Hadid We Did!

The Chanel Mobile Art Container, imagined and designed by the British-Irakien designer Zaha Hadid, is an ambitious art exhibition that was scheduled to travel around the world. An exhibition, in collaboration with artists such as Sophie Calle, Lee Bul, Stephen Shore and many others, was to be inspired and promote the famous Chanel quilted handbag. The exhibition started in April 2008 in Hong Kong, then to Tokyo in July 2008 before landed in New York's Central Park in October 2008. It was supposed to continue its journey to London, Paris and Moscow. Unfortunately, the economic crisis had pushed the house of Chanel to halt the project towards the end of 2008; consequently, the project was forgotten and abandoned, little by little. Then 6 months ago, we heard that it might make its reappearance in Paris in 2011 and we are super excited for the chance to see what the Mobile Art is really all about.

April 2008 Hong Kong

July 2008 Tokyo

October 2008 New York City

CLIFFLEE couture team went and investiaged the mysterious spacecraft that disappeared three years ago and has now reappeared and landed in the city of light, more precisely, at the Arab World Institute in the left Bank of Paris. If you are a fan of Zaha Hadid or a Star Trek fanatic, you are in for a treat!

This is what you see as you approach the entrace of the Institute.

This is the entrance of the Mobile Art.

This is the general map of the space.

The curvey lines give you an organic feeling.

This is a model for an airport project.

The interior of this model airport.

Projections of diverse projects Miss Hadid worked on.

Model of a modern building.

This is a model project for a metro/train station platform.

A study of shapes.  The buildings all look like vases.

We were a little disappointed because this is what we expected to see according to the Chanel Mobile Art site.  There are some short films on the website that show the constructions and parties at the three previous cities in 2008. Unfortunately, none of the following artists was found in the exhibition here in Paris.

photo source: Chanel Mobile Art

It seems that Chanel has also decided to disassociate itself from this project here in Paris. Throughout the exhibition, there was not a single trace of the famous French house logo nor its handbag.  And the exhibition is now called Pavillon Mobile Art and only the architect Zaha Hadid is mentioned on the poster.  We would've loved to see the entire exhibition as it was shown in Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York.  Even though the exhibition feels a bit short, it is still worth to come and admire the unusual space that is out of this world.  Here is the information:

Institut du monde arabe

1 rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard

75005 Paris, FRANCE

Tel. +33 (0)1 40 51 38 38

Site: www.imarabe.org

10 am - 6 pm / Tue - Sun

April 29th - Oct 30th, 2011

Entrance:  7 €