Continuing in the Saint Laurent Rive Droite project, Anthony Vaccarello is revealing a series of sculptures made by Helmut Lang who was given the French designer’s creations as inspiration. Vaccarello has made clear that he seeks dialogues between creative minds to expand Saint Laurent’s identity. Helmut Lang may seem far away from his aesthetic but the Austrian designer has actually been a strong influence in the development of Anthony’s vision. Minimalism, purity and a touch of darkness which we can find in both the designer’s worlds. They are also both very much concerned by global social and ecological issues and strive to make their collections in sync with their values.

Helmut Lang questioned the very definition of luxury and the meaning of the clothes’ function. He initiated with artists close to his realm, Louise Bourgeois and Jenny Holzer, which turned into a habit in the 21st century: a collaboration between an artist and a fashion designer. These close links put new interrogations at the forefront of the ever-evolving fashion industry: fashion a form of applied art, the time-frame of fashion creations, its more or less perennial impact on global culture are probably the only two who are still at the heart of today’s discussions.

Lang has shifted his focus solely on art since 2005 and this project enables him to blend his two passions, turning garments into something else, adding new dimensions to discarded fabric. Vaccarello has given him freedom to work around past Saint Laurent collections in a process of transformation.

Shredded, mixed with a pigmented resin then molded in aluminum, these former fashion objects become primal totems with unique textures reminiscing both, a precious past and a promising future. The sculptures will be displayed at Rive Droite, first in Paris, then in Los Angeles and will be available for sale.