There’s no better way to celebrate 20 years of existence than with a brand new exhibition. Indeed, the Normandy-based Musée Christian Dior is commemorating its 20th anniversary and the House’s 70th anniversary with “Christian Dior And Granville: The Source Of The Legend”. The exhibition pegs itself as a reminder of the couturier’s childhood, paying tribute to the past experiences that have now shaped the present and future of the House.
Christian Dior described the first years of his life at Granville as “The Sweetest And Most Wonderful Memories”, recounting the days spent at his soft-pink Maison named “Les Rhumbs”. His memoirs reveal his thoughts on the Granville villa, reviving one of his most celebrated quotes “What Can I Say? My Life, My Style Owe Almost Everything To Its Location And Its Architecture.” The exhibition itself, curated by fashion historian Florence Müller, mends the bridge between the designer’s childhood home and the designs of his Couture House. Picture three levels of Christian Dior’s authenticity, from his time at Granville to his grandiose creations. The ground floor exposes the different rooms that helped shape his personality; think a blatant artistic flair conjured up by the Japanese exoticism of the entrance hall. Think a Normandy appetite inspired by the legendary dining room. Think an entrepreneurial side taken from his father’s study and a dreamer aspect shining through the scents and colors of the garden.
The first floor, on the other hand, puts into sight the different bedrooms belonging to each member of the Dior family, with a riot of photographs, portraits, personal objects and Haute Couture dresses – mostly inspired by his mother Madeleine’s sophisticated outfits. The story of the grand designer unravels on the top floor, where Dior’s origins meet the House’s future, from his imaginative output to his successors’ determination to follow suit till this very day. A true Dior experience, don’t you think?
The state-of-the-art exhibition will be running from April 8th till September 24th 2017 in Normandy at Les Rhumbs. To the Photo Gallery!
