Parma is the Italian Capital of Culture 2020, and the Museum of Chinese Art and Ethnography is holding an exhibit entitled “Fashion in the World – Mode nel Mondo” from Jan. 26th to Dec. 31st. In this city, the exhibit traces a journey through the traditions of the world, through clothing, ornaments and accessories, starting with the Chinese culture.
Inauguration of the exhibit “Mode nel Mondo – Fashion in the world” was Sunday, January 26th, 2020 from 3 pm on, with guided visits.
In the beginning was silk. And even 3000 years before Christ, with the brilliance and preciousness of silk, luxury and fashion were born in China. Chinese clothing therefore has an important place in the exhibition "Fashion in the world: clothes tell the life of peoples", held in Parma, Italian Capital of Culture 2020, from Jan. 26th to Dec. 31st. The halls of the museum allow for a trip around the world on the subject of clothing.
From China, are exhibited liturgical clothes of the Taoist tradition: Gipao (the traditional female dress), and Fengguo hair-cover, to defend against the strong wind of the steppes, accompanied by rich court garments. You can admire the female shoes typical of the great empire, the shoes with clog heels, as well as the wedding ornament, a collar with a rectangular section whose upper face represents two dragons (symbol of male fertility). The place of honor is taken by Longpao, the dress of dragons, an elegant Chinese court dress from the Qing era.
From Indonesia, a special place is given to the Batak culture, with shawls from the island of Sumatra and traditional men's clothing. And again, from Japan, silk Haori jackets, with the "mon" family crests, bamboo parasol on painted Japanese paper, the female Kimono and Obi for married women. Moreover from Sudan, tribal caps, shoes and booties; from Ghana, ceremonial silk fabrics of the Ashant tribe; from Burkina Faso a traditional dress composed of tunic and trousers; from Bangladesh the Burqa of Bengali Muslim women and jewelry sets; from Cameroon the Kweyma Kjella necklaces and aluminum female anklets decorated with a bird's head.
On display a vast selection from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Vast and misterious. The exhibition hosts traditional clothing elements of the Lega people, that make up the classic outfit, the emblem of belonging, of the initiatory "secret" society called "Bwami". The association is secret as regards to the rituals and teachings, and the violation of it entails death. Who belongs, however, is known to everyone, and indeed, letting people know that you are a member of society is an honor.
The 2020 exhibition at the Chinese Art Museum will feature clothes and vestments of males and females who have reached the highest rank of the association, "lutumbo lwa Kindi" and "Kanyamwa". There will be male nkumbu and sawamazembe head wraps, the female headdresses decorated with feathers and buttons, bands decorated with shells, coins known as cowries, vegetable fiber skirts, bandoliers, chest straps (don’t call them bras) and crowns.
The corner dedicated to the Amazonian populations is surprising: nothing will be missing from the decorative kit of the Kayapò people, in a wonderful sea of feathers and vegetable fabrics.
For Father Alfredo Turco, director of the Museum: "This exhibit represents the great mission of meeting of cultures that our museum has always believed in". For Chiara Allegri, museum's marketing and events manager: "Clothing and ornaments make us peoples, who belong to a group, a social status, an ethnicity. Clothing is a real form of codified communication and easily interpretable on a social level.”
And at the Chinese Art Museum in Parma it will be possible to experience and discover many stories.
To adorn the clothes on display will be the tailored busts in linen and mannequins of the Schläppi 4000 line made by Bonaveri, world leader in the creation of excellent mannequins.
Exhibit curated by: Father Alfredo Turco, Maurizio Salvarani, Chiara Allegri and Laura Ferrari.
