On the 20th anniversary of Rudolf Nureyev’s death, Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance opens on October 6, 2012 at the de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park (USA).
Reflecting Nureyev’s lifelong obsession with the details of fabric, decoration and stylistic line, the costumes in this exhibition represent every period of his long career. As a meticulous performer, Nureyev demanded costumes that were not only beautiful, but precisely engineered to suit the physical demands of his dance. He also loved sumptuous decoration, and these costumes reflect his highly-refined aesthetic; fantasias of embroidery, jewels, and braid.
Nureyev’s dramatic escape from the Soviet Union in 1961, combined with his dashing good looks, sexual energy, and the triumphant success of his ballets, made him an international sensation by the age of 23. This exhibition highlights how he was part of the intense new celebrity culture taking hold in the early 1960s.
Dates: from October 6 to February 17.
Location: de Young Museum. Golden Gate Park. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. San Francisco, CA 94118. USA.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am to 5.15pm. Friday from 9.30am to 8.45pm.