SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film presents 'Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful'
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The Savannah College of Art and Design is thrilled to present Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. The exhibition, opening March 27, honors the trailblazing Indian designer Manish Arora and is curated by Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums. Life Is Beautiful is Arora’s first museum exhibition and presents more than 100 bold creations from his runway collections, exclusive collaborations, and looks worn by an international cadre of celebrity clients from Bollywood to Hollywood.
Life Is Beautiful expertly showcases the exquisite garments that have earned Arora global acclaim and renown as one of India’s greatest design talents. The works on view display his signature aesthetic fusing techniques of Indian craftsmanship, such as hand-embroidery, beading, and appliqué, with Western styles and eclectic motifs in an explosion of color. Immersing SCAD students and visitors in Arora’s kaleidoscopic world, Life Is Beautiful journeys through vignettes themed to the designer’s inspirations and features looks worn by loyal clients and admirers such as Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Kate Moss, Aishwarya Rai, MIA, Katy Perry, and more.
“Manish Arora has been famously called the ‘John Galliano of India,’ and while the two share a profound gift for satire and the spectacular, Arora stands on his own in every conceivable way. His oeuvre finds the perfect home in SCAD FASH, where fans of fashion and film luxuriate in an exhibition nonpareil, full of joy and celebration. India’s greatest designer ascends triumphant in the greatest fashion museum in the U.S.!"
PAULA WALLACE | SCAD President and Founder
Arora established his namesake label in 1997 after graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi. His vivid collections and fanciful designs earned immediate international attention. In 2007, Arora was invited to show at Paris Fashion Week, becoming the first Indian designer to receive this honor. He was soon recognized as a member of the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Model and has since presented at Fashion Weeks in London, Hong Kong, and Miami. Arora previously served as creative director for Paco Rabanne, and throughout his career he has designed exclusive collaborations with some of the world’s leading brands including Swarovski, Reebok, Swatch, Disney, Paris Saint- Germain F.C., MAC, Nespresso, and Amrapali.
“First and foremost, I consider myself an artist, and Life Is Beautiful invites students and viewers of all ages into my magical fantasy world bursting with color, happiness, joy, and love. It is a dream come true to see my creations in the first museum exhibition dedicated to my work and to be the first Indian designer featured at SCAD FASH. I am honored to inspire the next generations of artists at SCAD and grateful to Paula Wallace and Rafael Gomes for the university’s vision and dedication to championing the beauty of diverse and global cultures.”
MANISH ARORA
SCAD is the preeminent university for art and design with an international student body representing more than 120 countries. In turn, SCAD FASH has honed a legacy of presenting thought-provoking exhibitions embracing diverse cultures and design practices — a global lens on fashion and film that now includes the museum’s first exhibition featuring an Indian designer.
“Manish Arora is a storyteller. His collections narrate India’s rich sartorial history but with a worldly point of view infused with joy and humor. His incredible accomplishments on the global stage make him such a compelling artist to share with our audiences. We are delighted to celebrate and present his vibrant and imaginative world to SCAD’s international students and community.”
RAFAEL GOMES | Curator and creative director of SCAD FASH museums
On the occasion of the exhibition opening, SCAD FASH will host an exclusive VIP reception for museum members featuring a conversation with Arora on his incredible career and distinctive design perspective. SCAD students from many of the university’s top-ranked degree programs — including fashion, accessory design, luxury and brand management, photography, and illustration — will engage with the designer through exclusive gallery tours and artist talks. SCAD fashion graduates will also engage with the designer through the SCAD Alumni x Manish Arora Design Challenge, envisioned by SCAD President Paula Wallace. Reflecting on emotions of joy and celebration, alumni designers will create one-of-a-kind garments that express the beauty of life. Selected by Arora, the winner will be awarded an honorarium for creativity and design innovation.
Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful is on view at SCAD FASH Atlanta, March 27–Aug. 18, 2024. For more information, visit scadfash.org.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Considered India’s premier designer, Manish Arora studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi before establishing his label in 1997. Only three years later, he participated in India’s inaugural fashion week. Over the next decade, his designs attracted attention on international runways, and in 2007, he became the first Indian designer to show at Paris Fashion Week. Eventually entering the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode, Arora relocated to Paris. Beyond fashion, his experiences at Burning Man and a new path to spirituality led him in the direction of visual art for several projects.
After a yearlong stint as Paco Rabanne’s creative director starting in 2011, Arora turned his attention back to his own label, which continued to thrive. Throughout his label’s history, Arora has collaborated with Swarovski, Reebok, Swatch, Disney, My Little Pony, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., MAC, Nespresso, and Amrapali. He has also collaborated with renowned artists like Bharti Kher, Subodh Gupta, Keiichi Tanaami, and Sophie Calle for his collections. Arora’s designs have been featured on the stage, donned by opera singers, and even digitally rendered for ABBA’s holographic performances during their Voyage concert. In 2016, Arora became the first Indian designer to be conferred with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Legion d’Honneur by the French government. He continues to believe “pink and gold is my religion” while residing in Paris.
SCAD FASH MUSEUM OF FASHION + FILM
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film celebrates fashion as a universal language, garments as important conduits of identity, and film as an immersive and memorable medium of popular culture. Situated within SCAD Atlanta, the museum presents dynamic exhibitions, captivating films, and enticing events that mine the rich and storied legacies of fashion history to inspire contemporary designers and future innovations. Supported by the university’s strong global presence and connections to renowned contemporary fashion designers, filmmakers, and creative professionals around the world, SCAD FASH is an integral part of the SCAD educational experience.
Like the award-winning SCAD Museum of Art, SCAD FASH serves as a creative resource for students of all ages and a wellspring of inspiration for visitors. Through programming that engages the university’s broad array of academic disciplines, SCAD FASH offers diverse exhibitions, films, installations, performances, and events to enliven and inspire the greater community year-round. Each program is designed to engage and appeal to visitors with varied backgrounds and interests, from textiles and jewelry to photography and film. Past exhibitions have featured the work of designers Christian Siriano, Robert Wun, Ruth E. Carter, Azzedine Alaïa, Pierre Cardin, Carolina Herrera, Mary Katrantzou, Guo Pei, and Oscar de la Renta. Photographic exhibitions have featured the work of Robert Fairer, Albert Watson, Jonathan Becker, Bill Cunningham, and Omar Victor Diop. Exhibitions are accompanied by curated film series that complement programming. Past SCAD commissioned films include Pierre Cardin: Le Futur, The First Monday in May, Funny Face, The Leopard, and Ovation for Oscar, among others. Visit scadfash.org.
SCAD: THE UNIVERSITY FOR CREATIVE CAREERS
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls more than 17,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 120 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. A 2023 study found that 99% of SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more. Visit scad.edu.
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