Thierry Mugler Retrospective at Kunsthalle München Showcases 150 Outfits

The Kunsthalle München in Munich is hosting 'Thierry Mugler – Couturissime', the only German stop of a retrospective produced by the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal. Curated by Thierry-Maxime Loriot, the exhibition features around 150 haute couture and prêt-à-porter garments spanning thirty years of Mugler's career, from his first collection in 1973 to his early 2000s retirement. The show is structured in ten 'acts', including sections dedicated to his collaboration with the Comédie Française on a Macbeth production, his insect-inspired 'Les Insectes' collection from spring 1997, and his photography alongside Helmut Newton. Mugler, born in Strasbourg in 1948, trained as a dancer at the Opéra du Rhin, influencing his theatrical approach. The exhibition includes a corset worn by Emma Sjöberg in the 'Too Funky' video directed by Mugler and George Michael, and highlights Mugler's use of materials like latex, plastic, and synthetic fur. Feminist responses to Mugler's work are divided: Sheila Jeffreys accused him of reinforcing objectification, while Linda Nochlin praised his creations as empowering. The exhibition runs until February 28, 2021, despite museum closures in Germany due to COVID-19.