Palazzo Strozzi to exhibit ' ControModa: Contemporary fashion '

Wednesday, 05 September 2007 23:05

Florence, Italy - Over 200 sensational creations by such contemporary fashion designers as Armani, Balenciaga, Cardin, Dior, Ferragamo, Gaultier, Lagerfeld, Missoni and Westwood, to name but a few, will be on display at the Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, in an exhibition entitled ControModa: Contemporary fashion from the permanent collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from 12 October 2007 to 20 January 2008. This exhibition confirms Florence’s reputation as an international fashion centre and is the centrepiece of the city’s fashion season which culminates with the Pitti Uomo in January.

James Bradburne, director of Palazzo Strozzi, said: ‘Fashion is inseparable from the Italian identity. The Palazzo Strozzi has a long history of involvement with Italian fashion having provided the backdrop to some of LIFE magazine’s most striking fashion photographs in the 1950s as well as hosting exhibitions of Salvatore Ferragamo in 1985 and Roberto Capucci in 1990. This exhibition underlines our commitment to contemporary culture in which fashion plays a major role.’

ControModa examines how far traditional concepts of style and fashion have changed in the past three decades. The works of designers featured demonstrate that fashion is a way of interpreting the world and a vital record of cultural and social change. The exhibition illustrates how conventional ideas of beauty have been challenged in recent years and the questions that have been asked about the concept of taste. New developments in fashion engendered a new way of thinking, and overturned the old rules regarding shape, proportion and ornamentation.

ControModa looks at contemporary fashion from four perspectives:

Construction: The study of the traditional aspects of construction has led to new canons of beauty based on asymmetry, startling contrasts, innovative juxtapositions and the exposure of inner structural details.

Materials: New materials from rapidly advancing developments in textile technology changed the need for precise construction details; moulding and sculpting the body or creating volumetric shapes could be accomplished solely with the structural properties of synthetic fibres. Heat or chemical processing produced unique and visually exciting textural surfaces and decoration.

Form: New concepts about form accompanied innovative developments in both construction and technology. With unconventional or idiosyncratic focus on limbs and torsos, designers challenged the tyranny of the traditional body image.

Concept: The concept behind the garment became a focus of creative energy. Some designers mined and manipulated elements of costume history, some collaborated with artists, while others used their work as vehicles for social commentary.

An unusual and appealing element of the exhibition will be the special educational gallery filled with costumes designed by Issey Miyake for William Forsythe and the Frankfurt Ballet. Visitors will have the opportunity to try on these costumes – what better way to experience contemporary fashion than wear the clothes.

Fashion houses and designers include:

Gilbert Adrian, Azzedine Alaia, Giorgio Armani, Cristobal Balenciaga, Geoffrey Beene, Pierre Cardin, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Hussein Chalayan, Jean Dessès, Christian Dior, Christopher Bailey, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gianfranco Ferré, Dolce & Gabbana, James Galanos, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Rudi Gernreich, Romeo Gigli, Madame Grès, Gucci, Yoshiki Hishinuma, Akihiko Izukura, Charles James, Norma Kamali, Rei Kawakubo, Patrick Kelly, Krizia, Lachasse LTD., Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, Hervé Léger, Martin Margiela, Antonio Marras, Missoni, Franco Moschino, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Emilio Pucci, Reiko Sudo, Takezo, Philip Treacy, Gianni Versace, Junya Watanabe, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, Andrea Zittel.

Visitors will be able to see fabulous designs by this rollcall of designers that revolutionised the world of fashion in the stunning historic rooms of the Palazzo Strozzi, a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture, situated in the heart of Florence facing the Piazza Strozzi and Via Tornabuoni. The Palazzo Strozzi is fast becoming the cultural platform for the city, with a series of exciting and varied exhibitions and events.

ControModa was organised by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; curated by Kaye Spilker and Sharon Takeda. The Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi installation was coordinated by curator Maria Luisa Frisa in consultation with Holly Brubach, Franca Sozzani and Stefano Tonchi. The exhibition catalogue, available in English and Italian, is published by Skirà editore. The exhibition and the catalogue are dedicated to the memory of Gianfranco Ferrè, unforgettable Master of Italian fashion

The exhibition is promoted by the Regione Toscana and the Comune di Firenze with the generous support of the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze.