Thursday, 11 August 2011

#bringMcQueenexhibitionhome

Posted by Fashion Editor at Large

The Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art closed Monday night, and since then there have been articles writing about its unmitigated success.

Here are the facts in a nutshell: Between opening on May 4 and closing on August 8th, the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty attracted 661,409 visitors, ranking it alongside other major Met successes including Mona Lisa (1963) and Treasures of Tutankhamun (1978.) Demand got so huge the Museum extended the exhibition's run by a week, staying open until midnight on the last two nights.

An eight minute film narrated by Savage Beauty Curator Andrew Bolton

Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art said:  "Visitors from across the globe have come to see this remarkable exhibition, and we want to keep it open for as many people as possible. Indeed, these midnight hours will mark a fitting conclusion to this powerful exploration of McQueen's work."


This is great for the Met, for Andrew Bolton who curated Savage Beauty, for Anna Wintour who facilitated it, for the McQueen business and its CEO Jonathan Akeroyd.  It was also an achievement for everyone who contributed to or loaned to Savage Beauty, and of course for everyone who visited the exhibition.

But it is not great for anyone who was unable to get to New York to see it.


On Tuesday Imran Amed wrote on his Business of Fashion.com website that the McQueen:Savage beauty exhibition needs to travel the world. But I would like to amend that, and put it out there that the exhibition should just come home, where it belongs.

The fact remains that the exhibition should have been staged in London. It is a well known fact that most British people who have considered the matter think that the McQueen exhibition took place in New York without a forward plan to bring it to London, is a scandal.
Alexander  McQueen FW 2009

So I have humbly started a social media campaign to bring the exhibition back to the place where it belongs, where it should have been in the first place - home to London.

WHY THE MCQUEEN EXHIBITION SHOULD COME HOME

1. Lee Alexander McQueen was born and raised in London by Londoners.
2. He was educated at London's most famous art school St Martins School of Art, and trained on London's most famous tailoring street, Savile Row
3. He lived, worked and was largely inspired by London.
4. He began and made his name and career in London
5. He loved London
6. The Alexander McQueen business is based in London, and directed by an English designer.
6. British people want this

Alexander McQueen SS 1999

I've spoken to the Victoria & Albert Museum, who say "we would love to host the exhibition, we have spoken to the fashion house about it as we really want to present McQueen's work to our huge fashion and design audience here in the UK."

I've spoken to the team at McQueen who say "we have no concrete plans at present but are thrilled with the obvious appreciation of the exhibition at the Met and are waiting until the end of the exhibition before making any further decisions."

So, now its up to us.

Please comment on why you want McQueen: Savage beauty home and sign the petition.

Lets make this happen!  


Tweet #bringMcQueenexhibitonhome
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20 comments:

  1. Penny Dreadful Vintage11 August 2011 at 12:53

    Done. This should absolutely come back to Lee's hometown. x

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  2. Nick Bain11 August 2011 at 12:55

    He was born here, he lived here, he worked here, he inspired here, through his will his legacy is here in the very heart of London.
    The fact the exhibition went ot New York first is a travesty!
    His work and style represents the very essence of London and Britain, from it's cutting edge and daring nature to it's juxtapositions. He would never have succeed in the land of American Sportswear, French Traditionalism, or Italian Sprezzatura.
    McQueen is London and needs to come home.

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  3. Unknown11 August 2011 at 12:57

    I'm so with you. It is a scandal that the exhibition was held in NY and a scandal no one here has done anything. I've RTed a couple of times on Twitter, fingers crossed it builds momentum and the right people see it.

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  4. Unknown11 August 2011 at 12:58

    You've summed it up perfectly Melanie. He was part of London fashion, part of our eccentricity, not just an international fashion star. Issy Blow would be appalled that us Brits who can't get over to NY won't see his most extraordinary creations in such a unique exhibition.

    Bring it over here this instant!!!

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  5. designd11 August 2011 at 13:44

    I agree wholeheartedly with all of the above.

    However, I think there is a crucial point that we are missing here. Those in the fashion world and those on the periphery of it, are very aware of the impact McQueen had/has on fashion. In my experience that fact alone is not enough to convince the powers that be that this exhibition should tour to London. What is perhaps of more concern to them is, how will this exhibition reach out/ impact on those not interested in fashion? Those who don't know their kitten from their stiletto?, and more importantly and damagingly, why should they care.

    I hate to say it but, in this climate exhibitions have to do more than just interest a niche (albeit in this case a very big niche), they have to appeal to the masses. Of course there are also some people who would never set foot inside a Gallery no matter what's on, and generally speaking you can't change their minds. But for those in the creative industries this show could easily appeal.

