The International Art Exhibition in Venice is always an occasion to enjoy a variety of exhibitions and presentations organised around the city, but not necessarily linked with the Biennale.
Fashion and textile fans who love the artisanal approach should not miss for example "A Dress for Venice" (until 29th April; visiting days are Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm - upon reservation) an exhibition of wearable works of art on display in the historic spaces of the Tessitura Bevilacqua.
The project revolves around craftsmanship, sustainability and Haute Couture and consists in a capsule collection of six kimonos designed by Tiziano Guardini and made with textiles by Tessitura Bevilacqua.
Guardini is an eco-friendly designer who won the first Green Carpet Fashion Award in 2017. The Rome-born designer, graduated in economics, but then pursued a completely different career opting to continue his studies in fashion. Trying to escape the relentless rhythms of the industry, Guardini shifted his attention onto nature and eco-friendly couture, creating showpieces like a coat made of pine needles, or designs made with licorice roots.
Guardini recently created a collection inspired by fairy tales with patchworked images of characters from popular tales and stories including "The Little Mermaid" (View this photo) and "Alice in Wonderland".
The theme of the fairy tale also informs the six kimonos created with Tessitura Bevilacqua for the "Dress for Venice" event, based on illustrations by artist Luigi R. Ciuffreda.
The six kimonos on display among the original 18th-century looms and Jacquard machinery of the Bevilacqua workshop, feature scenes borrowed from Eastern and Western tales, including "Pinocchio", "The Little Mermaid", and "The Moon Maiden".
Guardini used the same techniques he employed for his own collection inspired by fairy tales, but, in this case, the kimonos are made with textiles from Tessitura Bevilacqua's archive and they include soft velvets and shiny lampas, while the figures representing the fairy tale characters are recreated using a varity of fabrics to create contrasts of textures, shapes and colors.
For "Pinocchio" and "The Flower-blooming Old Man", Guardini and Bevilacqua chose an Ardis velvet with a rich 16th-century Renaissance design depicting a pomegranate motif. This fruit, a symbol of fertility and immortality, had great fame during the Renaissance because it was associated with prestige and wealth.
Radica velvet was chosen to make the kimonos dedicated to "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Tanabata - Evening of the Seventh".
This fabric has an unusual abstract pattern giving optical illusions that recall the twisted knots naturally formed by the roots of trees.
Last but not least, the kimonos inspired by "The Little Mermaid" and "The Maiden of the Moon" are made with resplendent lampas that shine under the light thanks to a subtle silky sheen, and feature a motif of opulent tulip corollas surrounded by sinuous twists of leaves in a very elegant Art Nouveau style.
Craftsmanship and couture play the main roles in this installation, but sustainability is another keyword behind this project. Through his kimonos Guardini tries to bring a local fabric into the future while presenting an eco-friendly vision as an asset for the territory and for new generations. This event is indeed a small step on the path that will lead to propose Venice as the World Capital of Sustainability.
The kimonos are, naturally, also an homage to Japan, guest honor of this year's edition of the Homo Faber event (through 1st May 2022)), a cultural initiative and international exhibition dedicated to contemporary art crafts, showcasing materials, techniques, and skills at the Giorgio Cini Foundation on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and in selected ateliers and workshops all over the city. Through these events, visitors will be able to discover a wide range of materials and skills, from endangered traditional crafts to cutting-edge contemporary techniques.
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