The Met Gala Theme

The Met Gala 2018 Theme: "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."

The annual fashion exhibit grand opening at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City.

On Monday May 7th, 2018, The Metropolitan Museum of Art released their fashion exhibit; "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," to exemplify the relationship between fashion, and masterful religious works of art. The exhibit will be showed at Anna Wintour Costume Center, the medieval galleries at the Met's fifth avenue location, and further uptown at Cloisters. According to Vogue Magazine many art pieces on display have never been seen outside of the Vatican. The Vatican has lent The Met over 40 pieces from the Sistine Chapel Sacristy, including the papal robes, precious rings, and tiaras all from the 18th to 21st century. 

This controversial theme was decided by the curator Andrew Bolton. For a long time according to sources, the Met has been looking into introducing religion as a theme, and originally wanted to incorporate other religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and as well as Catholicism. However around 80% of Western Fashion has been inspired by Catholicism, as well as the majority of designers from France, Italy, and Britain were raised as Catholics. 

In an interview with Vogue Magazine, the Costume Institute Curator in charge, Andrew Bolton described the show how, "material Christianity has helped form the Catholic Imagination." This being a very complex theme, it was believed difficult to merge the two, faith and fashion. "Although this relationship has been complex and sometimes contested, it has produced some of the most inventive and innovative creations in the history of fashion," said Bolton in an interview.  

Credit:

Borrelli-Persson, Laird. "Met Gala 2018 Theme Revealed: 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.'" Vogue, Vogue, 8 May 2018 www.vogue.com

Leaper, Caroline. "Met Gala Theme 2018: Was This Year's Theme the Most Controversial Yet?" The Telegraph, The Telegraph Media Group, 8 May 2018, www.telegraph.co.uk