Yves Saint Laurent: dreams of the Orient

Abstract

The Orient has always been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for painters, sculptors and, of course, couturiers. Yves Saint-Laurent was no exception. He proposed both a literal and imaginary vision of Asia, based on a thorough knowledge of its history, culture and arts, as evidenced by his personal library and the art collection he created with Pierre Bergé. Yves Saint-Laurent reinterpreted the sumptuous coats of India's imperial rulers, creating elegant pieces made of precious golden silks, and embellished with metallic embroidery and jewelry. China not only inspired the heady fragrance Opium in 1977, but also sparked a collection influenced by the traditional ancestral clothing of the emperors and the country's decorative arts and architecture. From Japan, Yves Saint-Laurent revisited the kimono, prompted by Hokusai prints. --- Exhibition: Yves Saint-Laurent Museum, Paris, France (02.10.2018 - 27.01.2019).