest in fish scales and silver fish, as you can see characteristics of sea creatures being implemented into these shoes.
Salle 5 "Salle du trésor" ©GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO 2022 - Eric Zaragoza
In the “Hall of Treasure,” we also see designs that are in reference to Louboutin’s admiration with African, American and Oceanian art. However, these designs are not only inspired by these three cultural styles, but from styles around the globe that he has been fortunate enough to encounter. The exhibition does a phenomenal job of showing how Louboutin has grown throughout his career. As he seems to reach another level, he uses the resources that he learned wisely to reach the next level and so forth.
EXHIBITION VIEW PPD - David Lynch & CL, Fetish
Although Christian Louboutin is the name tied to this exhibition, the names and works of notable artists are sprawled all around the exhibition. The designer is not selfish with sharing the spotlight with artists in which he has collaborated with. For instance, the exhibition shows the works of David Lynch, Bianci Li, Lisa Reihana, Imran Qureshi, and Whitaker Malem. Louboutin has made it clear that one of his main intentions for his exhibition is to showcase the people and things that make him dream. I believe he has been successful in his attempt to do so.
The Chapter II Christian Louboutin exhibition takes place at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco from July 9 to August 28, 2022.
