Paris Musées Celebrates the Olympics at Palais Galliera
Marking the launch of the summer programme at the museums of Paris, Palais Galliera celebrates the union between art and sport, just in time for the advent of the Olympics.
Anne-Sophie de Gasquet, executive director of Paris Musées, and Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Seine River, presented the festivities: they will take place in 14 museums and various places of Paris as part of the Games and the Cultural Olympiad.
From the passing of the Flame to the numerous “art and sport” circuits in the collections, as well as several artistic and sporting events, Paris Musées celebrates the connections between art and sport with generosity, solidarity and proximity, as illustrated by the photographs taken for the occasion by artists and performer Mathieu Forget.
The opportunity was perfect for Palais Galliera to inaugurate the exhibition Fashion On The Move #2, organised by director Miren Arzalluz and scientific expert Marie-Laure Gutton.
This new edition reveals over 250 pieces, offering a journey through the history of clothing from the 18th century to the present day, highlighting the cross-cutting theme of the body in motion. Special attention is paid to swimwear, revealing treasures rarely displayed to the public.
The exhibition explores the evolution of sports clothing, from its beginnings during activities such as horse riding, tennis and golf, to its gradual integration into the urban style, thus marking the advent of sportswear. In the swimwear section, visitors can dive into the history of sea bathing and swimming, both symbols of the democratisation of the sport at the end of the 19th century.
Various institutions and prestigious fashion houses lended exceptional pieces to the exhibition, giving an enriching perspective on sports activities through time. There are pieces from the National Sports Museum of Nice, the Azzedine Alaïa Fondation, the Forney Library, the Paris Historical Library, the Carnavalet Museum, the CHANEL Patrimoine, the Emile Hermès collection and the house Yohji Yamamoto. They all show the versatility of clothing in the context of sport and physical activities.
The evening Paris Musées celebrates the Games ! was marked by an exceptional performance by dancer Mathieu Forget, also known as ForgetMat. He is a movement artist and a world-class creative director specialising in the art of levitation, which adds a spectacular dimension to this captivating exploration.
Photos: Cédric Canezza
