Paris Fashion Week is one of the most prestigious events in the fashion industry. It feasts our eyes on models walking gracefully on a runway to showcase upcoming haute couture. Have you ever thought of sneaking into the backstage behind where magic is made? Now you get the chance in an exhibition dedicated to Mark Shaw (1921-1969) and get ready to immerse yourself into a mysterious world behind the curtain.
The exhibition presents a series of photos by distinguished fashion photographer Mark Shaw and some of the images are never shown before, including behind-the-scene photos of Audrey Hepburn at the Christian Dior fashion show.
Audrey Hepburn at the Christian Dior Fashion show
Shaw was a master at capturing natural and unposed moments of celebrities. His work recorded not only glitz and glamour on runways but also stories behind the scene, like how models prepared for the show. Looking through Shaw’s lens, Audrey Hepburn was elegant and sophisticated with her Dior’s evening gown on the runway; but once she was back from the stage, the gamine goddess showed the fun and playful side of her.
Photo of Mark Shaw and a model
Left: Coco Chanel; Right: Pablo Picasso
Shaw had shot covers for famous fashion magazines like Harper's Bazaar and taken portraits for celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Pablo Picasso.
Backstage at the Paris Couture
Photos of the Kennedy family
Shaw was also widely known for being the first photographer to take colour photography of runways. He even shot the first colour series of family photos for then-president John F. Kennedy but this set of photos is not among the collection in this exhibition.
Other highlights at the exhibition
Cabana and Cruiseship
Dior mask and Brigitte splayed
Harry's bar and Smoking mods
"MARK SHAW - Paris Haute Couture"
Date: 2017/7/7 - 9/3
Time:
Monday to Wednesday, Friday to Sunday｜ 10am -7pm
Thursdays｜10am - 9pm
Venue: Galerie MR14, 14 Rue Portefoin, 75003, Paris, France
Admission fee:
Full price｜€7
Discounted price｜ €5 (students/ seniors aged over 65)
Contact: +33 (0)1 44 78 24 30