    The other crucial point to make perhaps is to emphasise McQueen as a case study. Of course it is wonderful to be able to simply see his work in the flesh, as numbers in New York have shown. But for us in London, and for those at CSM/graduated from CSM it means more, it's like seeing 'one of us' up there.

    It would I think, be an inspiration exhibition. Not just for followers of fashion, but creatives in general. To see how these garments are made, to see how ideas are developed, to understand how one man turned cultural and political influences into things to wear, how anger/ passion/love is expressed in acute cutting of the cloth. To tour this exhibition to London should not just be argued as a right for Londoners to see another Londoners work, nor giving people a once in a lifetime chance to see this collection, but about promoting design and promoting creativity using a most extraordinary case study.

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  6. fashion and frank11 August 2011 at 14:22

    Never was a designer more of a Londoner - through and through - he summed up the whole aesthete of british fashion - it should come home x

    http://fashionandfrank.blogspot.com/

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  7. That's Not My Age11 August 2011 at 14:33

    British people do want this - can't you get Daphne Guinness to help?!

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  8. The Londoner11 August 2011 at 15:44

    I couldn't agree more.

    I visited Savage Beauty last month in NYC and managed to sneak a few photos. It really was beautiful and belongs here, in the UK.

    http://www.thelondoner.me/2011/06/savage-beauty.html

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  9. Mevin11 August 2011 at 16:05

    This so should come to London.

    We have so much creativity here in this international city, but the talent still ends up creamed off by Paris and to a lesser extent NY!

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  10. 197211 August 2011 at 18:06

    I think it would be amazing to grab the opportunity to show what New York - and any other city that curates future McQueen shows - cannot: the chance to show the designer and his work in the context of his home city, and of the times he lived and worked in - the fashion community and creative culture of London in the nineties, the centuries of romanticism in art and literature which shaped his aesthetic, the incredible collaborators (from Shaun Leane to Stephen Jones). McQueen's history is written across the city's landscape, from Lewisham to Savile Row, to his Clerkenwell studio, to the venues that housed his legendary shows, with their shadows of darkness and decay - adandoned film studios, vast Victorian warehouses, and crumbling Baroque churches.

    We have a unique chance,not to follow the Met's outstanding show, but to exceed it.

    JM

    http://1972projects.blogspot.com/2011/05/alter-ego-mcqueen-and-menswear.html

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  11. sooze11 August 2011 at 19:03

    I hear you! I am gutted to not have been able to see this exhibition! The V&A in London would be the most perfect home! Where do i sign! x

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  12. Anonymous11 August 2011 at 20:10

    I agree with what you're saying, but how is it a "scandal" because it was held in New York? NY is a fashionable city, as are Paris and Milan, so it makes sense to hold it in NY. And the Met is one of the top museums in the world.
    Also, he was raised by a Scottish father, not a Londoner.

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  13. The Fashion Editor at Large11 August 2011 at 20:38

    Dear Anonymous, Lee's Dad might have been Scottish, but he was a London cabbie. Need I say more?

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  14. The Fashion Editor at Large11 August 2011 at 20:58

    1972 - you have made the case infinitely stronger with your comment. I agree wholeheartedly. And the creative team could add something magnificent to the exhibition by making the city of London a player in the narrative. Thank-you for taking the time to comment xx

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  15. Nic11 August 2011 at 22:02

    I live over 200 miles away from London, and would happily travel down to visit Savage Beauty if it did come to the UK. Petition signed and fingers crossed!

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  16. Kyrstie12 August 2011 at 11:11

    Savage Beauty should not only come to London, but should tour the world in celebration of amazing vision and craftsmanship. To see Lee McQueen's work under one roof will demonstrate the reason why he is so missed in fashion and why he revered as a designer. Savage Beauty should come to London to honour his memory and celebrate all that is wonderful about McQueen

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  17. Caroline15 August 2011 at 18:13

    Lee Alexander McQueen was born and bred in the UK. And myself living in Sweden didn´t have the time, nor money, to go to New York. I think a lot of people living in Europe who has not been able to see it, for the same reasons mentioned above, would be able to if it came to London. For fashion’s future I think it is important that as many people as possible should see it, so they learn to differ the good from the bad.

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  18. Jai'me16 August 2011 at 11:00

    I am quite pleased the exhibition took place in NYC - it will have opened the eyes of Americans who are not too familiar with Alexander McQueen and hopefully look at some more talents we have in the UK. I do feel strongly that an exhibition should be hosted in London as well for obvious reasons (this is his home country).

    I have signed the petition and hope we get our wish!

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  19. Unknown17 August 2011 at 22:05

    I work for a company that does travelling exhibitions and would love to get in touch with someone about the specifics? Any suggestions on who to contact? contact me at parks_4@hotmail.com

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  20. مجلة المرأة العربية25 June 2012 at 21:40

    geat ... n sexy girls

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