THE TEMPLE OF FASHION

The first edition of the BIENNALE DI FIRENZE took place in Florence and Prato from September 21st to December 15th 1996. The idea was to explore and describe the interaction between fashion and visual arts,design, architecture,cinema, photography, customs, history. A study on the mixing, the reciprocal influences, the similarities, the links, the possible future landscapes which will exist between the arts and that expression of mass culture that is fashion.

Within the department called New Persona/New Universe,which was staged in Florence inside the 800th century railway station "La Leopolda" thirteen fashion-designers (together with fourteen contemporary artists) created different environments that showed their views on the changes in the perception of the body in today's world. Among these artists was David Bowie, who took part with an installation composed of a dummy hanging from a box which enclosed a shiny U.F.O.; it was all set in a softened and dark environment. The dummy is the same that was used for the cover of Earthling. David Bowie took part to the opening gala (held in the Sala d'arme of Palazzo Pitti). We managed to get some photos of David's exhibit inside the Leopolda station and others (never seen so far) which portray David at the opening gala with Iman and Dolce&Gabbana. A very special thank you to Tania Bucci who kindly allowed us to use her photographs.