November 28, 2017
’The elegant Mountain’ at the Basque Museum
’The elegant Mountain’ fascinating exhibition of scarves at the Basque Museum
It is an exhibition dedicated to the scarf, centered on a selection of more than seventy pieces, chosen by the curators Aldo Audisio, Laura Gallo and Cristina Natta-Soleri, all from the collection of the Museomontagna of Turin that consists of almost two hundred copies.
The scarf is an accessory born for a daily and practical use, spread in all the cultures of the world, which became during the 20th century a symbol and icon of the feminine universe. An authentic object of worship, transformed today into a complement and everyday garment without distinction of gender or class.
This exhibition, composed of unique pieces, invites us to take a trip through the history of this accessory and, in parallel, in the imaginary linked to the mountains around the world. The oldest belong to the Twenties and Thirty of the last century, but there is no lack of handkerchiefs of this century. In the exhibition you can admire the creations of big fashion firms: from Chanel to Hermès, Prada, Givenchy, Gucci, Céline, Krizia, Burberrys, Ralph Lauren, Escada, Gabrielli, Daphne, AAllard and Bogner, along with new current brands – from Lola Paltinger to Milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre, Étoile de Marie, Casali 71 and Charlotte Hudders, to name but a few – and even simpler examples, used as souvenirs, in less valuable fabrics than silk.
In the exhibition – organized with the coordination of Marco Ribetti – are also present commemorative scarves, dedicated to the Olympic winter games, such as the one for the Oslo Olympics of 1952 or the series for the 1968 Grenoble Olympic Games, commissioned well-known illustrators and painters like Constantin and Pierre Ambrogiani.
The Museo Nazionale della Montagna in Turin and the Bilbao Mendi Film Festival are members of the International Alliance for Mountain Film and thanks to their close relationship it has been possible to transfer this unique exhibition to Bilbao in the year in which the Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary. It is a luxury to be able to start celebrating this milestone by presenting La Elegante Montaña at the Basque Museum in Bilbao.
The location of the exposition in the heart of Bilbao, in the Basque Museum, hand in hand with the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and Bilbao Mendi Film Festival, enhances the beauty and authenticity of the exhibition even more. The coordination with the Museo Nazionale della Montagna has been exquisite on the part of the techniques of the Basque Museum. We are before an essential appointment with art and mountain culture.
