Exhibitions
From 19 May to 29 September 2013
On display at the Museo Civico “Ala Ponzone” Cremona
11 works from artists from fashion and contemporary arts dedicated to Stradivarius
A violin such as that of Stradivarius is not only a musical instrument. It is the prince of instruments. It is made of skill, style and aesthetics. It is fascinating and mysterious. The violins that are created by the luthiers of Cremona, such as those of Stradivarius, are true masterpieces, true works of art. Maximum concentration in the construction process enables technical and stylistic perfection without neglecting the quality of sound or aesthetics.
On the 5th of December 2012, a historical decision was made by Unesco in Paris: the luthierian tradition of Cremona was to be inserted in the representative list as an Intangible World Heritage of Humanity. A great result above all for Cremona and its territory and for its centuries old tradition of violin making. Cremona has acted out of pride for its lutherie tradition, to preserve and pass it down to future generations, and to see it recognised by Unesco not only as a heritage of Italy, but of all of humanity. And they have succeeded.
To celebrate this recognition, the Council of Cremona has organised an extraordinary exhibition in relation to the worlds of fashion and art: “8 Variations for Stradivarius”. The exhibition presents the reconsideration and interpretation of the violin in a great variety of artistic forms. The violin and the image of Stradavarius have been transformed into garments, shoes, jewellery, hats, photography, sofas, meteorites, graphics and sculptures.
Like violin making, the exhibition is tied to the world of creativity, the creations on display are the synthesis between the Stradivarius violin and 8 internationally recognised artists: Alfred Drago Rens (art and graphics), Francesco Ballestrazzi (high fashion hats), Luigi Mariani (internal furnishings and design), Kobi Levi (shoe designer), Paolo Regis (photographer), Roberto Cambi (ceramic artist), Stefano Russo (art and design), Sunghee Kim (fine jewellery). They are all well-established their sectors, and to celebrate the recognition of Unesco, they have participated in this project with great honour and without any compensation. The love and passion Stradivarius had for the violin has touched these artists and has reawakened Italian art and design.
01 April 2013
Sunghee Kim (Exhibition curator)
Link to Official 8 Variation for Stradivarius English Site
8 Artists for Stradivarius
Francesco Ballestrazzi (High Fashion Milliner)
Francesco Ballestrazzi was born in Carpi (Modena) in 1982. After gaining his high school diploma in the arts he moved to Milan where he obtained his fine arts degree at the Accademia di Brera, majoring in painting. Thus began his career as a designer and illustrator, with his creations being displayed in numerous exhibitions.Trained as a contemporary dancer, Francesco also cultivated his theatrical career by performing in many Italian theatres, from the Arcimboldi of Milan to the Teatro Greco (Greek Theatre) of Taormina. Constrained to cut short his career as a dancer, fashion became Francesco’s outlet to express his creativity.Slowly but surely entering in the world of fashion, Francesco began by collaborating with the major brands, initially commercially for Alexander McQueen, and then creatively for Maison Moschino, for whom he continues to collaborate with in the creation of window displays for the stores in Milan, London, New York and Paris.In 2010 Francesco’s passion for millinery and uncontained creativity brought him to create his own line of hats, that in only a few months were published in the most prestigious magazines of the sector, such as Vogue Italia.Francesco lives and works in Milan.
http://www.francescoballestrazzi.com
Roberto Cambi (Ceramic Artist, Artist, Glassmaker)
Ceramic Artist, Painter and Glassmaker. After gaining his degree as an Art Professor from the Istituto Ballardini di Faenza, Roberto attended the painting division at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna. He held a training workshop at the Department of Ceramic Art at Seoul National University of Technology in Korea.Spurred by pop and “Comedy”, Roberto often designs his works as elements of ambiences or installation pieces. Some of his most important works include the site specific “Fantasmi Urbani” during the 2010 “Salone dei Mobile” and “83 fantasmi in fuga” for the “52° Mostra Ceramica di Castellamonte” in 2012. In 2000 Roberto received the “Award in Excellency” in the Mopko International Ceramics Competition Korea, and in 2012 the innovation prize for “Un posto al Tavola” at “Lodi fa Ceramica”. Some his most significant exhibitions include “Contemporary Ceramic Arts” at the Kepko Plaza Gallery, Seoul (1999), “Progetto Euarca”, “Kassel (D) (2002), “I and me” at the Afterall Gallery, New York (2004), “Gerusalemme” at the Museo Diocesano di Bertinoro (2005), “Krill” Gmunden Keramik Simposio, MIC di Faenza (2008). In 21012 Roberto participated in the 54thBiennial of Venezia Padiglione Italy, in Turin with the installation “Green Flowers” and at the exhibition “Uno, due, tre… Stella” at the Palazzo della Regione, Turin.
