Hello, Kitties
(NEW YORK) "I would love to have one to put in my garden!" exclaimed Valentino as he walked into Lever House for Tom Sachs' Bronze Collection Thursday night. As cocktails were sipped between massive Hello Kitty sculptures, gaping mouths were seen all around. "She's a pure merchandising icon," explained Tom Sachs, reveling in the crowd's adoration of the towering felines. "Hello Kitty is universal. The purity makes her a great vehicle for understanding the truth in our lives. They'll be up all summer so the children of New York City can enjoy the fountain." Even dogs got in on the action, slurping water from the sculptures' crying eyes.
Host Aby Rosen welcomed Jackie Astier, Countess Georgina Brandolini, Peter Brant, Cynthia Rowley, Hana Soukupova, Elie and Rory Tahari, and Yvonne Force Villareal. "The artists have freedom to do what they want, and he really took advantage!" Rosen quipped. And while Richard duPont's exhibit was removed to make room for the Japanese sensation, he still came to show support for Sachs.
Malcolm McLaren and The Stingers provided entertainment while guests mingled indoors and outdoors on the patio and inside, taking refuge from the humidity. While last night was the world premiere of Bronze Collection, tourists and New Yorkers alike will be able to view the exhibit until September 6 before it moves to Paris in October. Sachs was also celebrating another opening that night as Tom Sachs: Animal opened at Sperone Westwater with painted and mixed media works. "Go see the show! It's even better than this! Go see it and then email me and I'll tell you more!"
Racing over from the Time 100 bash, Lance Armstrong showed up late. "Hell yeah, they're cool! Anytime they take down Damien Hirst to put up your sculptures is cool. The fact that I had to hurry over here to take a tequila shot with him is cool." Sounds very cool.
While revelers enjoyed a dinner of filet, chicken skewers, and mini burgers, Elise Overland bestowed a compliment. "Tom's always the most hardworking person. If you call him to go surfing at 6 in the morning, he'll be working at 10." Julia Restoin Roitfeld was very impressed. "I was really lucky to go to his studios, so he explained to me how it was taking shape and life." But most just uttered the same phrase over and over. "I had no idea it was going to be so big!"
BIANCA POSTERLI
