Sam Taylor-Johnson makes the private apartment of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel available for all to view.
Sam Taylor-Johnson takes us back in time and opens the door to the second floor apartment of 31, rue Cambon in Paris, Chanel’s historic apartment. The famous Parisian private apartments of Coco Chanel were photographed by the British photographer and film director for a temporary exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London. How are Coco Chanel’s apartment as seen by Sam Taylor-Johnson? Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel’s rooms above the luxury fashion house’s store at 31 rue Cambon are still in the grand state as it was when the famous fashion designer and style innovator was alive. The 45 photographs to be exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery capture the famous mirrored staircase, Venetian accessories, crystal chandeliers, Coco Chanel’s furniture and leather-bound rare volumes.
“Shooting at Coco Chanel’s apartment was an unexpectedly absorbing experience,” said Taylor- Johnson. “The essence of Chanel is firmly rooted there in all of her possessions and I truly believe that her spirit and soul still inhabits the second floor.”
See the Second Floor exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery open from September 12 – 22. Free to the public, the exhibition is accompanied by a book titled “Second Floor” with a limited- edition box set of ten prints picked by the artist currently working on the Hollywood adaptation of E. L. James’ blockbuster erotic novel, “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
