In the last few weeks we have neglected fashion in favour of art. So, let's remain in Venice, for another day, but move away from the Art Biennale spaces to explore a fashion-related event at Palazzo Mocenigo.
The Museum and Study Centre of the History of Fabrics and Costumes is famous for its exhibitions about unique textiles made by contemporary artists.
At the moment Hélène Kuhn Ferruzzi's textiles decorate the main hall of the Palazzo. Some of them are displayed in glass cases, others are scattered around in one of the sumptuous rooms of the palazzo.
The exhibition - entitled "In the Rhythm of Colour" (until 3rd June 2015) - features several pieces by the French painter and textile artist.
Born in Nancy, France, from a family of musicians, Kuhn moved to Venice after meeting the artist Bobo Ferruzzi who taught her to paint on fabrics and textiles.
Kuhn developed further the basic technique she learnt launching a very personal research revolving around colours, and the power of rhythm and energy in defining different nuances and shades.
Her works were displayed in international galleries and collections in Paris, London, Milan, Rotterdam, Bruxelles, Toronto and New York, but the showcase in Venice is particularly intriguing because it combines a series of materials - cotton, silk, linen and velvet - techniques and motifs with Kuhn's poetical diaries.
In the standing panels in the exhibition, such as "Caligada" (2011; second picture in this post), "Serafin", "Cantastorie" and "Schiarite" (all 2012; fifth picture in this post), the artist analyses the themes of action and movement via energetic and rhythmic explosions of colours. In these works Kuhn leaves dynamic traces of colours on silk panels, creating abstract compositions.
The fabrics decorating the large windows are instead inspired by Kuhn's first artistic alphabet - geometry.
Radiant squares and triangles form infinite combinations on shiny golden fabrics calling to mind "opus sectile" or intricate Venetian flooring, and hinting at light and opulence in the local palaces.
The glass displays feature instead several fabrics and textiles inspired by various themes including vibrations and variations, cell and planet-like discs, or lines and waves, motifs that remind of the lagoon's movements.
Visual alphabets are another key theme in Kuhn's practice: the artist tattooed on her fabrics intricate or simple ideograms and calligraphies, and abstract symbols that point towards the Arabic, Hebrew or Persian alphabets, almost creating a very personal system of symbols.
The diaries are probably the best thing in the exhibition: as Kuhn applies her fabrics on their pages, her notebooks and exercise books turn indeed into unique sketchbooks.
Fabric becomes the medium and colour turns into a very special ink to tell a visual story and personal narrative that inspires visitors to try and find their own international language based on abstract motifs and recorded on textiles rather than on words printed on paper.
With many thanks to the staff at the Palazzo Mocenigo ticket office for facilitating my visit and helping my research.
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