The flagship brand of the LVMH group has announced its financial support for the Venice Biennale, which opened on 23 April. After a year’s interruption due to Covid, the contemporary art event returns to the Doges’ capital until 27 November. Dior is organizing a gala dinner and a collaboration with the artist Fabrizio Plessi around its Lady Dior bag.
The organisation of the 59th edition of the Venice Biennale by Cecilia Alemani, the first Italian woman to direct it, has visible consequences. First of all, the choice to give pride of place to women and non-binary people, who are strongly represented among the 213 artists hosted at the Biennale, from 58 countries. In addition, Cecilia Alemani’s friendship with Pietro Beccari, the CEO of Christian Dior Couture, prompted the House to join the event.
“Dior has had close ties with the art world since its inception, he explained. This passion, established by Monsieur Christian Dior (whose original profession was that of gallery owner who exhibited artists such as Salvador Dalí and Alberto Giacometti, editor’s note) and rooted in our DNA, encourages us more than ever to promote art and culture in all their forms. This desire is reflected today in this donation, which also expresses the long-standing friendship between Dior and Italy.”
This support will be highlighted by two strong initiatives. Dior will organise a fundraising gala at the La Fenice Theatre on the opening day of the Biennale, in association with Venetian Heritage, an organisation dedicated to the preservation of Venice’s treasures. The aim is to finance the restoration of the Ca’ d’Oro Museum on the Grand Canal, a jewel of Venetian Gothic architecture. In 2019, Dior already organised a masked ball with Venetian Heritage. Part of the proceeds from the less festive dinner on 23 April will also go to Ukrainian refugees in Italy.
In addition, Dior asked the Venetian artist and video maker Fabrizio Plessi to give his vision of Lady Dior. The octogenarian has covered the emblematic bag with gold leaf from the Orsoni Venezia 1888 foundry, framed by a screen where the name Dior ripples like water. The work will be displayed in the window of Dior’s Venetian flagship.
Read also > LES FEMMES DANS LE TRAVEL RETAIL MISES À L’HONNEUR À L’OCCASION DU SALON TFWA
Featured photos : © Dior
