Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the MET

During my recent visit to New York, I was able to see the highly anticipated Costume Institute exhibit Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The exhibition was beautifully laid out with each gallery illustrating a different aspect of “Romanticism” that is a key element in McQueen’s work. The audio that comes accompanied with the exhibition gives a deeper understand of McQueen’s work and the underlying themes throughout his collections, narrated by curator Andrew Bolton and featuring various collaborators and team members that have worked with McQueen such as Shaun Leane, Trino Verkade and Sarah Burton, who has been McQueen’s right hand woman for many many years and now the Creative Director of the label.

Apart from being able to see how exquisite the workmanship of some of the showpieces are close up (the works in “Romantic Nationalism” & “Romantic Naturalism” rooms are truly breathtaking)

Another highlight of the show are the head pieces/”head treatments” made by Guido Palau throughout – its unfortunate these beautiful pieces are not captured in the catalogue.

Having been a dedicated follower of McQueen’s work for many years now, I find this exhibition deeply moving. Now that it has been extended to August 7th 2011, I will try to go back before it closes!

Here is a gallery tour video, with commentary by Andrew Bolton:

Here is a rare insight of what went on inside the MET gala evening celebrating the exhibition:

• **More information on Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition here
• **You can see selected objects from the exhibitions here with some audio commentary

Photos courtesy of MET museum website, and John Sloane.

(Photography is not allowed in this exhibition, but my friend cheekily took a few quick shots on his camera, hence the blurriness…)