Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese artist, created an immersive installation that served as a backdrop to Dior’s 1950s-inspired looks during the second day of Paris Fashion Week. Dior’s creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, commissioned Vasconcelos to design the 79-foot-long, 23-foot-tall, 20-ton structure that was reminiscent of both a plant and an octopus. The amorphous piece featured kaleidoscopic tentacles, adorned with Dior’s knitted crochet, fabric, lace, fringes, sequins, and feathers.
The hanging structure provided an ominous and moody backdrop for the runway show in the Jardin des Tuileries. The collection was inspired by women such as Christian Dior’s sister Catherine and French singers Edith Piaf and Juliette Greco, who were heavily influenced by Hollywood’s glamour and the post-World War II rebuilding era. The dark color palettes and styled prints of Chiuri’s designs were offset by the colorful and intricate installation designed by Vasconcelos.
Joana Vasconcelos explained her work as a “magical garden like another world, another dimension,” resembling a Surrealist painting. She mentioned that it was quite unique for the contemporary art world to have a connection to the fashion world. This is not the first time Vasconcelos collaborated with Dior. In 2013, she designed a large bow made of hundreds of Dior perfume bottles. The collaboration between art and fashion allowed for a unique expression of creativity that delighted both the fashion and art worlds.
The integration of art and fashion is not new, as it has been practiced by designers like Elsa Schiaparelli and Yves Saint Laurent. However, the collaboration between Dior and Vasconcelos at Paris Fashion Week was a perfect example of how two seemingly different forms of expression can come together and create something beautiful. The use of the installation as a backdrop for the runway show was a brilliant way to showcase both the fashion and art worlds. Vasconcelos’s work served to elevate the show to another level, making it a memorable event for those in attendance. The collaboration between Dior and Vasconcelos demonstrates the power of creativity and how it can transcend boundaries and bring different worlds together.