http://www.robertocambi.blogspot.it
Alfred Drago Rens (Art and Graphics)
Alfred Drago was born in Imperia in 1970 to a Dutch mother and Italian father. In 1988 he moved to Milan where he currently lives and works.Alfred’s works are predominantly focused on the obsessive collecting, cataloguing and processing of images of oneself and ones family of origin. Diggin up, looking at and reorganising the presumed truth of being. Since 2004 Alfred has held personal and collective exhibitions such as “Tre pulci sulla pancia” at the Affinche Gallery (2004), “Il proprio luogo” at Castello Borromeo of Corneliano Bertario (2006), “Migra-Azione” at the Palazzo Broletto of Novara, “From the Vault” at the Pack Gallery of Milan (2007), “ILLO” at the Affiche Gallery of Milan (2008), and has also participated in several contemporary art fairs such as Miart, ArtVerona and the “Affordable Art Fair” of Milan and Amsterdam.His most recent production is characterised by small, tightly packed, seven tiered ziggurats made from glossy photographic paper that together play upon visual distortion. Unless one is directly in front of a work (which could be the simple overlapping of colours or a family portrait) with flat lighting, the image is not able to be seen in its entirety. The interaction between the work, vision, memory, suggestion and light is fluid and variable.
The artist also has in parallel a graphic design business and has founded the “Rumorebianco” studio with two other partners.
SungHee Kim (Fine Jewellery)
Sung-Hee Kim, jewellery designer, artist, journalist and director of the “STELLA B” studio in Milan, is responsible for this exhibition. Sung-Hee has appeared as a jewellery designer in many international publications (from Vogue Gioiello to Dreams). Her origins are from Korea, but she is Italian by adoption. Sung-Hee moved to Milan after obtaining her degree in Oriental Arts in Seoul, Korea. In 1998 she gained her Diploma in Jewellery Design from the Istituto Europeo di Design di Milano with 100 and honours. She has been the finalist and winner of multiple national and international competitions, such as the Tahitian Pearl Trophy, Gold Virtuosi of WGC (2000), Diamonds International Awards (2000), 4th place of the ‘La Dolce Vita di SWAROVSKI’ (1998) competition, Diamonds Modern Women(1995) and Diamond Today (1993). She has collaborated with many national and international jewellery houses such as Damiani, A.Jaffe, Core Jewelry and many others. Since 2004 she has worked as artistic director of the Maison Azuelos di Casablanca. In Korea, 2009, Sung-Hee was nominated to participate in the launch party of Perrier-Jouet as jewellery artist, along with the greatest artists of every sector. She has written four books, including her latest publication “Luxury Jewellery Marketing”.
Kobi Levi (Shoe Designer)
Without a doubt, Kobi Levi is the most creative designer and producer of the footwear sector. In 2001 he graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Art & Design in Jerusalem, specialising in footwear design and development. He has worked as a freelance designer, collaborating with both Israeli and international companies. He has recently launched his own line in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Meanwhile he also designs commercial shoes for Italian. Chinese and Brazilian companies.Kobi has presented his designs in many exhibitions in: Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, Tokyo, Verona, St. Etienne, Berlin etc. “In the world of Artistic Shoes, shoes are my canvas. The trigger for creating a new piece sparks when an idea, concept and/or image comes to mind. The combination of images with shoes creates a new hybrid and the design/concept literally coming to life. All of my works are un-wearable sculptures. They are alive both when worn and not. Almost all of my inspirations from outside the world of shoes and inspire an extreme transformation. The results are usually particularly humorous.Another aspect that is particularly creative is the actual creation of the shoes. All of the pieces are made with my hands in my studio. The challenge of the technical development is the key to bringing the design to life in an original manner.” says Kobi.
