Dolce&Gabbana Exhibition: Dal Cuore alle Mani – Part 2
Virginia Rossi
LVMH Certified Translator, Transcreator, Copywriter ? Luxury & Audiovisual ? English, French, Russian, Spanish into Italian ? I help luxury, fashion, beauty, and jewelry brands break into the hearts of Italian consumers
Last week, I took you with me to Dolce&Gabbana's Exhibition held in Palazzo Reale in Milan. We visited together the first five rooms: Handmade, The Art and Crafts of Glassmaking, The Leopard, Devotion, Ateliers, ornaments, and volumes. You can read the article here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/dolcegabbana-exhibition-dal-cuore-alle-mani-part-1-virginia-rossi-cx7ef/?trackingId=6cPPXDE7QEOG9d6E2hP3VQ%3D%3D
Today, I want to move forward and keep visiting the five remaining rooms of the exhibition: Architectural and Pictorial, Sicilian Traditions, White baroque, Dream of Divinity, Opera. As in the previous article, all the photos are taken by me, during my visit to the exhibition.
Vestire l'architettura e la pittura
As soon as we enter room six, “Architectural and Pictorial", it feels like being in a painting. The world of Haute Couture is deeply intertwined with interior design and architecture, and this room showcases this really well. At the heart of the room, we can see a breathtaking collection of creations inspired by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's beloved masters of Italian art, such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Piero della Francesca, and others. We can perceive the two designers’ admiration for these Italian artists through observing the savoir-faire and craftsmanship of clothing design and construction, built to recall their masterpieces. The garments take center stage immersed in a backdrop of contemporary music. In the background, a refined mapping technique conjures the frescoes of Palazzo Farnese in Rome, masterfully created by Annibale Carracci in the late sixteenth century.
Le Tradizioni Siciliane
Room seven is devoted to "Sicilian Traditions": an explosion of color that evokes the most genuine Sicilian atmosphere and the influence of Sicilian ceramics and carts on Dolce&Gabbana's collections. Sicily holds a special place in Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's hearts. A carnivalesque-style parade cart centers the room, surrounded by a selection of Haute Couture and High Jewelry garments and accessories presented in Palermo for the FW 17/18 collection. The vibrant, meticulously crafted clothes are the focal point of this picturesque setting. Legendary characters, such as heroes from the adventures of Charlemagne, are vividly revived in the crinoline corset gowns. However, if I'm being honest, what hit me the most in this room are the floors, the walls, and the installation in general rather than the garments: wooden panels and ceramic tiles were painted by Salvatore Sapienza, the Bevilacqua brothers and Gianfranco Fiore, master craftsmen. I was fascinated by the majestic wall panels that adorn this room, which perfectly embody the Sicilian soul and craftsmanship.
Il Barocco bianco
The installation "White baroque" definitely made it in my top three among the whole exhibition, showcasing extraordinary textile sculptures inspired by master stucco artists working during the Baroque period, specifically, Giacomo Serpotta's sculptural art, very popular in Sicily during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The collection plays with the contrast between the purity and minimalism of white color and the opulent luxury of the creations. Inside room eight, the Baroque figures are shaped with horsehair and wadding to give them volume, then covered with duchesse and Mikado, reproducing the brilliance of Serpotta's stuccoes, which he obtained with the technique of allustratura. Among the various techniques used to realize these breathtaking creations, there is also innovative 3D printing of thermoplastic polyurethane, as seen in the fourth picture of this section. The room installation was realized by Modena-based company Lunati Manufacturing: clay models, plaster moulds, and reproductions are manufactured following the methods used by Baroque sculptors in Palermo.
Le Divinità in Sogno
Upon crossing the threshold of room nine, we are immersed in a dreamy, temple-like atmosphere. "Dream of Divinity" is a tribute to the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento, showcasing the gods and goddesses dressed in Dolce&Gabbana kimonos, draped tunics, and corset dresses. The garments embroidered with lurex brocade inlays represent the perfection and fragility of divine beauty and femininity, but also the expression of the divine that resides in every human being. The Fall/Winter 2019-20 collection is inspired by the stories of myths immortalized on Attic Greek pottery. The Greek-style set design, built by Allestimenti Arianese, evokes the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento. The second building in this room is adorned by Byzantine-inspired mosaics crafted by Fornace Orsoni, master of Venetian mosaic production, using particular techniques and materials such as Venetian enamels and 24K gold leaf. Here we can see the Fall/Winter 2017-18 Alta Sartoria collection, unveiled in front of the Cathedral of Monreale in Sicily, with its tunics and coats adorned with intricate patchwork motives reflecting the opulence of its 12th-century Byzantine mosaics. Conversely, the Fall/Winter 2021-22 Haute Couture fashion show in Venice celebrated the renowned Byzantine mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica and its Comatesque floor, adorned with intricate scrolls and floral motifs.
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L'Opera
Here we are in the last room, "Opera". Inspired by opera and ballet, the garments in this room are arranged around a laid table, reflecting the essence of Italian culture through good food and conviviality. Deeply rooted in the history and soul of the Bel Paese, the tradition of artistic excellence and creativity that characterizes the production of Italian opera is mirrored in Dolce & Gabbana’s work, where fashion pays tribute to its enduring legacy and its profound impact on the world. Theatre and reality are masterfully blended in the designers' visionary universe, celebrating Italian culture through extraordinary fashion performances. Opera also serves as a source of inspiration for designers' collections of the renowned female characters depicted in masterpieces such as Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata" and "Attila," Pietro Mascagni's "La Cavalleria Rusticana." and "La Cavalleria Rusticana," beloved by designers.
Conclusion
Nestled at the end of room 10, near the exit, we find the outstanding Haute Couture showpiece that Dolce & Gabbana has chosen to conclude the exhibition. An astonishing macramé lace dress, adorned with a basket structure with a corset, a gold filigree crown, and a tulle veil embellished with lace inserts. This work of outstanding artistry evokes the Madonnina that crowns the Duomo’s main spire, serving as a tangible homage to Dolce & Gabbana in Milan, where the designers meticulously craft all their Haute Couture and High Jewelry collections. This is the symbol of the exhibition “From the Heart to the Hands”. This unforgettable journey through immersive spaces is a heartfelt tribute to Italian culture and heritage, but most importantly, to craftsmanship and artistry. Don’t miss this extraordinary exhibition at Palazzo Reale in Milan, running until July 27th.
Bibliography and Sitography:
Dolce&Gabbana Exhibition: Dal Cuore Alle Mani, Palazzo Reale
Modabolario. Parole e immagini della moda. Dizionario tecnico-creativo di Antonio Donnanno (2018)
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4 个月Room 8 looks so surreal, my favourite ??