Great Spanish Maestros in Great Museum

 

At the Museo Carrelbo , a 19^th century baroque palace in Madrid, showcased a 25- year retrospective titled La Moda es Sueno(Fashion is a Dream) and famous Spanish Fashion who’s who like Cristobal Balenciaga, Pertegaz, Manolo Blahnik to Sybilla and Adolfo Dominguez presented their works and craftsmanships.  

 

 

Some international labels have been long-standing supporters of the arts. And in the process, credible art throws its highbrow halo over, no doubt careful creations of brands that look for the association of excellence.

The exhibition features 117 pieces by 50 designers and is presented as a dialogue with interior of the museum, whose hand-painted ceilings and agate panels house a mix of rococco mirror, tapestries, Meissen porcelain, baroque furniture and other antiques               

The perception of carrying a work of art on your arm, is thrilling for the fashionista as well as the art buff. Certainly also, the aspiring art lover, the wannabe society-hopper as well as those who hope to have arrived finally on the portals of true style. And so we have brands who will draw inspiration and even direction from artists and their works, creating a marriage of logos and artistic talents, bringing in the bargain a kind of contemporariness and pop vibe to their creations, tapping the wellspring of modern creation.

Taking this to quite another level are brands that extend the involvement of artistic inspiration in their products to sponsoring of art initiatives, art fairs and events, conservation of ancient landmarks and films, and collecting pieces of art. This may have started out as astute advertising but somewhere along the way, a difference has been made, beyond the clever selling of products. Bringing art to the ‘elite masses’ through art-inspired accessories is one thing.

 

In another sense, art is now brought by these elite luxury labels, to the art-loving populace.

In a sense, an expertly-created handbag or footwear is an art piece by itself – that is what you are paying for – top quality products as well as the process of imagination and creation. So, it does seem valid that brands that pride themselves on their excellence should draw on the art world which has provided credibility itself.