Victoire de Castellane bijou sculptures at Gagosian

No, this is not jewellery, but UPO – or ‘unique precious objects’. Dior Joaillerie’s brilliant creative director Victoire de Castellane, who has pioneered an avant-garde, whimsical world of oversized pieces studded with coloured gems and enamel work, is presenting her first solo UPO show, Fleurs d’excès, at Gagosian Gallery, now, during Fashion Week. Hallucinatory drugs and their promise of mind-expansion have fascinated and inspired artists the world over. De Castellane’s 10 sculpted flowers are intoxicating, but also dangerous because of the poisons they secrete. Here they personify the Romantic idea of women ‘under the influence’ in a compendium of phantasmagorical specimens with faux-classificatory names, such as Heroïna Romanticam Dolorosa and Crystalucinae Metha Agressiva.
Until 22 March. 11am-7pm. Closed Sun, Mon.
Gagosian Gallery, 4 rue de Ponthieu, 8th. www.gagosian.com
Hours: Tue-Sat 11-7

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