COLL 01 PART 02

I THINK THAT CLOTHES ARE LIKE ROLES WE PUT ON. WE PRONOUNCE INNER DESIRES, FANTASIES OR COMMITMENTS WITH THE TONE OF THAT ROLE.
AS WE DRESS UP WE BECOME.

COLL 01 PART 02 HINTS THAT PERFORMATIVE PROCESS. ON THE VOLCANIC BLACK ROCKS OF THE ISLE OF PANTELLERIA (MEANING “DAUGHTER OF THE WINDS”), VISITORS FACE A BLAZING AND MARTIAL LOVER. LEGEND HAS IT, THE ISLE HARBOURS THE CAVE OF CALYPSO: NOT AN EASY PARTNER TO TAME. A WHITE WINGED DOVE MATING WITH A SERPENT. SUCH A HARDY LOVE AFFAIR’S ONLY SURVIVOR IS A HYBRID OFFSPRING : A FEATHER EMBROIDERED BLAZER PRINTED WITH THE REPTILE’S SCALES, AS SOME EX-VOTO RELIC.
THE MAGNETIC AND BRUTAL FAULTS OF PANTELLERIA BEAR ONLY THE DURABLE : THE EXACTING LINES OF BLACK TAILORING, ABSOLUTE AND UNISEX. EQUALLY NEUTER, THE SIREN-DRESSES ARE WORN IN A SINGLE HUMAN GENDER, PAYING HOMAGE TO THE LAKE OF VENUS, WHICH MIRRORS THE HEAVENS IT MEETS IN THE HORIZON OF THE ISLE.

AS FOR THE CARYATID PIECES, THEY ARE REMNANTS OF SUAVE NIGHTS IN PALERMO, WHERE EVEN A CHRISTIAN KING IS CALLED A SULTAN. THE QUIPROQUO INVITES FANTASY: THAT OF SILKY CLOTHS IN THE BITTERSWEET COLOURS OF THE ORIENT TRAVELLING AND REINCARNATING THE WHITE MARBLE DRAPES. THE ANIMATED SCULPTURES REVEAL HERE A BREAST AND THERE A HIP, WAKING DORMANT EYES BACK UP TO LIVELY DREAMS. PALERMITAN NIGHTS ARE A PROMISE OF ANIMATION.

BACK TO MY PARISIAN STUDIO, I CAPTURE THE HEADY SCENTS OF THESE NIGHTS IN CARNAL AND LICKERISH HANDMADE FLOWERS. SILK ORGANZA AND TULLE ERMINE TAILS ARE A REMINDER OF THE VESTMENTS OF A ŞEHZÂDE (OTTOMAN TITLE FOR PRINCE DU SANG) ON MEDITERRANEAN STOPOVER. AS FOR MY HANDS MOLDED AND CAST IN BRONZE IN PARIS, THEY FIRMLY HOLD NOW CENSORED BREASTS. COMMITTING TO ARTISANAL AND SLOW CRAFT IS ANYTHING BUT TIMEWASTING.

TO QUOTE BLAKE’S MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL: “THOSE WHO RESTRAIN DESIRE DO SO BECAUSE THEIRS IS WEAK ENOUGH TO BE RESTRAINED”.