L'Officiel speaks with the Fondation Azzedine Ala&iuml;a&rsquo;s Carla Sozzani about the many parallels between the creators and why their visions are timeless and everlasting.

While <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/designers-azzedine-alaia-cristobal-balenciaga-museum-exhibition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Azzedine Ala&iuml;a</a> was making fashion history with his sculptural designs, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/remembering-photographer-peter-lindbergh-quotes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peter Lindbergh</a> was creating a parallel art form, portraying women and style in his striking photographs. The work of these two exceptional talents comes together in a new exhibition, Azzedine Ala&iuml;a, Peter Lindbergh, which just opened at Paris&rsquo; <a href="https://fondationazzedinealaia.org/en/expositions/azzedine-alaia-peter-lindbergh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fondation Azzedine Ala&iuml;a</a>. These creative figures share an indivisible spirit, dedicated to exploring fashion and the female form as artful expressions of beauty.
The exhibition, which was inspired by the institution&rsquo;s photography collection, discovers the designer and photographer&rsquo;s long-standing connection. "Azzedine [Ala&iuml;a] worked very closely with Peter [Lindbergh] from 1983 for the remainder of his life. In many ways, you can see that the photos mirror the clothes shown in them,&rdquo; Fondation Azzedine Ala&iuml;a President Carla Sozzani tells L&rsquo;Officiel. &ldquo;When you look at the images, you have no idea when the pictures were taken&mdash;they could be from the 80s or even today&mdash;because the clothing and the photographs are all incredibly timeless.&rdquo;

Designed by curators Olivier Saillard and Benjamin Lindbergh, the showcase discovers the reflections between Alaïa and Lindbergh. For both, black provided a central color theme with endless possibilities. The designer’s garments come to life in the silver print and black and white images, such as a portrait of mutual friend and muse, model <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/naomi-campbell-best-90s-moments-young-model-runway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Naomi Campbell</a>. Landmark singer <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/tina-turner-music-documentary-hbo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tina Turner</a> is also pictured with Alaïa, who designed costumes for her and many industry performers, including <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/beyonce-blue-ivy-jay-z-grammys-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyoncé</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/rihanna-new-songs-album-music-works-in-the-works" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rihanna</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/lady-gaga-dom-perignon-champagne-collaboration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lady Gaga</a>.
Abstract scenes also take shape in the creators’ work at the exhibition. Situated somewhere between editorial fashion stories and dreamlike vignettes, these moments unfold in the streets of Paris or among windswept beach scenes. The documentary Great Photographers/Peter Lindbergh is screened to provide behind-the-scenes insight into a historic story shot in Le Touquet in 1986.

Though Alaïa and Lindbergh came from different backgrounds, both of their approaches were strongly tied to childhood memories. Tunisian-born Alaïa (1935-2017) studied sculpture at Tunis’ Beaux-Arts. The couturier oft recalled the white chalk façades of his youth, reflecting shadow and light, in his designs. While German-born Lindbergh (1944-2019) trained at the Krefeld School of Applied Arts. His work was informed by his upbringing in the industrial city of Duisburg, as well as the Dutch beaches that he enjoyed visiting.

What strikes me most is that each has a strong, singular vision and identity. They followed their own work and intuition, which then came together and was very complementary in their collaborations.

Later, the creators&rsquo; pursuits became more parallel. Ala&iuml;a and Lindbergh each moved to Paris to pursue their careers and ultimately, made great names for themselves in fashion. Ala&iuml;a&rsquo;s signature figure-clinging looks became highly sought-after among celebrities and public figures with <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/victoria-beckham-young-outfits-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria Beckham</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/michelle-obama-fashion-independent-american-designers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michelle Obama</a> regularly appearing in his designs. Lindbergh&mdash;the first photographer to include narratives in his fashion series&mdash;bolstered his notoriety from Stern magazine to photograph the major models of the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/supermodel-gia-carangi-80s-last-photo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80s</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/helmut-lang-designer-career-90s-minimalism-fashion-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">90s</a>, memorably capturing <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/linda-evangelista-best-runway-moments-age-90s-supermodel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Linda Evangelista</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/naomi-campbell-new-mom-baby-daughter-instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Naomi Campbell</a>, Tatjana Patitz, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/cindy-crawford-young-90s-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cindy Crawford</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/christy-turlington-age-young-fashion-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christy Turlington</a> together at the start of the &lsquo;90s supermodel era.&nbsp;

Ascending together, Ala&iuml;a and Lindbergh frequently collaborated to create honest, breathtaking images&mdash;and to reveal the true character of the women within the photographs. &ldquo;There is such an evident connection between Azzedine and Peter, both as close friends and also creatively. Both came to Paris as foreigners with humble beginnings and worked hard to build their careers,&rdquo; explains Sozzani. &ldquo;Their successes came at the same time in the early <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/80s-hairstyles-for-2021-trends-mullet-curly-hair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80s</a> and their lives are inspirational stories of great will, integrity, and achievement. Both loved and respected women wholly, especially natural beauty and intelligence, which you can see in all their work.&rdquo;
Throughout the exhibition, the harmony between Ala&iuml;a and Lindbergh consistently reveals itself. &ldquo;What strikes me most is that each has a strong, singular vision and identity,&rdquo; shares Sozzani. &ldquo;They followed their own work and intuition, which then came together and was very complementary in their collaborations.&rdquo; Most of all, it is the evocative, poignant images themselves that illustrate the artistic unity between their creators.
Azzedine Alaia, Peter Lindbergh will be on view through November 14th, 2021 at Fondation Azzedine Ala&iuml;a in Paris, France.

New Photography Exhibition Brings Azzedine Alaïa and Peter Lindbergh’s Legacies Together

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