2011 Alessi project

Alessi project which received the 22nd Compasso d'Oro award in July 2011, inspired by classical Dutch painting. Love the composition of this picture.

Exclusive interview with emerging fashion designer Giuseppe Virgone

For my last interview of the year, I am proud to introduce you to the work of Giuseppe Virgone, an Italian emerging fashion designer who launched his first collection in 2010. Let's dive into his gothic and almost theatrical universe paved with historical references.

When is your brand born?
The project started in late 2009 when I gave birth to a first collection called "An animal must die". It wasunveiled at the RA shop in Antwerp a few days after its opening. I presented mywork as a performance with an installation which related to this universe.

Who, from the fashion or "creative world" doyou take inspiration from?
I am inspired a lotby the past, by strong characters, Greek mythology, and religious belief.  Also from the works of contemporary artists suchas Romeo Castellucci, the Chapman brothers etc. and strangely music inspires mea lot too.

Can you tell us a bit more about your backgroundplease?
I am a young fashion designer based in Brussels trained at the National Schoolof Visual Arts of La Cambre in Brussels.

After an internshipat Gaspard Yurkievich as a “modist”, I launched my first men winter collectionin 2010 called "An animal must die."

This collectionevokes the fate of a mortal man, an unconditional love for an animal and the incomprehensionof unjustified actions. Space and movements of the body are the essential focusesof my work.

Can you tell us about your latest collection?

I called this collection "Broken agreement" becauseit defines what Savonarole (an Italian Dominican friar) lived. First, there was a religious belief. This belief drove himmad.  Politics and religion were mixed inhis mind, he wanted to control everything but nothing worked. All this power drovehim to his loss and his death.

This collection reflects the time when the religious soul is confronted with a half human, half monster shell!

It is a portrait ofGirolamo Savonarola, a priest who died in the bonfire in Florence, Italy in1498. This character took over the city, censored nudity and the vanity ofpainters of the time. Contemporary thought was not welcome.

This collection is atransformation of the body and the mind. We begin with a very simple world, a mixof sacred and religion which then breaks down and merges into more contemporary shapes, materials, animal tissue, aggressive embroiderystifling the body.

In the end it willgive way to fantasy where reality mixes with dream. Bodies arecracking, the power falls, burns the vanity, the mind becomes king! The garmentis made up as if the body wanted to say something, a moment of pure grace inwhich all souls oscillate. Nothing has value,while there, everything disappears. There is not even a border between thebody, between words and surfaces.

My work is very dark.

What do you think about French Fashion's scene?

I really like Paris for the Menswear fashion week.  Collections are always right, but perhaps a little hard to penetrate when you are a young fashion designer. I wish for a Belgian fashion week. It would make things easier for us to show our work.

Have you had any support from other fashion figure?

As we speak, I am alone showing this body of work.

What are you expressing through your designs?

First of all I dress a space, a movement and then the body. I like to create a tragedy before suffocating the body. 
I really like the ritual of dressing and undressing. I like to say that throughout our movements, a celebration will be born.

Are you showing at Paris Fashion week or any other fashion weeks?

Yes, I will present my work as a video-performance-look book. I don’t have any space yet.

Where can we find your designs?

My first collection was sold in Antwerp at the RA shop and next month it will be available on: www.ledressing.be

To finish with, what would you wish to this blog and what do you think about it?

Your blog is well designed, a kind of diary for fashion. If you need any fashion information, your blog surely gives the answer.
I’d like to see a list of buyers and some "showroom space".

Thanks to  Giuseppe.

This is exactly how I feel...

Season's greetings from Banksy?

Interesting picture

Really like this image from I-D.

Raf Simons for Jil Sander, The Pick Me Up Issue

Photography: Willy Vanderperre

Styling: Olivier Rizzo

I wish you a punk Christmas

I wish you all a punk Christmas ! Enjoy the break and stay tuned for more interesting content on Art is Alive.

xxx

Nicolas.

R.I.P scultpor John Chamberlain

Exclusive: the first look at Madonna's fragrance ad

Madonna's Truth or Dare fragrance ad has strangely leaked on two famous blog / website and I wanted to share it with you in exclusivity. Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, it it pretty much inspired by Lee Miller.

What do you think about it?