ECAL×JEAN PAUL GAULTIER×PARCO『Under Your Smell』｜ A hymns for a new definition of gender diversity and beauty. Immersive photo exhibition, opening party report & interview

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 photos taken by ECAL students are printed on cloth, hung in the gallery, and displayed to cover the walls. The printed cloth is also cushioned, and it's fun for viewers to sit there and look at the works around them. And you can relax and enjoy the world of the work with your whole body while trying the perfume of Golchie, which was the subject of the work.

In this exhibition, a selection unique to the Tokyo exhibition is selected from a number of photographs created by ECAL students. For example, Aiko Nic's photograph, which uses a figure of "Minami Nanami" as a model.

"The students are very inspired by Japanese culture, and I thought it would be meaningful to include this work in the exhibition at GALLERY X BY PARCO," says Calipso Mahew.

The photos vary from perfume bottles as subjects to those that convey the juicyness of fruit to those that show the intimate relationship between young people. While beautiful colors, light, and physicality create a sense of unity throughout, it is conveyed that young creators tried to express themselves on the difficult theme of perfume using their own methods and ideas. Sublimation of the world-class brand called Golchie into his work with modern, fresh sensibility and reliable technology. It was an exciting but pleasant exhibition.

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

At the opening party, a talk session was held following a toast by Grego Muisshnaek, Director of Economic and Monetary Affairs of the Swiss Embassy in Japan. Kalipso Mahyu of Lausanne Art University (ECAL), who served as a project member and coordinator for Under Your Smell, and Tomoki Koizumi, a designer of the world-famous fashion brand TOMO KOIZUMI, appeared on the stage, and Yuri Abo (Editor of the magazine IWAKAN). The DJ of Hana Watanabe (tamanaramen) boiled the floor, and expectations were high for the exhibition from the next day.

"TOMO KOIZUMI" designer Tomoki Koizumi x ECAL Coordinator Cariboso Mahute Talk Session

First of all, Koizumi commented on this exhibition, "I showed you photos in advance, so I knew that the quality was wonderful, but I was able to actually enjoy it with my five senses as an immersive exhibition at the venue." Comment Mahew said, "I thought it was most important to provide customers with a sense of immersiveness, 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 photograph is fixed to the wall, but that the most important point is that a new way of appearance is created by the viewer sitting on a cushion or turning the cloth and moving the body.

Koizumi mentions the motif as an impressive point. "I felt that the students were consciously creating works with the image of the Gorchie brand that shakes gender. I think that one of the most important motifs, such as photographs of boys intertwined with each other. I felt the challenge of incorporating the smell into a visual image."
Koizumi said that he had been greatly influenced by Golchie. "When I was a junior high school student, Gorchie came out of men's micap line (which was rare at that time). I wanted it very much, but I couldn't buy it because I was expensive at that time. " It is said that he has been inspired by Gorchie's way of "creating new things." "I want to make something new as a creator. If you think so, the place between categories and categories that is not yet named is an important place for you." It seems that Gorchie is captured as a pioneer in pioneering such areas.

Recently, Koizumi, who is also active as an artist, and Mahew himself works as a photographer. They talked not only about this exhibition but also about their candid thoughts as creators living today, and the participants also asked hot questions.

Yuri Abo/Calipo Mahew / Tomoki Koizumi

DJ Hana Watanabe

＜NEXT＞ Interview with Calypso Mahieu (ECAL) and Jonas Pulver (Switzerland Embassy in Japan)

Upper right: Valerie Geissbühler & Léa Sblandano
Central right: Ulises Lozano & Laure Brandford Griffith

Central left: Lorane Hochstätter
Lower left: Eloïse Genoud & Samuel Spreyz & Matteo Angelé