Orient-Hermes: new exhibit at the Monde Arabe

[qb20]

Hello,

Have any of you heard about the new exhibit at the Monde Arabe in Paris called Orient-Hermès?



More info here http://www.imarabe.org/exposition-ima-1701 and http://www.premiereclasse.com/event/en/orient-hermes-exhibition-540124.html

Through the window display.

The exhibition Orient-Hermès at the Institute du Monde Arabe (Institute of the Arab World) honours Leïla Menchari, who has been for many years the inspiration behind the famously spectacular window displays of the Hermès store at 24 Rue Faubourg Saint Honoré.

This exhibition looks at eight major window displays created by Leïla Menchari for Hermès. Inspired by childhood memories of Tunisia, and her various travels and encounters, Leïla Menchari assembles theatrical displays which feature artisan skills from around the Mediterranean.

Throughout the exhibition, mosaicists, metalworkers, glassblowers, stonecutters and Hermès saddlers will make appearances at the IMA to display their skills and accompany Menchari's displays in the crossroads of cultures between the fashion design house Hermès and the Mediterranean tradition.

This exhibition is supported by Hermès.
With: Leïla Menchari

 

[Liberté]

What a cool concept, allbeit a bit strange as to what's actually supposed to be the theme of the exhibition? I'll check it out whenever I'll have the opportunity.

 

[Leah]

Thanks for the heads up, this is THE famous Leila Menchari, the visionary behind those amazing H window displays. I have her beautiful coffee table book "Hermes Shop Windows".

Her background is amazing, was trained by no less than Azzedine Alaia her fellow Tunisian.

Found an interesting snippet from an article on her and those elusive bags on display -

Arranged along a shelf, directly behind her desk, is a collection of one of a kind Birkin bags destined for her own private museum. Hermès has given her carte blanche to create different variations of the famous bag for her window displays and no material seems to be off limits. Some are made out of candy wrappers, fur, straw and even feathers. While other examples were conceived from outrageously colored silk scarves, plastic and glass. These bags were never intended for sale and are not even accessible to the public. On very rare occasions a member or close friend of the Hermès family is granted the right to have one, but even then Menchari is reluctant to part with it.