Berber Women… of Morocco…

Berber… Women…

Of… Morocco…

Exhibition… was…

Mysterious…

Authentic…

Not only was I whisked away… transported to that magnificent land… which mesmerised me… at first sight… it also brought back vivid memories… during my journey there… and the stunningly beautiful Berber jewellery I collected… loved and adored and still wear today…

Pour moi… it was a moment…

When time… stood still…

In contemplation and wonderment… of the exotic beauty… of the handiwork of Berber women…

I can still smell the jasmine… orange blossom of… Marrakech… wafting in the night air… the swaying undulating walk of the bedouin women clad in black robes… their silver… amber… coral necklaces and broaches enhancing them to… graceful perfection…

Visiting… the…

Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent…

Was an… undisguised pleasure…

Not only… for the unsurpassed beauty of the Berber jewellery and artwork… but also by the effort of this distinguished foundation in the name of one of my favourite couturiers… the legendary Yves Saint Laurent… and the brilliantly capable Pierre Bergé… who have succeeded totally and absolutely in honouring Berber women… to whom the “Amazigh civilisation” owes its survival…

“I have asked that the exhibition be consecrated to Berber women because most of the objects concern them. And also because of the vital role the Berber women play in the trasmission of their cultural identity: the language, the skills, the education of the children.“
                                                                                                  – Pierre Bergé

Upon their arrival in Morocco in 1966… Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé started to collect the Berber art they both loved… which was eventually housed in their home in Marrakech… “Dar Es Saada“… which happened to be the villa next to the famous Majorelle Garden… founded by the painter Jacques Majorelle…

The partners later undertook the restoration of both the Garden and the artist’s studio nestled in its heart… which with the help of the architect Bill Willis… turned into a museum dedicated to… “Moroccan Islamic art and civilisation”.

The… 21st exhibition…

“Femmes Berbères… du Maroc“…

Mysterious… enigmatic…

Visually… stunning…

Heady…

Pierre Bergé… Yves Saint Laurent…

Foundation…

Should… be…

Proud…

a.