The album, the stadium tour, the poster, the fragrance, the t-shirt, the tea-towel, the Sunday supplement interview, the doll, the chat show appearance. Just when you thought there were no cross-promotional stunts left to pull in the name of accumulating wealth through music, the master does it again. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Pharrell Williams and his curated exhibition G I R L, organised to mark the release of his album (of the same name, by pure co-incidence).
But wait, you haters. This is absolutely not just about boosting record sales by another few million. Oh no. This is an artistic enterprise which stands alone. It’s all happening at proper serious art purveyors Galerie Perrotin‘s new exhibition space at the Hôtel du Grand Veneur in Paris, and sees the resumption of a relationship between Williams and Emmanuel Perrotin which began with a commission for the music mogul to design two chairs in 2007. Calculated as something of a riposte to allegations of sexism surrounding Blurred Lines, Williams was at pains to ensure a strong female representation in the exhibition in terms of both artists and subjects. Sorry pal, but you can’t un-ring that bell.
Widely known for his close relationships with some of the art world elite, G I R L (did we mention the album is on sale now from all good music stores?) actual carries some heavyweight clout, amidst occasionally uncomfortable bouts of narcissism: Rob Pruitt’s Studio Loveseat (Pharrell) and Takashi Murakami’s Portrait of Pharrell and Helen – Dance (featuring a photograph by Terry Richardson, sigh) key examples. Highlights come courtesy of Daniel Arsham’s shattered glass PW repica, The Future Pharrell, and French street artist JR’s NYC Ballet Art Series, Paper Interactions #13. Runs until 25 June.
JR
NYC Ballet Art Series, Paper Interactions #13
Ink, wood
92 1/2 x 84 3/4 inches / 235 x 215 cm
Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
Tracey Emin
Wanting You, 2010
Neon
37,44 x 44,33 inches / 95,1 x 112,6 cm
Courtesy of the Artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery,
New York and Hong Kong
Rob Pruitt
Studio Loveseat (Pharrell), 2014
27 x 58 x 30 inches
Markers and pens on canvas couch, chromed feet
Photo, Claire Dorn
Courtesy of the Artist
View of the exhibition
G I R L curated by Pharrell Williams,
27 May – 25 June, 2014,
Salle de Bal / Galerie Perrotin, Paris
Photo, Claire Dorn. Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
KAWS
GIRL, 2014
Acrylic on canvas
89 x 58,5 cm / 35 x 23 inches
Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
Daniel Arsham
The Future Pharrell, 2014
Shattered Glass, Resin
23 x 15 x 70 inches
Photo, Claire Dorn. Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
View of the exhibition
G I R L curated by Pharrell Williams,
27 May – 25 June, 2014,
Salle de Bal / Galerie Perrotin, Paris
Photo, Claire Dorn. Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
Gregor Hildebrandt
Marilyn in Mirror (after A.W.), 2014
Laser engraving on granite
36 1/8 x 36 1/8 inches / 91,8 x 91,8 cm
Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
View of the exhibition
G I R L curated by Pharrell Williams,
27 May – 25 June, 2014,
Salle de Bal / Galerie Perrotin, Paris
Jean-Michel OTHONIEL,
Double Collier Emeraude
Murano glass, stainless steel / Verre de Murano, métal
130 x 27 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches / 330 x 70 x 45 cm
Photo, Claire Dorn. Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
