Paris: Francesco Vezzoli ‘The 24 Hour Museum’ at Palais d’Iéna January 24-25, 2012

January 24th, 2012

Francesco Vezzoli, The 24 Hour Museum, 2012, Palais d’Iéna. All images via The 24 Hour Museum.

On January 24th, duo Francesco Vezzoli and designer Miuccia Prada team up with AMO, the research division of Rem Koolhaas’s architectural firm OMA, to transform Paris’ Palais d’Iéna into The 24 Hour Museum. The palace, which ordinarily houses France’s economical, social, and environmental councils, will instead be populated with high-end fantasy fashion and explorations of celebrity and sex. Known as a prankster of sorts, Vezzoli’s work often involves a certain kitchiness while perhaps masking a deeper political significance. In this exhibition, Vezzoli pays homage to the female figure in particular, featuring renditions of neo-classical sculptures outfitted with heads of “contemporary divas.” The museum is divided into three sections—historic, contemporary, and forgotten—with three segments of the 24 hour period as well: first a private dinner at 8:30 Tuesday evening, followed by an exclusive dance party, then opening to the public at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, before closing at 8:30 p.m.


The artist has done work with celebrities from Gore Vidal to Lady Gaga, creating similar exploits with the flash factor of the advertising industry, including a commercial for the faux perfume Greed, with Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman. Also from the veils of glamour, Vezzoli is fresh from the exhibition of his own fall/winter menswear collection held Sunday in Milan, the sets for the show being yet another AMO collaboration.


–>Francesco Vezzoli preparing at Palais d’Iéna

– D. Ezzo

Related Links:

Exhibition Page [24 Hour Museum]
Prada Opens Pop-Up Museum Next Tuesday [NY Magazine