An exhibition dedicated to Marilyn Monroe takes over the EDF Bazacle Spaces in Toulouse
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EDF Bazacle spaces unveil “Marilyn Monroe, The Secret of America ”, an exhibition which traces the life of the Hollywood star. From May 31 until November 3, 2024, visitors will be able to discover unpublished photographs, objects belonging to him but also the hidden side of the timeless icon /strong>.
Marilyn Monroe told by David Lawrence
Writer, historian and specialist in the history of the Kennedy family is David Lawrence< /strong> who is at the origin of this exhibition. He spent over two years delving into her history and career. “Basically, I had to do research for 2 months, ultimately it lasted for years”. Indeed, as he analyzed the life of Marilyn Monroe, the writer discovered aspects of her personality that he did not suspect “She wasa fascinating woman who loved literature and art,something I didn’t know at all”. It is this facet that David Lawrence presents to us in the exhibition which is constructed in a chronological manner.
Gigantic or smaller, in black and white or in color there are more than 240 photographs available to eyes of visitors. They first discover old photos of young Marilyn, when she was still called Norma Jean. Then come images of her beginnings in modeling, then in cinema. We discover her at the height of her career, surrounded by rhinestones and sequins. Behind this glamorous image, as the exhibition progresses, we get to know a woman passionate about art and great names in literature such as Franz Kafka or Samuel Beckett. We also discover thesignificant events of his existence, the meetingsthat shocked him, his commitments…
Under each photo are texts by David Lawrence who provides anecdotes that complement the images. “When you leave the exhibition, you feel like you've read a book” he explains.
Jewelry and clothes from cult films
Behind glass cases, visitors can observe thejewels and gloves that the Hollywood actress wore in the film Joyeuse Parade, fishnet stockings that she wore in Bus Stop but also one of her cocktail dresses. Objects belonging to celebrities who marked his life are also presented, such as the James Dean lighter, the Marlon Brando cigarette case or even a pair of earrings worn by Lauren Bacall.
Through the countless photographs of the cinema icon accompanied by his personal effects, David Lawrence says he has the impression that there is a piece of Marilyn Monroe in the Toulouse hydraulic factory . “I hope that visitors will feel her presence as I do and that they will rediscover her as she was, endearing and brilliant.”
In the coming months, other personalities will also be discovered from a new angle, since this exhibition is the first in a series entitled Icons and Glamor at the Bazacle. The EDF Spaces will then present “Jackie, the Light of the Kennedys” and “Diana, I stay with You”.
