Cover: an introduction

My muse developed when I started reading Russian poetry (Anna Achmatova), but most of all, when I first paid attention to Russian icons and, more precisely, to the clochard figure, as an omnipresent (existing in every place and time) person, from whom we turn our glance away.
People who expect to watch the garments as they come inside, could be disappointed. Rangy, imploring figures are put behind a sheet of glazed plexiglass, in order to tampon a visual collision. Observing is an exercise, the viewer can watch them or not.

As the garments, also this installation is made of one only piece (of oxidized copper) cut on one side to permit the visitors to sit down.

Chapter one: Cover the collection

CLICK DOWN HERE TO SEE THE COMPLETE SHOOTING:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25842083@N04/sets/72157612332773262/

My clothes are mainly composed by one single paper model, in order to suggest the blanket/cover as the simplest and most immediate garment.
I wanted to work with shadow effects, by using materials that could help me seeing plays of light. (unrefined wool, blanket fabric, k-way fabric fret with trichloroethene, curtain fabrics).

Chapter two: Memento Crescere

Memento crescere takes inspiration from the motto “memento mori”(“remember you have to die”). Literally translated, my motto means “remember you have to grow”, since my uniform encloses two opposite concepts: the memento itself, referring to something happened in the past, and growth, an action which is addressed to the future. It is a symbolic representation of an inevitable growth , which, facing time’s irreducibility, shows its need of reappropiation of the past; this growth has been intended as a stalagmite, a series of cumulative experiences and life stages represented by different layers of the dress, which are bound together by press studs. The work suit becomes habitus, a for-ever-and-ever shelter.

Displayed at Pitti Immagine Uomo (January 2008, Florence)

and at Salone del Mobile (April 2008, Milan)