Ladies Who Lunch: Ladies Who Lunch: Fortuny Exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Ladies Who Lunch: Fortuny Exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute!

In an industry that is always looking for the latest trend, Fashion is usually about what is new, hot and what is up next on the horizon. However, we can take inspiration from the past and also appreciate the artistry of the masters of the past. One of those masters is the legendary Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo.

Remembered as one of the fashion greats for his elegant pleated gowns like the Delphos, Fortuny was also involved in the arts in numerous fields, including textile design and the visual arts. Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo was born into an artistic dynasty in Spain and this lineage had a tremendous impact on him and the groundbreaking work that he would create.

Fortuny was born in Granada, Spain, was raised in Paris and spent his adult life in Venice. He took his inspiration from diverse sources, from art history and the cultures of his native Spain, Greece, North Africa, Japan and the Italian Renaissance. Fortuny’s fashion designs were an expression of his artistry and didn’t constantly change and follow the inevitable trends of the fashion world, yet his work was embraced by the fashionable elite. The timeless designs are still highly coveted and have graced everyone from Marisa Berenson to Tina Chow.

In an exhibition curated by present day fashion great Oscar de la Renta at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York, we get a first hand look at the work of Fortuny. From the textile and clothing designs to his work in the visual arts, we get a glimpse into Fortuny’s artistry and an exploration of how his family’s artistic legacy helped to shape his extraordinary career! For anyone who is interested in fashion and/or art, this is definitely a must see exhibition for those who live in or are visiting the New York area!