Some of you might know about Italy’s long-term affair with The Madonna. Her various roles in saving, protecting, forgiving, and redeeming the public has kept her busy over the centuries. Stories of how she, through her very image, could save cities and its citizens from military attacks, plague, famine, and countless other maladies have been widely documented. In remembrance and thankfulness, it’s not unusual to see public celebrations honoring her if you happen to be in town on special occasion days celebrating her. In Rome, the Madonna Fiumarola gets public recognition, ever since the story relating that in exchange for being fished out of the Tiber river, she agreed to serve as protectress of the hip Trastevere neighborhood.
Maurizio Cattelan’s reference to his homeland’s dedication to the Madonna takes an interesting twist with model Linda Evangelista playing the role in his portfolio featured in the November 2009 issue of W. Magazine.
Bedecked in Chanel and Fred Leighton, can this Madonna of Fashion bring rescue to a community of designers and artists who are suffering from the economic downturn of the last couple of years? Is Cattelan acknowledging the game of survival we play?
Prayers. Dedication. Trust.
Madonna is here.
Madonna is a survivor.
-
- Madonna Fiumarola
-
- Maurizio Cattelan, W. Magazine (Nov. 2009)
-
- Madonna
Tags: Linda Evangelista, Madonna, Maurizio Cattelan, W. Magazine