Catherine Millet critiques media contradictions around Saint Laurent-Bergé sale

In an editorial for art press, Catherine Millet reflects on the media frenzy surrounding the Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Bergé auction, held in Paris in February 2009. She notes the irony of Libération publishing both a critique of celebrity culture (for covering Sofia Coppola's Vuitton handbag) and an eight-page special on the sale. Millet observes that the sale's success reveals a societal atavism toward kitsch, exemplified by the art deco furniture, Lalanne sculptures, and Jeff Koons' works at Versailles. She contrasts this with Piet Mondrian's painting in Saint Laurent's collection, which stood out for its modernist purity. Millet acknowledges the sale's economic benefits during a crisis but questions the public's enthusiasm for ostentatious luxury, linking it to broader cultural contradictions.