R. E. D.

Polish/French painter Ewa Bathelier and American fashion designer Denise Focil proudly announce their joint art installation, R.E.D. at Palazzo Zenobio. Art and fashion collide in this unique collaboration, included in the important personal exhibition of Ewa Bathelier "VESTITO NUDO" curated by Veronica Veronese with art direction by Marco Agostinelli.

R.E.D. examines the painful growth of a woman, expressed through a series of seven dresses designed by Denise Focil and painted by Ewa Bathelier. The artists explore the presence of pain and suffering of a woman's life, the inner struggle between herself and reality, and the sudden realization that this path of suffering finally frees the woman.

"Being able to tell a woman's life story through a piece of clothing was both a challenge and the perfect canvas to unveil secrets of being a woman," explains Focil, who designed the dresses using cotton twill with leather accents. "I took the idea of this powerful mythological creature, Amphitrite, Greek goddess of the sea, and unveiled her physical and emotional story from youth to womanhood, which brought her to life for me."

By taking Denise Focil's creations stark white creations and adding a color element using acrylic paint and pigments, Ewa Bathelier transforms the dresses into three dimensional pieces of art. She notes, "The thick crimson color illustrates a prominent wound from the violence born from under the precious piece of clothing. The powerful flow runs progressively through the dress, and it shortens as it becomes soaked by red. Worn with the intention to disguise the tragedy, the dress fails in this role and gives in to pressure and underlying pain."

R.E.D. will premiere at Palazzo Zenobio, the famous Biennale Palace in Venice, from the 8th of September until the 27th of November with an opening reception on Thursday the 8th at 12 pm. The installation will showcase the seven dresses and seven photographs, and the opening reception will include a model wearing one of the dresses in the series. A catalogue will be edited and presented at the press conference at 11am on Thursday the 8th of September.

Gallery

Press Information

Contact

If you would like to find out more about R.E.D. then please contact Maria Elena Giuliani of Meg-PR or alternatively visit http://www.meg-pr.com for further information.

Maria Elena Giuliani Tel: +39 338 1433503 email: maria@meg-pr.com

Quotes

"THE INSPIRING UNION OF EWA BATHELIER AND DENISE FOCIL HAS MANAGED TO DRESS THE PAINTING WITH VOLUME AND MOVEMENT."

- CLARA SANCHEZ, BESTSELLING AUTHOR, WINNER OF PREMIO NADAL 2010

About the Artists

Ewa Bathelier
Ewa Bathelier is a painter and stage designer. Born in Warsaw, Poland, Ewa Bathelier graduated in medicine, but also well versed in art started an artistic career in France in the early nineties. Her paintings are displayed in galleries and collections around the world. In parallel, as a scenographer she has made stage designs and costumes for Beckett's and Pinget's plays in Cracow, Berlin and other cities around Europe. The artist's interest in all visual forms of communication, includes also the photography and the video that form a part of her work.

Denise Focil
Denise Focil is the mind behind Alpinestars by Denise Focil; a collection from Los Angeles inspired by the heritage, high standards and authenticity of an iconic brand, Alpinestars. Heavily influenced by a love of music, art, and worldly travels, designer Denise Focil incorporates impeccable construction, luxury fabrics and fashion forward designs in her collection, centered on signature leather jackets, the favorite of Hollywood stars.

Exhibition Dates

The R.E.D. Exhibition will be on display at the Palazzo Zenobio in Venice between the dates of the 8th September and the 27th November 2011

Palazzo Zenobio
Dorsoduro 259
30123, Venezia

List Of Work
Dress 1 - Pain, 2011, Acrylic and Medium on cotton twill and leather dress
Dress 2 - Desperate, 2011, Acrylic and Medium on cotton twill and leather dress
Dress 3 - Dizziness, 2011, Acrylic and Medium on cotton twill and leather dress
Dress 4 - Resignation, 2011, Acrylic and Medium on cotton twill and leather dress
Dress 5 - Naked, 2011, Acrylic and Medium on cotton twill and leather dress
Dress 6 - Realization, 2011, Acrylic and Medium on cotton twill and leather dress
Dress 7 - Liberation, 2011, Acrylic and Medium on cotton twill and leather dress

Dress 1 - Pain, 2011, photo 150 X 100cm
Dress 2 - Desperate, 2011, photo 150 X 100cm
Dress 3 - Dizziness,2011, photo 150 X 100cm
Dress 4 - Resignation, 2011, photo 150 X 100cm
Dress 5 - Naked, 2011, photo 150 X 100cm
Dress 6 - Realization, 2011, photo 150 X 100cm
Dress 7 - Liberation, 2011, photo 150 X 100cm