A rather peculiar edition of Milan Fashion Week is kicking off today. To contain the spread of COVID-19 infections some fashion houses (Prada included) opted for digital shows, others for presentations and runways with a limited number of guests invited. It is only natural to think about this "new normal" and maybe go back with the mind to the previous fashion season when shows were still taking place even though Coronavirus was slowly yet relentlessly spreading and some designers had already started holding events behind closed doors.
It is also natural to look at fashion archives and rediscover vintage images like this picture from the historical archive of the Fondazione Fiera Milano that shows a competition for hair stylists that took place in Milan in April 1951.
And yet it is useless to mourn the end of fashion as we knew it since we can always reinvent it in different ways and with innovative events. For example, if you like fashion, beauty and hair styles, but also design, architecture and, well, a little bit of mathematics and you're in Milan tomorrow you can join (from 10.00am to 10.00pm) the celebrations at Artifact c/o Spazio Maiocchi (via Maiocchi 5) for the book Personas 111 - The Art of Wig Making (Konomad Editions, 2020) by Japan-based hair artist, head prop designer and wig maker Tomihiro Kono (河野富広). Visitors will be able to admire Tomihiro Kono's handmade "Haute Couture" wigs at Spazio Maiocchi.
In the evening it will also be possible to follow live at Spazio Maiocchi (you will have to register at this link by today as there's a limit on capacity, so register as soon as you can and don't forget you will have to comply with the Coronavirus regulations once in the venue, so you will have to wear a face mask and keep social distancing) a screening of a talk (from 7.30pm Milan time; 2.30am Tokyo time) I will be moderating on SPRINT IGTV with Tomihiro Kono and artist and photographer Sayaka Maruyama, who took all the pictures for Personas 111. Our talk will focus on head props and wigs, fashion, identity and creativity at the time of Coronavirus, and Tomihiro and Sayaka's books as well.
Irenebrination is supporting a competition that will be announced during the event: during the talk we will ask a question and people following us can send their answers to the address - [email protected]. Winners (one in Milan and one in the rest of the world) will get a copy of Tomihiro Kono's latest book Personas 111. If you have questions for Tomi and Sayaka you can post them tomorrow during the talk or send them to my email address.
Tomihiro Kono's creations will be on display at the Spazio Maiocchi from 25th September to 8th October 2020. The event is part of a warm-up series created by SPRINT - Independent Publishers and Artists' Books Salon, an artist-led platform devoted to investigating the multiple forms in which content, support and languages are articulated in publishing. Since 2013 the three-days salon has featured a non-profit Art Book Fair and an extensive Public Program. The 8th edition of SPRINT will take place in Milan from 27th to 29th November 2020 (with the support of Istituto Svizzero and in partnership with Spazio Maiocchi).
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