ECAL × JEAN PAUL GAULTIER × PARCO 『Under Your Smell』｜ An anthem to a new definition of gender diversity and beauty. Immersive Photo Exhibition / Opening Party Report & Interview

The immersive photo exhibition "Under Your Smell" was held at Shibuya PARCO GALLERY X BY PARCO from May 30 to June 9, 2024. This exhibition presents a project in which students from the Department of Photography at the University of Art and Design Lausanne, one of Switzerland's leading art universities, created works by visual reinterpretation of Jean Paul Gaultier's perfume. Gaultier Creative Director Flow Lance Tetier and photographer Nichola Couron, led by ECAL Photography Dean Miro Keller and photographer and ECAL Arty Stick Deputy, created fresh works under the guidance of ECAL Photography Dean Miro Keller and Carypso Mahu, a photographer.

This exhibition has been held at the Gaultier headquarters in Paris, at Art Basel Miami Beach and the Swiss Elise Museum of Photography, and has traveled to Shibuya PARCO in Tokyo.

In this article, we will send you a photo report of an exhibition that incorporates a mechanism that allows you to immerse yourself in the world view of the work, a talk session by TOMO KOIZUMI designer Tomoki Koizumi × ECAL Calipso Mahu, MC Yuri Abo, and an opening party with a DJ of Hana Watanabe (tamanaramen) excited the floor. In the second half, we also interviewed Kalypso Mahu, who teaches students at ECAL, and Jonas Pluva, Director of Public Relations and Culture at the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan.

Report on the background of the project implemented with the support of ECAL and JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, as well as the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan.

Photo: Sachiko Saito

Text: Natsuko Fukushima

Edit: RIDE Inc.

Index

P.1ECAL × JEAN PAUL GAULTIER × PARCO “Under Your Smell” immersive photo exhibition and opening party report
P.2 Interview with Calypso Mahieu (ECAL / Project Coordinator and Photographer) and Jonas Pulver (Embassy of Switzerland in Japan)

ECAL × JEAN PAUL GAULTIER × PARCO “Under Your Smell” immersive photo exhibition @ GALLERY X BY PARCO

A major feature of this exhibition is that it is an immersive space. The photographs taken by ECAL students are printed on cloth, hung in the gallery, and displayed to cover the walls. The printed cloth is also a cushion, and it is fun for viewers to sit there and watch the works around them. And while experimenting with Gaultier's perfume, which was the subject of the work, you can relax and enjoy the world of the work with your whole body.

In this exhibition, a selection unique to Tokyo exhibition is made from a number of photographs taken by ECAL students. For example, Aiko Nic's photograph depicting the figure of "Nanaumi Minami" as a model.

“The students are very inspired by Japanese culture and I thought it would make sense to include this work in the exhibition at GALLERY X BY PARCO,” says Calypso Maheu.

The up-and-coming design unit BIOTOPE is in charge of key visuals for this exhibition, original goods design for Japan, teaser MOVIE

Photos range from perfume bottles as subjects, to those that convey the juicyness of fruit and to those that show the intimate relationship between young people. While beautiful colors, light, and physicality create a sense of unity throughout, young creators tried to express themselves with their own methods and ideas on the difficult theme of perfume. Sublimation of the global brand called Gaultier into his work with modern, fresh sensibility and solid technology. It was an exciting but pleasant exhibition.

Calypso Mahieu（Coordinator）/ Gaetan Uldry（Assistant）

ECAL × JEAN PAUL GAULTIER × PARCO “Under Your Smell” Opening Party at ComMunE

At the opening party, a talk session was held following a toast by Gres Go Muishnek, Director of Economy and Finance of the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan. Calypso Mahu of Lausanne University of Fine Arts (ECAL) who was the project member and coordinator of "Under Your Smell" and Tomoki Koizumi, designer of the global fashion brand "TOMO KOIZUMI" took the stage and was hosted by Yuri Abo (editor of IWAKAN magazine). The DJ of Hana Watanabe (tamanaramen) excites the floor, and expectations for the exhibition from the next day increased.

TOMO KOIZUMI Designer Tomoki Koizumi × ECAL Coordinator Calypso Mahutok Session

MC： Yuri Abo (Editor of IWAKAN magazine), Tomoki Koizumi (Designer of TOMO KOIZUMI) x Calipso Mahu (ECAL Coordinator)

First of all, Koizumi commented on this exhibition, "I was able to show the photos in advance, so I knew that the quality was wonderful, but in fact, at the venue, I was able to enjoy it with my five senses as an immersive exhibition. " Mahu said, "I thought it was most important to provide customers with a sense of immersion, such as by displaying fabric cushions printed with photos. I think a very good space has been created,” he said. He explained that this exhibition is not an exhibition where the photos are fixed on the wall, but the most important point is that the viewer can create a new way of looking when they move their bodies by sitting in a cushion or turning cloth.

Koizumi mentions the motif as a point that left an impression. "I felt that the students were consciously creating works with the image of the Gaultier brand that shakes the gender image. I think Sensuality is one important motif, such as photographs that boys are intertwined with each other. I felt the challenge of incorporating smell into a visual image” (Mr Koizumi).
Koizumi said that he had a great influence on Gaultier. "When I was in junior high school, I came out of Gaultier (uncommon at the time) of men's makeup lines. I wanted it so much, but I couldn’t buy it at that time.” He is said to have been inspired by Gaultier's way of "creating new things." “As a creator, I want to create something new. If you think so, the place between the category and the category that is not yet named is important to me." He seems to capture Gaultier as a pioneer in pioneering such areas.

Recently, Koizumi, who has also been active as an artist, and Mahew himself works as a photographer. The two talked not only about this exhibition, but also his candid thoughts as a creator living today, and participants also asked hot questions.