Luigi Mariani (Interior Furnishing and Design)
Like a fairy tale, dreams can come true…From the creative tradition of the Brianza region, a land with a rich production history, a challenge is born: found an artistic studio and create unique objects that are borderline art! Designed contrary to the mainstream, with a streak of irony and humour!Upon completing his studies and after many years of experience matured as production manager of various companies, Luigi Mariani founded “FUTURPROJECT”. From here Happy Design was born: fantastic pieces in limited edition, artistic products untainted by current trends, forms and colours used to exhilarate.
With Futurproject, Luifi has participated in several international exhibitions: New York (USA), Tokyo and Osaka (Giappone), Cape Town (South Africa), etc. He has exported products to Holland, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Dublin, Valencia and Paris. Recently he has also sent his work also to the Far East, such as Seoul, Korea.He has also supplied his fantastic products to RAI, MEDIASET, Rassegne SpA, Aimpess Mipel, Macef Fiera, Milano international, Viscom (Mi), Abaxbank (Mi), Bilancioni (Mi), Motorquality. L’aprochimide, Dival, Tucano, Bacci (Fi), Dolman, Facopel, Creazioni and many others.
Paolo Regis(Photografer)
Paolo Regis was born in Vercelli in 1979. After gaining his diploma from I.T.G., he moved to Milan to study Photography and Visual Communication at the famous CFP Bauer School of Milan. After being the assistant of famous photographers such as David Sims or Mert and Marcus of Big Sky London, Paolo began to work as a photographer in Milan, Oslo, Amsterdam, London, Bangkok and New York. His images have been published in national and international fashion magazines such as Vogue Italia, Maxim, Anglomania, All Access Magazine and many others, and has also photographed celebrities such as Sienna Miller, Grace Jones, Naomi Campbell, Giorgio Armani and Vivienne Westwood.
His perpetual interest in the potential of photography as a means of artistic expression has inspired him to work in the fields of fashion, portraits and landscapes, exploring the numerous aspects of our modern society.He has continued to develop his photographic style throughout his travels to many countries such as India, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Emirates, Africa, the United States, Brazil, and Japan.Paolo Regis has worked for clients such as Bull Phillips, BRW & Rosso and other high level fashion clients such as Dsquared, Anteprima, Diesel, Melting Pot and Guess.
Stefano Russo(Arte and Design)
Stefano Russo carries out his research with a multi-faceted approach. He has an eclectic mind, both as artist and designer, and also working in research laboratories of the major institutes including the Politecnico, IED and Domus Accademy. In 1994 he founded “Russo Design” in Milano, a company that designs glasses, jewellery and watches and also extends to other artistic fields. In 1992 he collaborated with the artist Arman, deconstructing his musical instruments and transporting them into unique jewellery-sculptures which became a numbered limited edition series destined for prestigious art galleries. In 1993 he won the “Diamon Award” competition with his ring “Vortice”. Between 1997 and 1999 Stefano collaborated with Swatch, and in 1999 he worked on the launch of Celine and Loewe glasses. From 2000 to 2008 he was the creative director of glasses for Prada, Miu Miu, and Linea Rossa, and during the course of his career has also worked with Helmut Land and Jil Sander. Since 2003 he has contributed to the line of accessories and jewellery for the Giorgio Armani Group. In 2006, during the Salone del Mobile of Milan, he exhibited his project “Visori” for Visionnaire at the Rotonda della Besana.Stefano currently divides his time between Milan and Paris, collaborating with the Louis Vuitton Brand and at the same time is developing a project between art and science.
WORKS
Violin Hat (Francesco Ballestrazzi)
The hat represents a deconstructed and deformed violin, as if music has recreated itself in the form of a violin. I let myself get swept away by the sensation of the silk as I ran it through my fingers, and the harmony communicated in the curves of the violin. By this means an extremely light sculpture in silk was created; it is the music and the atmosphere that give us the idea of the violin. The entire creation has been handmade with silk.
