Sam Taylor-Johnson: Second Floor

When Sam Taylor-Johnson (born 1967) climbed the famous mirrored staircase of Chanel's headquarters at 31 rue Cambon, Paris, she did not quite know what to expect. Her destination was Coco Chanel's private apartment on the second floor; her mission, to photograph it. Through the door marked "MADEMOISELLE PRIV ," Taylor-Johnson entered Coco Chanel's secret world exactly as she had left it at her death in 1971. Taylor-Johnson captures the mysterious, eerie presence of Coco's ornaments and furniture: a golden lion, a bejewelled birdcage, leather-bound books, Chinese lacquer screens, crystal chandeliers. Ultimately we are left with a sense of beautiful emptiness Coco's touch is everywhere, but everywhere is haunted by her absence.