A tribute to YSL in the heart of Marrakech
Saint Laurent on the patio at his house in Marrakech, photographed by Horst P. Horst, 1980. From The Condé Nast Archive.
“A visit to Marrakech was a great shock to me. This city taught me color” Yves Saint Laurent
Marrakech may not be the first place that comes to mind when one reflects on the expansive career of Yves Saint Laurent, but a new museum erected in his honour has provided a fascinating insight into his connection with the city.
Saint Laurent first travelled to Marrakech with his partner Pierre Bergé in 1966, an ideal holiday that was dampened by a whole week of rain. When the Morrocan sun finally emerged, the pair fell in love with how it illuminated the scenery and would return many more times over the years.
On one of those occasions, the couple purchased and restored the Jardin Majorelle gardens; fittingly residing on Rue Yves Saint Laurent and now only a hundred metres from the new YSL Museum.
Commissioned by Pierre Bergé and designed by scenographer Christophe Martin, the museum showcases creative masterpieces that span the late designer's 40-year career, from 1962 until his retirement in 2002.
Writer Renz Ofiaza describes the building as homage to the very nature of fashion;
“The facade of the building appears as an intersection of cubes with a lace-like covering of bricks, creating patterns that recall the weft and warp of fabric. As with the lining of a couture jacket, the interior is radically different: velvety, smooth and radiant.”
The museum holds much more than just a collection of work, as each facet has been meticulously designed and created to reflect an aspect of the designer. Significant features include;
— A 400-square-metre permanent exhibition space dedicated to the life and work of Yves Saint Laurent, with garments being rotated regularly in order to ensure their longevity.
— A 120-square-metre temporary exhibition space which currently features a showcase of 30 artworks by Jacques Majorelle.
— An oak-lined 150-seat auditorium, showcasing a programme of fashion shows, films and documentaries. In addition to hosting live music, the auditorium will present symposiums about berber culture and botany, fashion and costume.
— A research library with over 6,000 volumes, including books dating from the 17th to 20th centuries, regarding the history and traditions of Morocco, books devoted to gardens, landscaping and botany donated by Mr. Madison Cox, as well as volumes concerning Yves Saint Laurent and fashion.
— A bookstore lined with lacquered amber shelving; reminiscent of Saint Laurent's Opium perfume bottle. The store has a collection of volumes related to Yves Saint Laurent, fashion and Morocco, as well as films that inspired the such as cinematic masterpieces by Luchino Visconti. Also available is a selection of jewellery curated by Loulou de La Falaise; the renowned jewellery and accessories designer at the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house.
— A terrace café ‘Le Studio’, named after and inspired by the tranquil and intimate workspace of Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. White marble meets with pale wood in the café adjacent to a sunlit courtyard with bright yellow seating; as imagined by interior designer Yves Taralon.
— Outside ‘Le Studio, a large reflecting pool lined with zelliges (Moroccan glazed tiles) is encompassed by flourishing, large-leaved plants such as Giant Strelizia, Papyrus, Monstera, and Philodendron evoking a Henri Rousseau atmosphere.
— A conservation archive and laboratory that will preserve the extensive collection of YSL clothing, haute-couture accessories and drawings belonging to the Fondation Pierre Bergé.
It seems only fitting that the ochre city that provided so much inspiration for Yves Saint Laurent, now hosts a collection of his pieces whilst also honouring traditional Moroccan culture and heritage. Definitely a must-visit destination.
SM x
