Queen of excess and eccentricity, of electro-zouk-punk new wave and bold patterns, Vava Dudu is as well known for her exhibitions in the most prestigious contemporary art venues as she is for dressing Lady Gaga and Björk. At the very least, she is an artist, singer, and fashion designer. For the Vénus Noire exhibition, her vision is to celebrate Joséphine Baker everywhere. It starts in the street, on the very façade of the gallery, where she hangs an XXL banana belt, adding a playful, mischievous touch to the elegant hôtel particulier. Then, at the entrance of the exhibition, a dazzling bomber jacket in Joséphine’s colors greets visitors—an invitation to slip into a new skin. Upstairs, a series of drawings on black paper, created especially for the occasion, bring to life, in a few sharp strokes, an essential element of Joséphine’s artistic legacy: eroticism. Carefully crafted, mastered, and deeply significant in the construction of her persona, eroticism is revealed in the curve of a breast, the arch of a smile, or the wild sway of her hips. Even higher, on the terrace overlooking Paris, a large black curtain recalls the grand music halls. Covered in paintings and patterns, it evokes both the decorated walls of a cave and the graffiti-covered fences adorned with figures reminiscent of Basquiat and Keith Haring. The exhibition will culminate in a concert by Vava Dudu’s band, La Chatte. But before that, visitors will have already carried away a piece of Vava and surely a great deal of Joséphine under their soles—thanks to the glitter the artist has scattered everywhere, ensuring it spreads like a melody that lingers in our ears and an optimism that clings to us.