In close collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, the National Art Center, Tokyo is set to present the inaugural extensive retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent in Japan following his passing.
The exhibition will feature a comprehensive collection of 262 items organized into twelve chapters, encompassing 110 of the designer’s iconic ensembles, along with accessories, drawings and photographs.
As the sobriquet the “King of Fashion” suggests, Yves Saint Laurent was a dominant figure in the world of 20th century fashion.
Following the sudden death of Christian Dior, in 1958 Yves Saint Laurent made his brilliant debut as a designer at the House of Dior. In 1962, he launched his own brand, Yves Saint Laurent. From then until his retirement in 2002, Yves Saint Laurent remained at the forefront of the international fashion scene and revolutionized women’s clothing for nearly half a century by establishing safari looks, pants suits, pea coats, and trench coats.
“I sought out Japan early on and was immediately fascinated by this ancient and modern country, and ever since I have been influenced by it on many occasions.” — Yves Saint Laurent, 1990
This exhibition, organized with the full cooperation of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, marks the first retrospective of the designer’s works ever to be staged in Japan after his death. The exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of Yves Saint Laurent’s work, throughout his 40-year career, from his debut at the tender age of 21 and the first collection that appeared under his own brand to the establishment of his own style, through 110 of the designer’s looks as well as accessories, drawings, and photographs in twelve chapters.
Saint Laurent’s travels to Tokyo throughout his life are well documented, as he developed a special relationship with Japan, its people and, of course, its fashions, inspiring future generations of young Japanese designers along the way.
Kenzo Takada made note of this, commenting that “Yves Saint Laurent often borrowed ideas from Asia and I think he was particularly fond of Japan. He was certainly a person who had a special understanding of both the aesthetics and the iconography of Japanese culture.”
This is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the unrivaled and magnificent world of beauty that emerged from Yves Saint Laurent, one of the great talents of the second half of the 20th century.
Exhibition Name
Yves Saint Laurent, Across the Style
Period
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 – Monday, December 11, 2023 (Closed every Tuesday)
Opening hours
10:00-18:00
*Until 20:00 every Friday and Saturday
*Admission until 30 minutes before closing
Venue
The National Art Center, Tokyo Special Exhibition Room 1E
7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8558
https://www.nact.jp