Early this month, the exhibition “Missoni, Art, Colour” opened at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London.
The show, open through September 4, explores the influence of 20th century European art on the fashion and textile designs of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni. Largely sourced from the MA*GA Art Museum in Gallarate, and private collections in Italy, many of the works are being presented in the U.K for the first time.
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Through a selection of Missoni designs spanning from 1953 to 2014 and 40 paintings, the multifaceted inspiration behind Missoni’s garments is drawn more succinctly. This is especially noticeable with the works by colorists Giacomo Balla and Sonia Delaunay, or Gino Severini’s mosaic pieces, and even the synthesis of color, space, and movement present in Lucio Fontana’s works. All at once, the viewer comes to realize the many variations of the Italian Fashion house’s stripes and zig-zags are the fruit of a fascinating dialogue between art, couture, and industry.
Merino wool is featured in the majority of the garments on display, showcasing the heritage and cultural history of the Missoni family’s association with wool.
Courtesy of Missoni
“Gallarate is the city where Missoni started its activity in 1953, and presenting the exhibition in London is an opportunity to explore Italian art, fashion and textiles on an international stage,” said Emma Zanella, director of MA*GA Art Museum.
The exhibit is curated by art critic and historian Luciano Caramel, Artistic Director of the Missoni Archive Luca Missoni, and Director of MA*GA Art Museum and Contemporary Art Historian and Museologist Emma Zanella.
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