Dolce&Gabbana’s ‘Dal Cuore Alle Mani’ Exhibition in Milan
When in Milan… When I saw @Susanna Nicoletti’s post about the Dolce&Gabbana exhibition in Milan I wanted nothing more but to be transported back to Milan to see it. Thankfully, life was kind to me and attending the Global Fashion Management Conference meant I was able to see it just before it closes on 31 July.
Dolce&Gabbana is one of those household names I grew up with. It’s presence in South Korea is perhaps not as marked as for other brands, but it’s nonetheless well-established with 15 locations in the country (vs. 22 for Dior and 37 for Louis Vuitton). I was curious to revisit my memories and reacquaint myself with the brand.
The exhibition is simply exquisite. Located in the heart of Milan, at Palazzo Reale just next to the Duomo Cathedral, it feels like another Italian cultural landmark.
CLEARLY DEFINED BRAND DNA — everyone will agree that there is no confusing Dolce&Gabbana with any other luxury fashion house. Dolce&Gabbana knows exactly what it stands for and is consistent in its storytelling
𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐄 – the exhibition brought back to life dormant memories of my Polish Catholic upbringing and perhaps is one of the reasons why the the brand resonates with me on a deeper level, while I’m not necessarily their main audience. The adoration of religious symbols mixed with a pop-cultural reassessment feels refreshing and definitely not worn-out as it is accompanied by references to Italian aristocracy with intricate lace, to the Roman empire, and Sicilian tiles, the divine mosaics, and the artistry of Venetian glassmakers
COMPLETE IMMERSION IN THE BRAND UNIVERSE – the attention to detail and creativity is truly mind-boggling. The sounds, the textures of the clothing and the velvet curtains, the chapters exploring various themes just completely immerses you in the world of Dolce&Gabbana. The Sicilian room with the floor and walls decorated with tiles, seamlessly blending in with the fabic patterns and then amplified by the large celing mirror; the pitch-black room that brings to mind a chapel the far corner of a Catholic church
… the tailor studio with walls filled with buttons, lace and embroidery, rolls of fabric, small and big mannequins and half-finished garments.
And don’t get me started on the Opera with its little hidden booth and mannequins dressed in smokings standing opposite from the stage which showcases all of the intricate opera dress designs… words nor pictures can do it justice.
APPROPRIATE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – This exhibition is an exploration of Dolce&Gabbana’s legacy and technology is tastefuly woven into the main focus – the physical experience, the textiles; it’s there to amplify and not overwhelm – we can see short videos of artisans embroiding the fabrics in the tailor studio or clips from Luchino Visconti's Italian historical drama epic The Leopard in the space dedicated to the exploration of Italian aristocracy; there’s also a room with all walls turned into a projection screen to showcase animated paintings and and architectural structures
EVER-PRESENT ART – from fine art to craftsmanship – walls full of framed paintings, animated paintings projected on the walls, and paintings referenced as clothing pattern, architectural sctructures, actual columns and wallpapers creating spacial depth, museum cabinets holding Dolce&Gabbana bags, shoes, and jewelry, said Sicilian tiles – the whole exhibition is an ode to art and the love for it can be felt in every detail
LOCALIZATION – The final room is an ode to the city of Milan, the final dress referencing the statue of the Madonnina that stands on the top of the main spire of the Duomo Cathedral, with the sound of the heartbeat playing in the background
If you are in Milan – do yourself a favor and visit the exhibition even if the brand itself doesn’t speak to you, because it’s a true masterpiece and in my humble opinion, deserves to be permanently placed in a museum.
