We sit down with Bianca D'Ippolito, the curator of "Open Fields," the debut exhibition by La Collection at our Parisian space, L'Appartement. With a background in architecture and contemporary art, Bianca brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of fashion and fine art. The exhibition features work by three distinct creators—Claude de Soria, François Réau, and La Collection itself—each transforming everyday materials like cement, fabric, and graphite into landscapes that explore time, memory, and human connection. In our conversation, Bianca delves into the inspirations behind the exhibition, the dialogue between art and fashion, and how "Open Fields" invites viewers to see the world through new eyes.
What was your initial inspiration for curating the "Open Fields" exhibition, and how did the collaboration with La Collection come about?
Bianca: From the very first time I discovered La Collection, met the team, and visited L’Appartement, I felt inspired to create a new project with them. I was amazed by their universe and their way of working. It was exactly what I was looking for, and something I wanted my circle to discover.
The exhibition explores the concept of landscapes. How do you feel each artist—Claude de Soria, François Réau, and La Collection—interprets this idea through their work?
Bianca: The exhibition challenges the traditional notion of landscape as a geographical area and invites viewers to broaden their perspective, seeing the landscape as an emotional and intellectual territory. The three artists guide us through this journey.
Claude de Soria freed cement from its limits in the 1970s when it was primarily associated with construction blocks, used to mold sculptures. She was brave enough to explore it in a variety of forms that evoke the cosmic.
François Réau pushes the boundaries of graphite on paper, moving beyond the bi-dimensional to create an immense, unspeakable field. His site-specific installation in the center of one room, made from branches from the Bois de Vincennes, creates a landscape for the mind.
La Collection transforms fabric into a vivid expression of personal and cultural identity. Each garment becomes more than a piece of clothing; it is part of a broader artistic narrative that reflects history, tradition, and innovation.
Together, these practices expand the viewer’s understanding of what a physical landscape can be: a field suspended in time and space, open to ideas and inspiration.
"Here at L'Appartement, there is no distinction between fashion, sculpture, installation, or drawing."
La Collection has always been a meeting point where the history of clothing, art & architecture meet. How do you see fashion interacting with art in this context?
Bianca: The La Collection pieces do not just interact with art—they are art. Here at L'Appartement, there is no distinction between fashion, sculpture, installation, or drawing. My curatorial choice challenges the perception of La Collection, positioning it as a creator, an artist. The looks presented are artworks in their own right, infused with emotions and opening up new visions and ways of living.
What role does the exhibition space—L'Appartement—play in the overall experience of "Open Fields"?
Bianca: L'Appartement is like a vessel that holds the idea. The experience begins with the visitor’s first approach: entering through the beautiful front door, passing through the courtyard, and ascending the stairs to the exhibition space. The intimacy of the venue enhances interaction with the artworks. I made sure to offer varied perspectives and maintain a strong relationship between each artwork and the architectural unity. When you leave, you feel like you have lived a true experience, une promenade architecturale, as Le Corbusier would have put it...
As a curator, how do you approach creating connections between artists of different generations and mediums, as seen in this exhibition?
Bianca: In this exhibition, you’ll encounter different materials—cement, fabric, graphite, plants, paper—and forms —spheres, circles, drawings, installations, objects. They all melt. It was fascinating to unite an artist born in 1926 with one born in 1978, one from Antwerp and another from Paris, one in fashion, and the other from the gallery scene. What happens when you bring them together? That’s the surprise and the intrigue of the project and you’ll really only find out during the installation...
Marcel Proust’s quote seems central to the exhibition’s theme. How does his idea of seeing the world through "other eyes" tie into the narrative of "Open Fields"?
Bianca: Proust captures the idea that the richest form of discovery comes not from external exploration but from expanding our perspective, seeing the world through different lenses. It's a profound reflection on the artistic creation, where, through art, music, and literature, we gain access to the unique universes. He illustrates how the arts can transport us, allowing us to experience life, to fly from "star to star" (to use his words). How beautiful is that?
Elstir is a painter and Vinteuil is a composer in Proust’s novel. They both embody the author’s belief in the power of art to alter perception and provide new ways of experiencing life.
“The only true voyage of discovery, the only fountain of Eternal Youth, would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes, to behold the universe through the eyes of another, of a hundred others, to behold the hundred universes that each of them beholds, that each of them is; and this we can contrive with an Elstir, with a Vinteuil; with men like these we do really fly from star to star.”
Why did you decide to work with Clavé Fine Art?
Bianca: I was looking to build a strong team of people who were a pleasure to work with, shared the same values, were ready to support one another, and were enthusiastic about the project. Antoine Clavé, the gallery's founder, embodied all of these qualities. I admire the way he runs his gallery, stands by his artists, and makes good choices. His involvement was crucial, and this project wouldn’t have been possible without him. I highly recommend visiting his gallery in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
Lastly, what do you hope visitors take away from this exhibition, both in terms of the artworks and the broader theme of exploration and transformation?
Bianca: I would love that visitors leave their phones behind and fully immerse themselves in the experience. I would love them to spend enough time with each piece, letting their eyes guide the journey. My wish is that they embody the spirit of exploration and curiosity, just as the artists did. If this connection is made, then I will have fulfilled my role.