Lucy & Jorge Orta inaugurate ZegnaArt at the Maxxi Museum, Rome
Is anyone at Zegna familiar with the word small? Judging by the Italian luxury menswear brand’s bash at the Maxxi museum in Rome (where 900 guests were fed a gastronomic spread from 3 Michelin-star catering company Da Vittorio), it would appear not. Just as big and burly was the concept behind the mega fest: the kick-off of the ZegnArt project, a multi-tiered contemporary art initiative that will span the globe over the next four years.
Rome’s bonanza event marked the debut of the Special Project arm of ZegnArt with an exhibition by Paris-based contemporary artists Lucy & Jorge Orta, entitled 'Fabulae Romanae'. Curated by Maria Luisa Frisa, the exhibition presents mixed-media installations and a video created specifically for the Maxxi.
A concoction of fashion, architecture and design, the character-based installations feature domed tents, huts, colourful parachutes, bundled sacks of used clothing, and mannequins who interact with it all. The duo originally created 40 separate characters, illustrated on a series of 20 ink and pencil storyboards that are also part of the exhibition. 'We call them spirits,' says Jorge of the heavily layered characters. 'They are not precise people. It’s more of a mirror on society.'
Each spirit harbours some connection with the duo’s fascination with survival: 'The Reconnaissance Man' is attached to four parachutes, 'The Traveller' is the guy loaded up with felt suitcases, while 'The Bale Maker' is tugging blocks of bundled, used clothes. 'The clothes are not vintage,' Lucy clarifies, 'they were salvaged from surplus stores.'
The artists also took to the streets of Rome to create a video that brings the artwork to life on real people in the middle of the sunny, chaotic city. The action is accompanied by a hypnotic poetic soundtrack by Mario Petrucci.
'We like to take art outside of museums and have it integrated into society in some way,' remarks Lucy. Oddly, the live art-filming barely caused a blip in Rome’s traffic infested streets. 'There are so many film crews in Rome, they probably thought we were a stage set'.
ADDRESS
ZegnArt
via Savona, 56/a
20144 Milan, Italy
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
JJ Martin
-
Enjoy ocean and jungle bliss at Bespoke Tulum’s residences in Mexico
Bespoke Tulum is an exclusive hospitality complex designed by Muro Rojo Arquitectura on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
In Van Cleef & Arpels’ high jewellery, the archival meets the au courant
Van Cleef & Arpels pays tribute to its rich heritage with a captivating high jewellery collection
By Hannah Silver Published
-
New Nothing Ear and Ear (a) earbuds: audio innovation with a retro nod
Nothing’s new Ear and Ear (a) earbuds, drawing inspiration from vintage portable hi-fi and packed with updates, help the company maintain its status as an audio innovator
By Jonathan Bell Published