Page 19 - Annual Review 2010

ReLiVe 19
Valentino,retrospective:
past/present/future
7 august – 14 november 2010 | goma
‘Valentino, retrospective: past/present/
future’, the gallery’s first haute couture
exhibition and our first collaboration
with Les arts décoratifs, paris, was a
critical and audience success.
this exclusive to brisbane exhibition
attracted over 200 000 local and
interstate visitors and generated an
immense media profile, both for the
gallery and for brisbane as a cultural
tourism destination.
the exhibition celebrated the work of
the italian fashion house, renowned
for its sophisticated, timeless design
and glamorous clientele. it brought
together 100 of Valentino’s most
stunning haute couture creations
and offered a revealing overview
of a career spanning five decades.
garments by current creative
directors maria grazia chiuri and
pier paolo piccioli complemented the
display and offered an assured look to
the future of the house of Valentino.
exhibition designed and realised by Les
arts décoratifs, paris, with the assistance of
the Valentino fashion house. organised in
australia by the queensland art gallery and
art exhibitions australia.
securing an art event of this calibre
is a very stylish feather in the very
stylish cap of a very stylish city.
Courier-Mail editorial, 6 august 2010
opposite: ‘Valentino, retrospective: past/present/
future’ joins ‘andy warhol’ and ‘picasso and his
collection’ as one of the most popular exhibitions
ever shown at the gallery.
right: the display was complemented by a resource
area containing an illustrated chronology of the
history of the house of Valentino, a display of vintage
fashion magazines and a selection of reference
books, runway footage and documentary film
excerpts.
overleaf: ‘Valentino retrospective’ up Late is
now the gallery’s most attended up Late series
on average since the late-night program began
in January 2008, with more than 1500 visitors
attending each night of the 11-week season.
a behind-the-scenes tour, given by textile
conservator dr michael marendy, was a highlight of
the ‘Valentino retrospective’ my gen 50+ program.
miranda wallace, the gallery’s senior curator,
exhibitions and research, leading a guided tour
of the exhibition.
over 19 000 participants join public and booked
group tours led by the gallery’s volunteer guides.
schools welcomed the opportunity to bring their
students to see this exclusive design show. over
3000 students booked to see the exhibition over
the season.