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“I want to be the purveyor of a certain silhouette or a way of cutting, so that when I’m dead and gone people will know that the twenty-first century was started by Alexander McQueen.”
Described by the man himself as the sort of place he’d like to be shut in overnight, it came as no surprise that the Victoria and Albert Museum was chosen to house Savage Beauty; a retrospective exhibition showcasing Lee McQueen’s awe inspiring body of work. Never in the history of the V&A has an exhibition been so eagerly anticipated, with people from all over Europe flooding to see the work of one of, if not the, most influential designers of our time.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Having waited for this moment since the initial whisper of a rumour that the exhibition may be coming to London, I began to fear that the reality may not live up to my inflated imagination! But thankfully I couldn’t have been more wrong. Set over ten rooms, Savage Beauty spans more than two decades worth of collections, making up the extraordinary Alexander McQueen archive. Each showcasing the eclectic and often controversial concepts that culminated in some of fashion’s most inspirational moments.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Until seen in real life it is hard to describe just how incredible the mind of Lee McQueen really was. And unless lucky enough to have been one of the select few to attend his legendary catwalk shows, Savage Beauty is one of the rare times that his work has been on display in all it’s artistic brilliance. From Lee’s MA Graduate Collection of 1992 to Plato’s Atlantis, his last fully realised collection of S/S 2010, and every iconic collection in between, the exhibition is a beautifully orchestrated artistic maze. Much like the controversial nature of an Alexander McQueen show, Savage Beauty is a theatrical masterpiece played out to an evocative soundtrack that manipulates your mood as you drift from room to room.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Yet despite witnessing works from such noteworthy collections as Highland Rape and The Horn of Plenty nothing could quite prepare the senses for the Cabinet of Curiosities. Described as the heart of the exhibition, the double-height gallery is a treasure trove of McQueen designs coupled with film footage of memorable catwalk presentations.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Entering the room I was actually slightly intimidated by the sheer grandeur of the space. With so much to digest in such a small expanse the intensity of the experience is quite overwhelming. Each and every outfit, accessory or clip is so intricately thought provoking that your attention is distracted at every turn; in a desperate bid to take it all in. With my senses well and truly awoken I was compelled to stay and yet in the same instance I couldn’t wait to escape, in a vain attempt to step back and try to absorb such powerful artistry.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Words like legend, icon and genius get bandied around so much these days that their meaning is often lost in a haze of mediocre ability. Such powerful words should be saved to describe those rare extraordinary talents that only come along every once in a while. Talents like Lee McQueen who left an indescribable legacy, and a lifelong marker on the world of fashion.
By Jenna Jones
