More than 215,000 people have visited the National Gallery of Victoria’s Summer blockbuster, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto, the first exhibition in Australia to exclusively focus on the designs of the French couturière.
Premiering in Paris and making its international debut in Melbourne in December 2021, the exhibition offered local audiences access to more than 230 garments, accessories and jewelry pieces that highlight Chanel’s influential career and iconic design codes.
This outstanding result makes the display one of the most popular fashion exhibitions in the NGVs history.
“Melbournians are serious about their fashion and these numbers prove it. Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto brought the world’s most iconic fashion house to Australia’s most fashion forward city, drawing crowds from across the state and the nation to experience why we’re called the culture capital,” said Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson.
“The Victorian Budget 2022/23 includes continued support for NGV’s blockbuster summer program, which means even more of the fantastic exhibitions and programs Victorians love,” said Minister Pearson.
“We are delighted to share the work of one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century, Gabrielle Chanel, with so many people from our community,” said Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV.
“NGV has an ongoing commitment to the display of historic and contemporary fashion and design, and we are thrilled to collaborate with international insitutions, such as the Palais Galliera, to offer visitors the opportunity to experience new and exciting never-before-seen major exhibitions,” said Mr Ellwood.
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto was complemented by a popular program of public talks, film screenings and an NGV-exclusive audio-guide narrated by house ambassador Tilda Swinton, as well as late-night access to the exhibition throughout the much-loved NGV Friday Nights series.
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto opened at NGV International, Melbourne, on 4 December 2021 – 25 April 2022. An exhibition organised by the Palais Galliera, Fashion museum of the City of Paris, Paris Musées.
The next major exhibition at NGV International will be the highly anticipated Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition The Picasso Century opening on 10 June 2022. For more information, visit: www.ngv.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: Visitors enjoy Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto on display from 4 December 2021 – 25 April 2022 at NGV International, Melbourne – photo by Liz Sunshine