STEP INTO THE HOUSE OF SERGE GAINSBOURG

If you happen to walk by the 5 bis rue de Verneuil in the chic 6th arrondissement of Paris you will come across a facade covered with ever changing graffitis. Behind these walls lies the Hotel Particulier (Town House) where Serge Gainsbourg resided for more than 20 years. A mythical address that the artist shared with a happy few, a mystery to most you can discover from inside in this book simply titled ‘Gainsbourg, 5 bis rue de Verneuil’. Photographer Tony Frank who had the privilege to work with the artist, shot all the rooms of his home where everything has been left in its place since 1991. It’s as if Serge was still here where you can even find a cigarette butt of the ‘Gitane’s’ he used to smoke in an ashtray. There are hundreds objects of all kinds, books, records that are carefully displayed throughout the house. The black decor is one of an artist and an aesthete who paid attention to detail, a creative cocoon where Gainsbourg the dandy and the rebel alike found inspiration to write his songs. BUY

Did you know: Gainsbourg claimed to need the calming influence of black at his St Germain home to counter the relentless activity in his brain. Each item of his extravagant collection of objects was specifically placed around his house and according to Birkin, Gainsbourg would know if anything had been touched or moved. (source)

You may also like: The Rebel Dandy Book Shop