Antoine de Galbert’s Ethnic Headdresses at the Maison Rouge
Friday, September 3rd, 2010The Maison Rouge is a unique space in Paris. It’s not the only foundation for contemporary art, but it is the only one to be founded by an individual rather than a business. Moreover, Antoine de Galbert, founder, president and collector distances himself from the glitz of the contemporary art scene. He was recently quoted in le Figaro recently as saying “I try to get rid of all the spangles of contemporary art. If the artists are good, it’s obvious. No need for all this decorum “, decidedly not an art world lovely.
The main summer exhitibion at the Maison Rouge (on for another three weeks) is testament to de Galbert’s disregard for what is expected of a contemporary art collector. The Ethnic Headdresses collection of Antoine de Galbert is exactly what it says it is. Although aesthetic links with contemporary pieces are suggested the exhibition is, for the most part, simply a fine display of de Galbert’s forays into ethnographic pieces. Perhaps it could also be taken for proof of the fact that collectors are a strange and compulsive breed, but that’s a whole other discussion.
The collection includes headdresses from all over the world – Africa, India, Nepal, Japan, China, North America, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and a wide variety of material including hair, monkey skulls, natural fibres, beads, buttons, metal, feathers, straw and leather. The pamphlet accompanying the show gives us some indications as to the purposes of the attire – be in for celebrations, wars, kings or spiritual leaders. Even without these explanations the show is worth wandering through just for the wildly elaborate creations and incredible array of textures.
The Ethnic Headdresses collection of Antoine de Galbert is on at the Maison Rouge until 26/09/10
Also on show at the Maison Rouge: Jean Maximy, Suite inexacte en homologie singulière and Peter Buggenhout, “It’s a strange, strange world Sally”















