We’ve been telling you lots about our 2011 PHPA exhibition these last few days, but before it started we didn’t want to reveal too much about one of its key elements; the carte blanche by Elene Usdin.

Now’s the time to show you how great her part of the project is, with a mix of photography, self-portraits and films… Some amazing work!Elene imagined that a famous female figure could each be associated with one of our five hotels; Joséphine de Beauharnais with the Hôtel des Grands Hommes, Isadora Duncan with the Jardin de l’Odéon, George Sand with the Hôtel du Panthéon, Juliette Récamier with La Belle Juliette (of course!) and Simone de Beauvoir with the Hôtel Design Sorbonne.

For one series of photos, she photographed models dressed as these women, with particular stagings for each one.Certain costumes were kindly lent byt our friends at the Théâtre de l’Odéon, which led to a large photomontage being made in the auditorium of the theatre. You can see the results below (albeit very small) or at the entrance to our ongoing exhibition at the Galerie Esther Woerdehoff.Elene also tooks shots of herself, dressed as each woman, in poses slightly more – shall we say – unconventional…And – the icing on the cake – Elene also made a short film for each of the women in motion, so to speak. The soundtrack was created by her 13 year-old son! A family with talent, to be sure…

To understand better how Elene conveived these elements, we advise you to take a look at our 2011 PHPA catalogue. If you are staying with us, you’ll most likely find one in your room. Feel free to keep it! Otherwise, a copy can be given to you at the reception desk of one of our hotels (while stocks last).

And don’t forget that our 2011 PHPA exhibition continues at the Galerie Esther Wordehoff (here) from Tuesday – Saturday, 2-6pm, until 30th September 2011, after which it transfers to La Belle Juliette from 3rd October onwards.