Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Marithé François Girbaud's old new den


Marithé and François Girbaud are two French designers that have been around for some time (they started designing clothes in the 60's!), but they really became famous more recently (first in the 80's with the release of Flashdance - yes, the main actress Jennifer Beals was wearing one of their jeans, imagine! - and more recently (in 2005), when one of their advertising campaigns was banned for some time (click here and you'll understand why!). Anyway, back to this photo... This is the back of their main shop in Paris, located 38 rue Etienne Marcel. I took it because of the vivid colors but I debated whether I should remove the trash can or not. In the end I decided to leave everything "as is".

17 comments:

  1. Very colorful! I'd like to know what that "Pigeon Break" poster is all about (with me being a "Pijan" and all).

    I bet Hollywood will redo Flashdance. The Fame remake is coming out shortly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I clicked on, and I am shocked that the French would get upset at that kind of depiction of the Last Supper!!! I have seen "shocking" nudity in ads in France that would never make it in the USA! And the porno on a regular TV station every first Sat. of the month had me fall off my hotel bed, I was so surprised!
    I guess religion trumps all.Gee, the Last Supper is just Leonardo's imagination of the event, not a true document.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was so enthralled with the colorful postings in the picture and deciphering the words, that I did not notice the lady in the bottom right side of your picture, until I took a second look. Eric, your pictures are like art, you see something different every time you visit them!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I didn't notice her either, at first. There's a lot to look at here. To paraphrase what's playing at the Comédie Caumartin: J'aime beaucoup ce que tu fais, Eric!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I also didn't notice her. It's the end of a long day, and I was so taken by the creative "jumble" of the ad when I clicked "here" that it took awhile to recognize the Last Supper! I like it! Interesting piece, for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like the photo but am curious about the carvings on either side of the windows. They remind me of the staff and serpent symbol for doctors or medicine. Was this building a pharmacy or doctors office at one time?

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is very interesting and I am sharing previous comments.

    Like Phx, I agree this Last Supper picture appears less controversial to me than many pictures that are allowed although I still wonder why... What a pity!
    Actually, like it has been said by others above, I do like this Last Supper banned interpretation by Marithé François Girbaud.

    I think a clothing company created by husband and wife designers is rare enough to be noticed, isn't it? Like Eric mentionned it a year ago day for day, "Curiously enough, most of the famous clothing designers are men"... I like it when women are creative too!

    This photo is really amazing on a visual point : so many details to see and catch! If you had made it closer, that would have given a totally different thing!
    Là, c'est très bien tel quel ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. No, I think the rubbish bin is ok where it is Eric; it goes with the window, with its trashy style! I think it looks awful. The lady is the best bit.

    ReplyDelete
  9. At first I thought the lady was some sort of a small statue/figurine lol, only when I enlarged the photo I saw she was a real person. This wall is so huge.

    I agree with phx on the Last Supper business...

    ReplyDelete
  10. GF Suzy - what should your crown be today ? Pigeons or ???

    ReplyDelete
  11. I want a cool shop in Paris! Not sure my tape & plastic Delight totes can support it right now, though. (sigh)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the woman in the corner of your photo, Eric! She appears to be setting up chairs - for public viewing of the wonderful,"creative jumble," perhaps!

    I,too, love the last supper ad!

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's hard to tell where the "planned" decor of the business ends and where the effects of the street begin...very cool to say the least. I doubt they could have planned it this well if they tried. Reminds me of the subway cars in late 1970's New York City....


    Sean

    ReplyDelete
  14. A crown of pigeon poop fits my mood today, Bettina!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like the reflections of the colors from the posters, etc., on the wet street.

    ReplyDelete
  16. About the woman on the right? Yes, that is my favorite bit also ;)

    ReplyDelete