A Hair-raising Exhibit

To say that Julien d’Ys is a hair stylist seems woefully inadequate. Sure, d’Ys helped launch Linda Evangelista’s career with a masterful haircut in the ’80s, but it’s the fantastical, otherworldly coiffeurs and wigs that he creates for everyone from Comme des Garcons’ runway to Met Costume exhibits, and even W fashion spreads that have made him an icon.

Now, for the first time, his expressive, often hair-centric paintings will be on display alongside his most striking wigs in a brilliantly chaotic exhibit at Comme des Garcons’ Parisian retail space. “There is absolutely no differences. Doing hair and painting, for me they are the same,” says d’Ys. “When I’m working on a photo shoot, it is like being in front of a canvas.” There are the sparkly Met exhibit wigs under cloches next to Christy Turlington’s red confection from the 1992 Chanel haute couture show, next to a sky-high white Spring 2009 CDG runway wig…if only you could try them on.

The exhibition runs from June 23-July 13 at Comme des Garcons in Paris: 54 Rue du Faubourg St Honoré.

Photos: Sketchbook: Arno Frugier. All others: Ilker Akyol