Wella Company and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs Partner for ‘Des Cheveux et des Poils’ Exhibition
DES CHEVEUX ET DES POILS
from 5 April to 17 September 2023
Following the success of the exhibitions La mécanique des dessous (2013), Tenue correcte exigée ! (2017) and Marche et démarche (2019), the Musée des Arts Décoratifs continues its exploration of the relationship between the body and fashion with an exhibition on hair styles and body hair grooming. Des cheveux et des poils (Hair & Hairs) exhibition, which runs from April 5 to September 17, 2023, demonstrates how hairstyles and the grooming of human hair have contributed to the construction of appearances for centuries. Hair is an essential aspect of one’s identity and has often been used as a means of expressing our adherence to a fashion, a conviction, or a protest while invoking much deeper meanings such as femininity, virility, and negligence, to name just a few.
The exhibition explores through 600 works, from the 15th century to nowadays, the themes inherent in the history of hairstyles, but also the questions related to facial and bodily hair. The trades and skills of yesterday and today are highlighted with their iconic figures: Léonard Autier (favorite hairdresser of Marie- Antoinette), Monsieur Antoine, the Carita sisters, Alexandre de Paris, and more recently studio hairdressers. Great names in contemporary fashion such as Alexander McQueen, Martin Margiela, or Josephus Thimister are present with their spectacular creations made from this unique material that is hair.
The exhibition is presented in the Christine & Stephen A. Schwarzman’s fashion galleries of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The scenography will be created by David Lebreton of the Designers Unit agency.
Alexis Ferrer, Wella Professionals Global Creative Artist, Printed Hairpiece, 2021 (collection La Favorite)
© Rafa Andreu Model: Emma Furhmann Agence Blow models
Shared from Press Release: Wella Company
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
France
Phone: +33 (0)1 44 55 57 50
Curator
• Denis BRUNA, Curator in Chief, Fashion and Textile Department, Collections before 1800
Scenography
• David LEBRETON of the Designers Unit Agency
Wella Company, main sponsor of the exhibition with the support of Bleu Libellule and MCB by Beauté Sélection
