Exploring the Intersection of Fashion and Art
The newly unveiled exhibition “Dream Dress” at No. 1 on the Bund in Shanghai offers a captivating journey into the realms of opera art, film, architecture, and Italian costumes. Welcoming the public with open arms, the exhibition invites visitors to witness the enchanting fusion of historical narrative and sartorial elegance.
A Tale of Creative Collaboration
In 2016, the timeless classic opera “La Traviata” underwent a transformative reinterpretation through 15 consecutive performances at the Rome Opera House. Renowned filmmaker Sofia Coppola helmed this reimagined production, marking her directorial debut for an opera. Despite her youthful age of only 45 at the time, Coppola was selected to infuse the 19th-century tale with a contemporary resonance. To bring this vision to life, she sought the expertise of legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino, whose illustrious career had left an indelible mark on the industry. Unbeknownst to many, this collaboration resulted in an opulent display of exquisite costumes that have transcended time and captured the hearts of a global audience.
Showcasing Wearable Narratives
The centerpiece of the exhibition is the iconic “Violetta first dress” designed by Valentino himself. This awe-inspiring masterpiece, featuring intricate details that required 800 hours of meticulous craftsmanship, embodies the essence of Violetta’s poignant journey. As visitors bear witness to these wearable works of art, they are effortlessly transported through the emotional spectrum of love, loss, and resilience depicted in the opera.
By juxtaposing these timeless garments within a historic setting, the exhibition seamlessly intertwines the evolution of fashion with the ever-changing currents of art and culture. From opulent period designs to revolutionary statements of the 1960s and 1970s, each ensemble encapsulates the ethos of its time, connecting the past with the present.
An Eternal Union of Art and Fashion
Beyond the realms of the theatrical stage, fashion has long been entwined with artistic expression, influencing culture and society in profound ways. From the creative collaborations of visionary designers to the heritage of historical costume design, the symbiotic relationship between fashion and art continues to inspire and elevate both disciplines.
The exhibition serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of art and fashion, reminding us that these intertwined realms have the power to enrich our lives, evoke emotions, and perpetuate timeless stories through the garments we wear.
Journalist: Hua Xinyi
Editor: Sohu
Platform statement: The views in this article represent the author’s own views only. Sohu is an information publishing platform. Sohu only provides information storage space services.
The exhibition “Dream Dress” opened to the public today at No. 1 on the Bund in Shanghai allows us to step into the world of opera art, film, architecture and Italian costumes.
In 2016, the classic opera “La Traviata” was constantly reinterpreted for 15 consecutive performances at the Rome Opera House. The director this time is the talented second generation director Sofia Coppola. The most impressive work he directed to Chinese audiences should be “Lost in Translation”. Sofia’s father is Francis Ford Coppola, whose most important work is the “Godfather” trilogy, which is still a legend in the industry.
“La Traviata” is Sofia’s first time directing an opera. Her grandfather also flew to the scene to support his daughter. The producers found Sofia Coppola, who was only 45 years old at the time, hoping that Sofia could make this story set in the upper class society of 19th century Paris grounded and brought in to the context of the 21st century. And Sofia found Mr. Valentino, the example of the Italian fashion industry. Valentino is 91 years old this year, and the spring and summer series of Italian Fashion Week 2008 was his last work. After that, he chose two successors to shoulder the future of the brand together. Valentino had been retired for many years when Sofia asked him to design costumes for La Traviata. The old gentleman accepted the order without hesitation, He had been in the fashion industry for a lifetime and had seen everything, but this time, he was still excited. He recalled his love of opera and ballet, saying he couldn’t help but sing the aria from “La Traviata” in the shower.
The heroine “Violetta” makes her first appearance in the first act of “La Traviata”, walking slowly down the huge white staircase. That dress has a big black body, a big low arc neck, and a peacock blue gauze pleated tail that is layered like flowing water on the back. What “flows down thousands of miles” is a storm of love , and the color combination, which symbolizes Violetta’s tragic end. This dress was designed by Mr. Valentino himself and took 800 hours to make in his own craft workshop. In fact, when you wear art on your body, every time you move it, it’s a dramatic statement.
Of course, writing such words does not mean that readers can only think about it from afar. Valentino’s “Violetta first dress” is now on display in Shanghai. Along with it were “La Traviata” costumes from different periods, including the pink lace dress when we first met, and the black and gold dress when we were mourning… Clothes can convey emotions and express emotions. Of course, the exhibitions also illuminate the historical changes in fashion that are more closely related to people’s daily lives. At Number 1 on the Bund, which is on display for the first time and is open to the public, a space that is more than a century old, together with clothing that is more than a century old and has carved artistic goal, become the most natural combination.
The connection between fashion and culture and art has always been so close. We remember the tweed suits and long and short pearl necklaces, layered in the elegant period; we remember the 1960s and 1970s, the hippie period with additional pop and fringe elements, where miniskirts and trousers were Attitude; we remember the “power suits” being admired by women who pursue an independent identity…and the lifelong friendships between movie stars and fashion designers have become well-known stories. The French actress Catherine Deneuve created “a cold combination of virginity and bestiality” in “Belle de Jour”, which came from the perfection of Mr. Saint Laurent. When it comes to Audrey Hepburn’s collaboration with Givenchy, almost every girl dreams of wearing a little black dress to Tiffany’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York and bringing back “that blue box”.
Fashion is a carrier that carries historical changes and human thoughts. And in plays and films, what could be more fashionable than this? It has become a more three-dimensional and vivid expression, giving the interpretation of fashion designers and the interpretation of personality, which is mutual interaction and mutual achievement.
Looking at the bigger picture, art brings a timeless vibrancy to fashion and is passed down from generation to generation. On a smaller scale, fashion gives art a peaceful aspect. You see, in 1969 Danilo Donati made the costume for the movie “Love Myth” directed by Federico Fellini. The sharp brass corset was later used by Jean Paul Gotti. You can see it in the tapered corset designed by Yay for Madonna. Madonna’s “battle uniform” helped her ascend to the throne of a great fashion icon! You see, the bohemian patterns, splicing and structure of the costumes made by Franca Squaciapino for the opera “Medea” directed by Robert Wilson in 1984 can all be found in the Italian fashion brand ETRO. Found correspondence?
We can wear art on our bodies and keep stories in our hearts. (Hua Xinyi) Return to Sohu to see more
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Platform statement: The views in this article represent the author’s own views only Sohu is an information publishing platform. Sohu only provides information storage space services.
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