The Victoria & Albert Museum is currently hosting the exhibition, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Bellets Russes, 1909-1929, a showcase of the giant theatre cloths, set designs, original costumes and props.
The major Autumn exhibition examines the influence of artistic director Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes on the art, fashion and design of the 20th Century. It opened on the 25th September and is set to run through until the 9th January 2011.
More than 300 objects will be on display at the V&A, including posters by the artists and designers, George Braque, Natalia Goncharova and Leon Baskt. The objects tell the story of Diaghilev & the Ballets Russes’ transformation the dance performances and ballet, generating worldwide recognition.
Having worked with Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and Pablo Picasso during his life, Diaghilev’s efforts on the Ballets Russes’ performances have become legendary. He also commissioned works from Igor Stravinski, including The Firebird and The Rite of Spring.
His apparent bourgeois decadence and refusal to return to the Soviet Union following the 1917 revolution led to him being condemned by the Russian government. However, his influence on the arts cannot be ignored.
