The Tamesis
At the Scene Gallery on the eastern edge of Paris, far from the Met, Kim Kardashian arrived at the Met Gala wearing a metallic orange breastplate with pert breasts and curvy hips, where there were several pieces of art that inspired her.
Among them is the “Red Fridge,” a perfectly coiffed mannequin in a painted burgundy bodysuit that hangs in a mini-fridge cabinet. Among them is “Cover Story 4/4,” a full-body fiberglass version of Kardashian’s creation in lemon yellow that fades into fleshy lilac and is held in place by a gleaming bronze bar that outlines the back. Then there’s “Kind of Blue,” a petite nude figure wearing stockings, orange stilettos and blue eyeshadow, standing in front of an abstract painting of similar colors.
Repurposed as decorative art, these pneumatic, erotic reproductions of the female body are the work of Alan Jones, a prominent figure in the British Pop Art scene who is still active today. Long before Kardashian reached out to him during her 13th annual Met Gala appearance, he’s been a source of fascination in the fashion world, inspiring the likes of Thierry Mugler and Rick Owens. The fiberglass components were re-edited from the 1967/68 cast; the straps and leather skirt were designed by Patric Whitaker and Keir Malem of Whitaker Malem; the brushstrokes were added directly by Jones.
Three weeks ago, Sceners debuted an exhibition called “Form and Seduction” in collaboration with Almine Rech, a blue-chip gallery with branches in major cities around the world. Jones, who turns 89 later this year, traveled from his home in England to attend the opening ceremony. He then traveled to New York, where he appeared in a Vogue video documenting Kim’s fittings two days before the event, laughing: “We’re going to make this a unique moment.”
Opening in 2024, Sceners is a hidden wonder. Near Père Lachaise Cemetery and above an Aldi supermarket, this skylight-lit space once housed a mechanical toy manufacturer that co-founder Jonathan Haddad spent two years transforming into a vast open plan with feature walls that echo Richard Serra’s oxidized bronze.
Haddad, 28, launched the gallery project with partner David Atlan after previously running a design studio in Antwerp. Their focus is on the intersection of design and decorative arts on the secondary market, and they don’t just showcase rare and coveted pieces, but present them with a collector’s sensibility. What makes the display of Jones’ work so interesting is the juxtaposition of furniture, which offsets his ultra-feminine pieces with more masculine shapes and statements.
