David LaChapelle Retrospective

＜English＞

Translated by faiyaque

Hello everybody, chief editor Yuki here!

Before I move on to covering events in Japan, I just wanted to give you a little glimpse of something else I saw in Paris.

Until May 31st, the Musée de la Monnaie in Paris is holding a retrospective exhibition of works by famed photographer and film-maker Dave LaChapelle.

※David LaChapelle's Retrospective Exhibition in Paris

Over 200 works, including celebrity portraits and LaChapelle's trademark pop-styled photographs, were on display making this the largest LaChapelle exhibition to ever to be held in France. The man himself was present at the opening in February to the great joy of countless dyke and queer French fans.

LaChapelle famously got his start as a photographer for "Interview", after being discovered at the age of 20 by the magazine's editor, Andy Warhol.

Since then, in addition to his photographs for fashion magazines and advertisements, he has diversified his art to include portraits of celebrities, music videos and film. He has won many fans for the critical eye he turns to consumer society in his provocative yet humorous images. No look at modern American pop culture would be complete without taking LaChapelle's artistry into account.

When I went to the exhibition, it was not hard to spot the high queer ratio among visitors. There were countless gender queer Parisians mingling at the event, and some stood out more than others. I saw one handsome gay couple walk by in long, dark grey coats, while beside me stood a young baby-faced techno-punk gay boy in a chain necklace. At the same time one woman with short, blonde hair and a killer pair of skinny jeans was scrutinizing portraits across the room with her girlfriend. Not only was the art amazing, but I had much fun people-watching too!

I'll be showing some of LaChapelle's art in later posts, so check back!

※A retrospective exhibition popular with all kinds of folks. On Sunday, there was a long line for admission.

●Lasts until Sundaｙ, May 31
●Location: La Monnaie de Paris
●Address: 11, quai de Conti 75006 Paris
●Tel: +33 (0)1 40 46 56 66
●Nearest station: Pont Neuf on Line 7, or Odeon on Lines 4 and 10
●Official website: www.monnaiedeparis.fr
●David LaChapelle's Official Website: www.davidlachapelle.com

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