FASCINATING NARRATIVES

THAT Concept Store curates the first Guy Bourdin exhibition and artwork sale in the region

The homegrown destination for modern and contemporary luxury, THAT Concept Store, has expanded its curated art category by debuting the artwork of Guy Bourdin in the region. The store’s newest art venture, coinciding with the run-up to art month in Dubai, also marks the beginning of a new partnership with fine art e-commerce platform ap8.art.

The Guy Bourdin exhibition - a collaboration between THAT Concept Store and ap8.art – sets the stage for future artistic endeavours that will engage audiences with artworks in “bold ways” - where curated masterworks from artistic greats, reimagine the concept of art collecting and luxury.

THAT Concept Store, in collaboration with ap8.art, offers customers, art collectors, and fashion aficionados the rare opportunity to acquire museum-quality artworks in large formats. This special exhibition of Guy Bourdin includes 17 large-format, hand-printed, and framed photographs by the universally revered French artist and fashion photographer, exclusively available at THAT Concept Store.

“We are delighted to mark the start of a new collaboration between THAT Concept Store and the prestigious ap8.art, showcasing this iconic exhibition for our discerning customers. We are committed to continuously evolving THAT’s lifestyle section through the development of diversified product categories that deliver a unique customer experience, and by joining forces with ap8.art, we are able to deliver exclusive artwork to the region, making the collecting of art even more accessible,” said Fahed Ghanim, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle, following the launch of the exhibition.

A Parisian by birth and nurture, Guy Bourdin (1928-1991) was drawn to the arts. He began experimenting with painting and drawing, before taking his first photographs in the late 1940s. In 1951 Guy met the surrealist photographer Man Ray in Paris and became his protege. The surrealist influence in his work is often attributed to his close relationship with Man Ray, who in 1952 wrote the catalogue forward for Bourdin’s first solo exhibition.

Guy Bourdin’s career spanned more than forty years during which time he worked for the world’s leading fashion houses and magazines. From his early editorial fashion commissions, Guy revealed his distinct style. His photographs went beyond fashion, and are considered technically impossible in the predigital era of retouching.

Equally fascinated by the films of Alfred Hitchcock, Guy Bourdin would meticulously construct scenes evoking a mysterious plot or creating a subliminal tension engaging the curiosity of the viewer. An image maker and a perfectionist, he was never predictable and broke the conventions of commercial photography playing with the absurd and sublime simultaneously.

Guy Bourdin was a pioneer in presenting fashion photographs that contained fascinating narratives. He also believed that the product is secondary to the image. His skilful use of plot and perspective, meticulous compositions, hyper colour and contrast, take Guy Bourdin’s photographs well beyond the simple page of a magazine. Guy Bourdin’s pioneering techniques and the legacy of his irrefutable artistic style still influence the top art and fashion photographers today. Long after his death in 1991, his photographs continue to captivate.

His work has been exhibited in the most prestigious museums, including The Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate, The Jeu de Paume, The Getty Museum, The National Art Museum of China, The Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and The Moscow House of Photography. The first retrospective exhibition of his work was held at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in 2003. The Tate is permanently exhibiting a part of its Guy Bourdin collection with works made between 1950 and 1955. The exhibition by THAT Concept Store is the first-ever exhibition of his work in the Middle East.

“It has been a dream of mine to bring this sumptuous exhibition to the Middle East. There is no better place than

THAT to showcase the artworks of the iconic Guy Bourdinthe photographer who was responsible for elevating fashion photography to an art form. This curated and framed collection is going to transform the home of collectors in Dubai and beyond,” says Viola Raikhel, Curator, and cofounder of ap8.art.

THAT Concept Store’s curated edit of Guy Bourdin’s photography includes a selection of his most iconic and recognisable images known for their luxurious yet visceral attitudes. Shot between 1970-1979, this collection showcases his bold aesthetic, fusing art, fashion, and culture.

By embracing new technology, ap8.art has made art more accessible and trustworthy than ever before. Every piece of artwork is authenticated by a digital code. This code is linked to each artwork, providing the buyer with a record of provenance and value.

Additionally, THAT Concept Store has ensured that every single artwork purchased from this exclusive collection is ready for hanging – making it even easier for customers to find the perfect piece for their home, without compromising on quality or style.