It is within the series of events "Yesterday and today: characters in weaving" which is part of the exhibition dedicated to two emblematic figures in the history of Italian fine fabrics manufactories: Giuseppe Lisio (Chieti, 1870 - San Michele di Pagana, 1943) and Fidalma Lisio (Florence, 1910 - San Michele di Pagana, 2001).
The exhibition "Giuseppe e Fidalma Lisio. The Fabric of Art between past and future "- organized by the Lisio Silk Art Foundation in collaboration with the Tramandiamo Laboratory - is set up at the Wool Art Museum - Lanificio di Stia, from 14 October 2017 to 4 March 2018 sees exposed velvets and brocades, clothing and accessories, documents and historical photographs, to outline moments of life of two champions of the Art Fabric. The exhibition begins with photographic and documentary testimonials by Giuseppe Lisio, who formed in Milan at the end of the nineteenth century in one of the most well-known weavers of the time - Luigi Osnago - who opened his factory and his first store in Florence in 1906.
Taking lessons from an excellent past in which the Italian production of hand-woven velvets and brocades stood out in the world, Lisio imposed himself by conquering a niche of the international market with superior quality fabrics. Both for the careful processing and for the raw materials - always just pure silk and gold and silver yarns - that for the chosen dyes, the fabrics detached from the manual Jacquard looms of the Lisio have always distinguished between the productions of Italian prominent.
An important prerogative of Lisio fabrics has always been the precise references to the history of the ornate textile, witnessed by ancient specimens and by the works of famous painters as well as by anonymous artists. Passionate lover of history of art, Giuseppe Lisio was able to reproduce or reinvent decorative modules that characterized the different eras, rigorously applied with richer and more complex textile techniques, such as cut and curly worked velvets, brocades in silk, gold and silver.
Famous velvets and brocades from the Lisio production such as the "Mercurio", the brocade "Primavera" or the "Veronese" are just some of the most famous artistic references on display. The revival of ancient designs and techniques have allowed these fabrics to be perfectly adapted to style furnishings, high ceremony clothing and above all the excellent skills of the workers have laid the solid foundation for the fame of Lisio in historical reconstructions for restoration work. of monumental environments that are part of important cultural heritage. Like his fellow countryman and friend Gabriele d'Annunzio, of whom the exhibition exhibits some epistolary testimonies, Giuseppe loved the beautiful and the well done, which transmitted at the same time significant contents.
The exhibition path then continues with Fidalma Lisio: the path traced by Giuseppe Lisio was then taken up again after the second world war by his daughter, who kept the faith high in a real mission of life which was the passing down of an ancient Art, seen as root fruitful for a future of development. Fidalma loved to surround himself with his father's work, wore gilet, handbags and clothes and rigorously created in Lisio fabrics, reflecting the pride and love for the family business, as well as all of its employees.
His iron will to preserve and pass on the art of manual weaving of velvets and silk brocades led to the birth of the Lisio Silk Art Foundation in 1971, which through its manufacturing, educational and cultural activities has proposed itself as an exemplary pole in the maintaining a tradition on which to base modern creativity. On the one hand, in fact, the continuity of the production of fabrics that have made the Lisio Great Silk Art in the world, on the other a new exemplary design of how the manual Jacquard weaving can be a means today to create exclusive and newly designed fabrics.
The new works created for Haute Couture - such as the Fendi Baguettes on display - run parallel to those designed for historical reconstructions of environments and customs. The immense wealth of experience and knowledge continues to be available to the new generations, who see in the School of the Lisio Foundation a highly specialized and unique training center for the close connection between manufacturing and teaching activities. Since its beginnings in the early eighties, the School has gained experience of international appeal. Study specific training programs on behalf of Italian, European and American institutes of art; organizes individual training courses and collaborates in research projects. The exhibition will exhibit works created over the years by students from all over the world. The educational paths are different depending on the areas of interest - ancient and contemporary - and sectors - fabrics, embroidery, lace, tapestries, carpets; different levels of learning - from basic to highly specialized levels -; different points of view with which the subjects aimed at the objectives to be reached are tackled. Fidalma's goal of perpetuating such an important tradition and showing its immense value to the world is still expressed even today in the Cultural sector through the promotion and dissemination of textile culture: exhibitions, publications, conferences, study days, seminars and above all , the care and edition of the half-yearly journal "Jacquard.
Pages of textile culture ". Editorial reference for all scholars who deal with research and analysis in various areas of ancient and contemporary textiles. "Jacquard" also gives voice to restoration and conservation relations and dedicates space to museums and textile collections, to reviews and reports of exhibitions and publications.
Download the invitation to the inauguration: click here
To contact the "Lisio Silk Art" Foundation:
Communication and Promotion
Lisio Silk Art Foundation - Florence
T. +39 0556801340 F. +39 055680436
comunicazione@fondazionelisio.org - www.fondazionelisio.org
Show Period
14 October 2017 - 4 March 2018
Gallery
