Alaïa/Kuramata. Lightness In Creation

The exhibition Alaïa/Kuramata. Lightness in Creation is being held at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. This project explores the unique creative relationship between fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa and furniture designer Shiro Kuramata. Kuramata’s minimalist approach, using materials such as glass and acrylic to emphasise gravity and lightness, had a profound influence on Alaïa.

Kuramata’s philosophy of defying gravity and achieving lightness resonated with Alaïa’s design ethos. The exhibition presents twenty pieces of furniture by Kuramata, including the iconic How High Is The Moon armchair, alongside twenty haute couture creations by Alaïa. These pieces reflect the two designers’ shared exploration of abstraction and form.

The Alaïa/Kuramata. Lightness In Creation is another celebration of creative talent, following the previous exhibition in 2005. Twenty years on, the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa pays tribute to Kuramata’s work alongside a curated selection of Alaïa’s creations. The lurex knit of a simple dress answers the knitted metal mesh of a chair, while the transparent acrylic of a shelf recalls the feathery muslin of a haute couture creation.

Alaïa was an avid collector of Kuramata’s work, appreciating their shared sense of humour and sculptural approach. The collection includes notable pieces such as the Glass Chair, Broken Glass Table and Twilight Time. All the works on display are from the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa collection.

The Alaïa/Kuramata. Lightness In Creation exhibition, curated by Carla Sozzani and Olivier Saillard, will run from June 24th, 2024 to January 12th, 2025.