Mosaic and Haute Couture - Dolce & Gabana - I

I try in this blog to tell you about historical, aesthetical and technical aspects of actual mosaics, but "Une fois n'est pas coutume" like we say where I come from, today I want to address the question of the influence of ancient mosaics in modern art; more specifically in Haute Couture fashion art.

At the Fall 2013 Milan Fashion Week Dolce & Gabbana introduced a collection inspired by Italian Byzantine Mosaics.

King Solomon Dress

King Solomon mosaic, Duomo Monreale,  Sicily

D&G traveled to mosaic adorned churches across the Italy, mosty in Sicily : from the Cefalu Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, La Martorana, and the Duomo Monreale. 

Blue Angel Dress

Blue Angel, Cefalu Cathedral, Sicily

These Byzantine style mosaics were created during the 12th century during the reigns of Sicilian Kings Roger II and William II.

History has a way to always repeat itself (I wish politicians would remember that); during the Renaissance, Italian painters were inspired by Roman Frescoes and Mosaics created 13 centuries before them.  In our 21st century, fashion designers are inspired by the work of artists who created 10 centuries before us. 

Next week, I will show and tell more about the sources for D&G collections, some much older than the 12th century ! 

 

I hope you enjoy this post. I am a mosaic artist, with great admiration for our Roman and Byzantine Art. I create modern mosaics often inspired by the ancient masters. You can visit my site at mosaicblues  If you are interested by my works, please contact me by email at frederic.lecut@gmail.com or by phone at (334) 798 1639.

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Looking for a Name

So this is my last creation - and she has no name yet. In my archives, she is "3D Torso" - I posted pictures of her on Facebook, asking for names. I have had quite a few so far, inspired from various traditions, including pure redneck (Tits Mc Gee...)

 

This lady is made of glass tiles, her background is of black granite and black beach pebbles 

The piece is 36 x 22 " (90 x 55 cm) without the frame. 

NAMES : 

Here are the  names I received so far : 

Pachamama

Mère Nature

Gaïa

Tuatha Dé Danan

Brigit

Vénus

Arduinna
Diana Arduinna

Nagge

Salome

Naarah

Rebekah

Hannah

Man's Desire

Bettina (She has a fine patina)

La femme tronc

Tits McGee!

Venus Emerging
Gwenn

Please tell me which name you like the best !

THE SOURCES

The Green tattoos are shaped like young ferns leaves

in remembrance of the war paints of the Picts, the hard fighting Scottish warriors of the Roman period - Do you remember Gwenyffar in the last King Arthur's movie ? 

Apparently, green and blue war paints were a staple common to numerous celtic populations. But the Picts may have used them more than other tribes - as their latin name "Picti" - from "pingere" - to paint - actually means "painted or tattooed people."


Her bikinis seem more modern ?  Actually, they really are not...

Have a look at these athletes :

These ladies date from around 400 AD. This mosaic is part of the decoration of the Villa Romana Casale in Sicily.

And you thought Bikinis had been invented by a Frenchman in 1946 ?