Karl's Mother-ship has come in - CHANEL's Mobile-Art lands in Central Park

I was treated to an out of this world experience in Central Park today.   The CHANEL Mobile-Art pavilion opened in Central Park's Rumsey Play field to showcase modern artist's take on what CHANEL means to them.    This is the space that is home to Shakespeare in the Park every summer - and Mobile-Art is just as dramatic.    

Dreamt up by LagerfeldZaha Hadid to collaborate with the Kaiser on his image of this modern, traveling museum.   The building is assembled piece by piece as it is erected again and again around the world.  More pod or module than "building", you get the feeling a giant futuristic snake is uncurling in front of you as you approach.   Instantly, you are in another place and time.   The entire experience is a great metaphor for the effect CHANEL has on its biggest fans.   Fashion is but a dream after all, and surreal moments like Mobile-Art don't happen every day.  The level of anticipation Women feel as they enter a CHANEL boutique is given to all who enter Mobile-Art.   Security guards, docents, and ushers brisk you through the exhibit and Chanel really championed the ability to give you a sense of LUXURY when you are buying nothing.  This is no small task.   himself.   CHANEL commissioned architect

The level of pampering and care you are given at Mobile-Art simply has never been executed in this way before in relation to a gallery tour.    Once again, setting itself apart from the pack - CHANEL manages to excite the media and masses at a time when few eyebrows are raising over anything to do with the fashion world.

The artwork itself echo's this desire to convey emotion and experience.   You FEEL every work as much as you SEE it.   It is experimental theater much more than a gallery tour.   The surreal audio tour really delivers.   A very devilish sounding Jeanne Moreau takes you on a long, strange trip.   This French iconic actress remembers Coco Chanel herself and has made appearances on CHANEL.COM guiding you through Mademoiselle's hotspots in Paris - so it makes perfect sense that she is guiding us here too.  A list of the artists are here.

This project obviously got under Karl's skin.   He recently unveiled yet another new apartment in Paris for the press.   It was no surprise to see the futuristic theme throughout.  Karl's having a space odyssey moment - but then again - maybe he always was / is.

Tickets were available on-line through a free delivery system.   They roughly 30,000 free tickets "sold" out in moments, however there are standby tickets made available daily.    Even if you don't get in, just to stand next to the landed mother ship of CHANEL makes you feel like you are part of the event.   You can almost see it moving - catch it before its gone!

CHANEL MOBILE-ART NYC - OCTOBER 20- NOVEMBER 9th 2008