Abdi Abdelkader
Milena Altini
Nobuyoshi Araki
Bina Baitel
David Baskin
Yves Behar
Francois Berthoud
Barbara Bloom
Antoine Boudin
Pierre Charpin
Petros Chrisostomou
Matteo Cibic
Matali Crasset
Charlie Davidson
Marc Dibeh
Patrycja Domanska
Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle
Anika Engelbrecht
Matthew Epler
Etat Libre d'Orange
Naomi Filmer
Sylvie Fleury
Bjorn Franke
Rachel Freire
Marie Garnier
Christian Ghion
Givenchy
Heeley
Roberto Greco
Julian Hakes
Zaha Hadid
Sophie Hanagarth
Jaime Hayon
Dejana Kabiljo
Cary Kwok
Masaya Kushino
Ugo La Pietra
Jacques Le Corre
Lubin
Charlie le MinduGianmarco Lorenzi
Sarah Lucas
Maison Martin Margiela
Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier
Luc Mattenberger
Gabriel Moginot
Eelko Moorer
Nasomatto
Mark Newson
Magdalene Odundo
Erwin Olaf
Oriza L. Legrand
Parfum d'Empire
Parfumerie Generale
Kate Peters
Karim Rashid
Mustafa Sabbagh
Olivier Schawalder
Markus Schinwald
Ettore Sottsass
Studio Job
Jean-Baptiste Sibertin Blanc
Caro Suerkemper
Gianluca Tamburini
Noritaka Tatehana
Mario Testino
Matteo Thun
Morgane Tschiember
Walter Van Beirendonck
Atelier Van Lieshout
Lucas Van Vugt
Nick Veasey
Olivier Vedrine
Jean-Luc Verna
Betony Vernon
Vero Profumo
Rein Vollenga
Mark Woods
Jeff Zimmermann
Nika Zupanc
Marco Costantini
Susanne Hilpert Stuber
The exhibition features a selection of contemporary artist and designers who draw on the iconography of pleasure in their creative work, finding inspiration in erotic literature.
Nirvana. Strange Forms of Pleasure is Switzerland’s first international-level exhibition to be devoted to forms of
pleasure in contemporary creation, exploring design as well as fashion and contemporary art, and the first compre-
hensive study of the influence of erotica on design and fashion. By turns bold, luxurious and mysterious, the exhibi-
tion presents works by around eighty artists and designers, and over 200 objects and installations.
The exhibition features a selection of contemporary designers who draw on the iconography of pleasure in their
creative work, finding inspiration in erotic and fetishist literature, along with the images, objects and clothing to
which they frequently refer. Visitors will discover finely-crafted, sometimes rare and inaccessible items, made from
materials usually associated with the worlds of luxury goods, craftsmanship and contemporary art.
The exhibition invites us to examine our own ideas and perceptions of pleasure. It forces us to observe how its forms
of expression can cross the line from the private to the public sphere when they are the subject of fashion, design or
art. Designers cover the body with close-fitting garments or sensual materials, adorning them with jewellery that is
aesthetically as well as erotically pleasing, creating furniture with evocative forms, works of art in which beauty and
perfection are spiced with the whiff of brimstone. Nirvana shows that society’s desire for sensual pleasure remains
vigorous in our digital age.
The exhibition focuses on design, fashion, and also contemporary art, which helps to open our eyes: its aim is to
examine our relationship with the forms and objects that give physical expression to our unconscious perceptions of
sexuality and our private notions of pleasure. In the exhibits, taboos are subverted by the use of unexpected shapes
and materials, and by an attention to detail that has much in common with what the fashion world would consider
haute couture.
Celebrated and up-and-coming designers alike bring these multiple influences into the spotlight, placing in the
public sphere what has hitherto remained private. All these designers force us to question our value judgements on
erotic practices by presenting unexpectedly luxurious items, worked to the highest standards of craftsmanship in
leather, glass and precious metals.
Press contact
Danaé Panchaud, public relations +41 21 315 25 27, danae.panchaud@lausanne.ch
Opening tuesday 28 October 2014 from 18.00
Musee de design et d'arts appliques contemporains - mudac
PL. Cathédrale 6 CH-1005 Lausanne
Tuesday-Sunday 11.00-18.00
Open on every bank holidays, Mondays included
Holiday season:
24 and 31.12.2014: 11.00-16.00
25.12.2014 and 01.01.2015: closed