How ‘The Garden of Time’ that inspired Met Gala dress code played out in real time amid Gaza war protests

In 2024, the theme of the event was "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion", and the dress code was "The Garden of Time," named after JG Ballard’s 1962 short story.

Met Gala, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, fashion, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, Garden of Time

On May 6, 2024, as celebrities decked to the nines started arriving at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York – where the Met Gala, dubbed fashion’s biggest night was underway – security forces did their best to keep anti-war and pro-Palestine protesters away from the veritable “Garden of Time.”

This year, the theme of the event was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, and the dress code was “The Garden of Time,” named after JG Ballard’s 1962 dystopian short story.

The fable is the story of an aged Count and Countess holed up in the eponymous garden – a blissful and paradisaical abode protected from the harsh realities of life – as an army marches towards them. The Count and Countess spend their days playing Bach and Mozart. To reverse the advance of the army, the Count plucks blooms from the magical garden. But, there are finite flowers in the garden, and the Count and the Countess know that their bliss is short-lived and are only holding off the inevitable.

Also Read | ‘Meh gala’: Why stylists feel that Met Gala — fashion’s biggest night — was ‘utterly forgettable’

Social commentators, including Danya Issawi for The Cut and Jim Windolf for The New York Times, have likened the events that took place on May 6 to the story that set the theme for the Met Gala. In this instance, as the privileged “aristocrats” arrived for an enchanting evening, dressed in their smart tuxes and gossamer gowns, a war continued to wage in Gaza – the ” immense rabble” of which almost penetrated the walled garden.

Also Read | Influencing Severus Snape to SRK, why Lord Byron still captures our imagination

In ‘The Garden of Time, the moment the last flower is plucked, the army arrives at the door, and the garden turns into a barren thorn land.

However, in this instance, security forces managed to keep the protesters at bay.

Aishwarya Khosla

Aishwarya Khosla is a key editorial figure at The Indian Express, where she spearheads and manages the Books & Literature and Puzzles & Games sections, driving content strategy and execution. Her extensive background across eight years also includes previous roles at Hindustan Times, where she provided dedicated coverage of politics, books, theatre, broader culture, and the Punjabi diaspora. Aishwarya's specialty lies in book reviews and literary criticism apart from deep cultural commentary where she focuses on the complex interplay of culture, identity, and politics. Her intellectual rigor and authority in socio-political topics are underscored by a significant academic achievement: she is a proud recipient of The Nehru Fellowship in Politics and Elections. This fellowship required intensive study and research into political campaigns, policy analysis, political strategy, and communications, directly informing the analytical depth of her cultural commentary. As the dedicated author of The Indian Express newsletters, Meanwhile, Back Home and Books 'n' Bits, Aishwarya provides consistent, curated, and trusted insights directly to the readership. She also hosts the podcast series Casually Obsessed. Her established role and her commitment to examining complex societal themes through a nuanced lens ensure her content is a reliable source of high-quality literary and cultural journalism. Write to her at aishwaryakhosla.ak@gmail.com or aishwarya.khosla@indianexpress.com. You can follow her on Instagram: @aishwarya.khosla, and X: @KhoslaAishwarya. ... Read More