The Met Gala and ‘The Garden of Time:’ Why culture is obsessed with JG Ballard

The Met Gala, known for its extravagant themes, has chosen JG Ballard’s 1962 story “The Garden of Time” as the inspiration for this year’s event, aligning with the main exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The exhibition will showcase historical pieces from the Costume Institute that are too delicate to wear. Ballard's themes of decay and beauty resonate with the exhibition's focus on the fragile nature of fashion.

Ballard, who passed away in 2009, was renowned for his dystopian views on modern society, often depicting the collapse of the bourgeois psyche through settings like luxury high-rises or gated communities. His influence extends beyond literature into film, art, music, and fashion, with designers repeatedly drawing on his narratives, particularly the novel “Crash,” to explore themes of destruction and ephemeral beauty in their work.