Rick Owens discusses the establishment of an OnlyFans account, their runway controversies, and thirty years of 'joyful depravity' in an interview.
In the heart of Paris, the Palais Galliera is currently hosting an extraordinary exhibition, the "Temple of Love" retrospective dedicated to the avant-garde designs of Rick Owens. The American fashion designer, renowned for his anti-fashion approach, is giving a tour of his life's work to Samuel Hine, as the fashion world eagerly awaits this much-anticipated event.
The exhibition, which runs until January 4, 2025, coinciding with Paris Men's Fashion Week, is a comprehensive journey through Owens' 30-year career. From his early days in Los Angeles to his most recent collections, the retrospective showcases Owens' fascination with spiritual rituals, art, literature, and film.
Rick Owens himself serves as the artistic director of the exhibition, which extends to the museum's façade and garden. Visitors will encounter a trail adorned with three statues covered in sequins by Owens, and the gardens will feature several concrete works reflecting his interest in brutalist architecture.
The exhibition's design highlights include mohair jumpers, dresses made from the skin of the Amazonian pirarucu fish, and a memorable 2015 runway show where models were connected by harnesses. Owens' color palette expanded after moving to Paris, incorporating blood red and fluorescent tones.
However, the retrospective is not without its controversial elements. The screening room features a video titled "Horse," which simulates a copulation but is not as graphic as it sounds. The room is guarded by a disclaimer featuring some of Owens' more provocative artistic gestures. The video is accompanied by an operatic score, adding to its dramatic effect.
Rick Owens refuses to subscribe to the fashion world's rules and moralism, and his retrospective is a testament to this stance. The designer acknowledges that the attention his retrospective is receiving is due to his 30-year holy war against orthodoxy and judgement.
The "Temple of Love" retrospective follows in the footsteps of Azzedine Alaïa and Martin Margiela as the third such exhibition for a living fashion designer. A long line has formed outside the Palais Galliera for the opening reception, a testament to the public's eagerness to witness Owens' most consistently subversive and fascinating figure on display.
As Samuel Hine reports from the front row of the fashion world, the Rick Owens retrospective is a must-see for anyone interested in avant-garde fashion and artistic expression. For those unable to attend, the Show Notes newsletter offers a free subscription to keep readers updated on the latest fashion news and trends.
- The "Temple of Love" retrospective, featuring the avant-garde designs of Rick Owens, is a must-see for anyone interested in fashion, style, and artistic expression, according to GQ's recommendations.
- The exhibition, which runs until January 4, 2025, is a part of the Paris Men's Fashion Week and extends to the museum's façade and garden, showcasing the designer's fascination with spiritual rituals, art, literature, and film.
- The Rick Owens retrospective follows in the footsteps of Azzedine Alaïa and Martin Margiela as the third such exhibition for a living fashion designer, drawing celebrities and the fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts alike.
- As the exhibition's controversial elements, such as the graphic video "Horse," stir debate in the entertainment and lifestyle circles, Rick Owens remains a consistently subversive and fascinating figure in the fashion industry, refusing to adhere to the fashion world's rules and moralism.
