Dis lui toi que je t’aime (Last homage to Karl)

With his distinctive ‘Shopping Bags’ series, French artist Fred Allard has earned a leading place in the international art world. Allard was born in 1968 and is someone who gained their knowledge through self-study, without guidance or having attended a formal art institution. Before fully dedicating himself to art, he was a fashion entrepreneur. When he wanted to make something for himself, he would empty his bag and pour the contents into resin. Only after years of experimenting did he finally find the perfect transparent synthetic resin to cast his objects in. The bag shape became a prominent theme of his work.

Vide Ton Sac – empty your bag – was the name of Allard’s first exhibition in New York. It was a tribute to Chanel’s famous pieces and the late artistic director Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld’s vision and his collaborations with brands like Chanel, Coca-Cola, and H&M – a mix of styles, where luxury and mass consumption met – were a great source of inspiration for Allard. He also finds inspiration in pop art, street art, music, magazines, the street scene and daily life.

His ‘Shopping Bags’ series consists of luxury shoppers that he fills with a combination of everyday, iconic and luxury products. It symbolises the blending of street culture and the world of luxury, bringing together the contrasts. With themes of consumer culture and transience, he immortalises the present, where brands dominate the product and image is of paramount importance.