FASHIONING ART FROM PAPER

Naples Art Institute Welcomes Isabelle de Borchgrave.

BY ANNA CATHERINE BLOCK

Naples Art Institute has given a whole new meaning to fashion with its latest project Miradas de Mujeres (Perspectives of Women), an exhibition that highlights the view of Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave on Frida Kahlo.

Miradas de Mujeres honors a dialogue between two women who have never met – the first being born shortly before death and the second – but who nevertheless share a love of fabric, patterns, and colors; a women’s perspective on the artist’s role in society.

I had the honor of attending the private evening with guests of the Naples Art Institute, blessed by the presence of Isabelle in the flesh all the way from Belgium. We were given a private tour of the exhibition followed by an intimate dinner under the stars with likeminded creatives who all share a similar love for fashion and the arts.

Isabelle de Borchgrave took almost three years to create Miradas de Mujeres, a titanic work painted by hand, which required more than 4 kilometers of paper and cardboard to make the dresses, carpets, furniture, trees and other elements that recreate the unique universe of Frida Kahlo and her iconic house, the Casa Azul.

Isabelle’s installation invites the viewer to journey into an often–ignored facet of Frida Kahlo’s intimate personality, surprisingly more cheerful and radiant than her work might suggest. In order to do this, Isabelle de Borchgrave recreated nearly 40 dresses and outfits of the Mexican artist.

Executive Director and Chief Curator Frank Verpoorten has become quite close with Isabelle. Frank is known to curate oneof-a-kind exhibitions for the Naples community and beyond to experience in its fullest capacity. It was no surprise to me when Frank had called me on his way home from Brussels that this would be one for the books – and it was truly a special evening like no other.

Naples Art Institute 585 Park Street 34102