The Musée des Arts Décoratifs Unveils the Riddles of the Private Sphere
From October 15th to March 30th, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs takes us on a fascinating journey into the heart of our inner sanctum through an exhibition devoted to the subject of privacy, whose history is retraced from the 18th century to the present day. Featuring 470 works, including paintings and photographs, as well as decorative art objects, “Private Lives: From the Bedroom to Social Media” reveals how the private sphere and our perception of it has evolved throughout time. From the bedroom as seen by Henri Cartier-Bresson or Nan Goldin and 19th-century wrought-iron beds to the “lit-clos” of the Bouroullec brothers, the commode chair, the urinal for women, waterless hygiene products, the bathroom, aristocratic beauty, mass consumption, licentious books, sex toys, the Walkman, the arrival of social networks and influence… The exhibition illustrates how privacy came to be through different tools of surveillance and protection. The increasingly blurred and porous boundaries between private and public have sparked many debates, and are at the core of this exhibition. Scientific and artistic advisor to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs Christine Macel has curated the exhibition, alongside Fulvio Irace, design and architecture specialist historian. The scenography is by Italian architect Italo Rota. During the inauguration, we met Lena Mahfouf, Hervé Lemoine, Jérôme Sans, Floriane de Saint-Pierre, Chris Dercon, Carla Ginola…
Photo: Astrid Staes
