Madame J On Art blog was created in March 2011 with the intention of only posting art reviews; namely shows exhibited in the NYC and Chelsea areas. I don't (nor have I ever written) about fashion (even though I love it) but I decided to write about Alexander McQueen's
Savage Beauty that was exhibited at The Met and ended on August 7th. I had such a "major" ordeal (like the other hundreds of people who were curious and crazy enough to brave the average 3.5 hour wait) viewing this show; I knew I needed to share my experience so I decide to write about about my four hour waiting experience and the beauty of his work. There's no mistaking the depressingly sad end to the infamous Brit of Scottish descent
Haute couture designer who's fashion were more theatrical than practical (Lee)
Alexander McQueen who was well know to shock and awe the crowds (come fashion week); when Alexander decided (nine days later) after his mother's death to commit suicide, via (hanging himself with his "favorite" brown leather belt). As the ever-so-slightly, continuously diminishing, American fashion stylist
Rachel Zoe would agree about his death was a "major" mistake on his part. Alexander I felt, along with others he was a genius in his own right and an enormous talent that stupidly ended his life. As I approached, The Met I see an enormous line that snakes and forms six lines Fashionista's, artistic crowd, fashion plates and regulars like me and the curious waiting in line dying to see McQueen's show. After standing in line for 1 1/2 hours and I'm finally inching my way towards the front door all of a sudden there a big lull and it starts to drizzle; I was praying to the gods above (it was suppose to rain earlier but it hadn't) "please just let me get into the museum before it storms, please God, please!" Finally the security guard let in a whole bunch of us; I let security check my bag and I make a mad dash to get my metal button. Of course (stupid me) believes all that's left is to walk up the grand stair up to the second floor, NOT the cashier mentions "no you have to stand on that line" as he points behind me to yet another long line (not as long as outside, but equally as tedious and obnoxious). I make my way over to (where the audio guides are sold) stand in line. About 40 minutes (plus or minus) goes by a group of us are ushered up a non-moving escalator and up to the second that snakes around three times, argh! Of course it's warm in the museum, so many bodies, did I bring my paper hand held fan with me, check, some water and a
Cliff Bar check and double check. I wait a long while, a very very long while. I'm getting there, all of the obnoxious kids crying, all of the people skipping ahead, the heat, hunger and tiredness (I just got out of work and got to the Met at 5:10pm and it's about 7:45pm) won't stop me from seeing McQueen! I can tough it out, I've experienced a lot worst from the heavens above. Finally I feel liberation, the line is moving but at a snails pace as I'm inching my way (I'm feeling closer than what I really was) I decided to call my husband and say "honey I'm almost inside the gallery" but little did I know I wouldn't be in the McQueen "gallery" until 8:20pm. Finally after being tempted to rent an audio guide but I had decided to pass. FINALLY at 8:20pm I got into the McQueen gallery; on the wall, to my left is a brief description of the show about about McQueen, then as you enter on the right is a series of black jackets, skirts, pants (
bumsters) and dresses uniquely cut that evokes a Gothic aesthetic look and feel to the collection. Across is a more delicate and soft muted palette and tone, although "Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims" and "It's a Jungle Out There" appears not to jive with this ever-so-softly lavender and grey tonal group of jackets. The next gallery you enter is more of McQueen's dark and macabre "
beau monde". The next gallery includes a mad scientists and apothecary's cubby holes of delight. A delicious aberrant dream come true; each cubby hole houses its own uniquely bizarre and devious head pieces and body gear to boot. Television screens provide the viewers with McQueen's previous fashion shows; the next gallery houses "
Highland Rape" and adjacently across is "
The Girl Who Lived in a Tree" which was my favorite. "
The Girl" is a beautifully romantic mixture of crimson red and cream colors; McQueen garnered inspiration from queens, opulent materials and jewels; hence the imitation
Fabergesque egg. Next is a Kate Moss video and we eventually enter Asian and/or Japanese inspired collection "
It's Only a Game" then you enter another gallery which is composed of "
Oyster" a delicate and soft menagerie of "torn" or "ripped" dress and outfits. We finally come to a Sci-Fi lovers dream come true; "
Plato's Atlantis", "
Atlantis" reminds me of
Dune meets
The Cell meets
Portishead and spawns and has more Atlantian's. Even though it took me a whole four hours to actually see McQueen's Savage Beauty it was definitely worth the wait; while I won't be insane enough to wait a day before a show ends I can honestly say that as cliche as this sounds McQueen would probably be in awe of the fact that this many people (about 60,000 plus) cared enough or were curious enough to (in some odd and strange way get closer) him; he'd be smiling and enjoying a spectators front row view of his completed works of art. We'll miss you (L)AMcQ! -
Madame J.