“Meteorite 19189”(Roberto Cambi)
In 1991 the German astronomer Dr. Freimut Boerngen discovered asteroid 19189 in the main belt of the solar system. This asteroid was dedicated to Antonio Stradivarius. Commencing with this scientific fact, and distorted by the prophetic warnings of the ancient Maya, I imagined that a fragment of this asteroid has travelled through space to arrive in the birth city of the great luthier.This was in inspiration for my work. A metal meteorite crammed with violins shimmering with stardust, fallen on to our planet not to pollute our souls but to pay tribute to the great Maestro Stradivarius, whose instruments, and their quality of sound, are still the subject of study and research after hundreds of years.Surfaces of mirrored steel with the insertion of ceramic craters enamelled with platinum in the third firing. Measures 120x90x70cm
Vibrato Stradivari (Alfred Drago Rens)
The aim of the this work is to awaken curiosity and the ability to rediscover layers of understanding that we are not usually able to perceive.Habit and distraction all too easily render things as one dimensional, whether it be people, roads, buildings, stories or images. We don’t necessarily see the beauty, sometimes found in a shocking distortion, another time in an unexpected movement, or in a long forgotten sensation.One encounters the interaction of this object with sunlight, shadows and with one’s own world perspective.Viewed frontally, this work is none other than a violin, pure and simple. But all it takes is the repositioning of the viewer or the light hitting the work from another angle to discover a movement, a depth.. a soul gifted by a skilled luthier with generosity and passion, as he would his own child.
Violin Shoes (Kobi Levi)
The violin shoes were created to highlight the classic form and details of the violin while maintaining the light and delicate design.Kobi has taken the silhouette and details of the violin and adapted them to the shape of the sole. The design of the heel is a combination between the classic shape of a heel, and the scroll of the violin with the strings.The warm, classic colour of brown was chosen for the upper, while the heel is covered in black patent leather. The striking golden lining was added to highlight the lines and curves of the shoe.
8 Variations of Shadow and Light (Sunghee Kim)
This work was inspired by “Sunrise”, the inlaid Stradavarius violin of 1677 that is on display in the Museo Civico of Cremona. The two colours that have been utilised, black and white, recall the inlays and friezes of the Stradivarius masterpiece.For the same reason, the inlaid pattern of the Stradivarius has also been applied to the silver pins. These pins have been made in the shape of the ‘f’ of the violin and have been perforated to let light filter through.This necklace has been created with eight strings of pearls, reflecting the eight artists involved in the tribute.
Violin Dress (Sunghee Kim)
This garment, inspired by the inlaid Stradivarius violin, is as if it is a musical instrument that can be worn. The base is made of stiff, white material modelled after the shape of a violin, and accented with precious and semi-precious gemstones, fresh water pearls and silver beads to exalt the decoration and elaborateness as if it was a jewel.This garment transmits a personality that is elegant, playful, musical, romantic, feminine but strong, such as the Stradivarius violin.Technical informationStiff, white material for the base, fresh water pearls, silver beads on the two Fs, carnelian and quartz on the decorative curves, stiff black material stuffed and with metal wire inserts used for the back.
Violin Sofa (Luigi Mariani)
The work that Stradivarius gifted us has been contaminated by technology and modern reality, and, figuratively speaking, it has been plunged back to earth from the heavens.This was the inspiration for the creation of this initial work, the violin sofa, that unites different materials to visually amaze and stun with contrasting colours, emphasising the fact that the great violin is not propped up on a seat, but rather emerges from the circular base at a slight lean, giving it a sense of movement. The scroll and fingerboard are in wood, constructed from multi laminate TABU black/white (wood that is all displayed in several American museums)The base of the sofa is covered in glossy, coral PVC.The body of the violin is covered in silver ‘ostrich effect’ PVC.The black strings are supported by a stainless steel bar and shaped pins with shiny chrome metal wire.The legs are made from cast aluminium
Music Power for Stradivarius (Paolo Regis)
I wanted to capture the sound and vibrations of thousands of people gathered together and remove everything that divides them. I am fascinated in finding the eccentricities of the world, wherever they may be. I try to photograph them, and what I want to give back is a photograph that is capable of going beyond sound, music and culture. I like to mix up identities because this makes them appear as a single group, at the end of the day, music unites us all.
L’Estasi (Stefano Russo)
Pure sound, the human being and his relationship with sound and it’s reception. Violin strings floating in the air, ecstasy in the harmony and fusion, the unison, the immersion, being carried away with the melody.
Jewelry Designer Sunghee Kim 