Marinella Senatore creates a carnival of light for Dior's Cruise show

Around 30,000 coloured bulbs created a dazzling backdrop for the Dior Cruise 2021 Collection, conjured by feminist artist Marinella Senatore as a glowing festival of lights.

Dior’s Italian-born creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri drew on her Puglian heritage for the Collection, which was presented in Lecce last night as a physically distanced spectacle, live-streamed around the world. Chiuri enlisted Senatore to create a glowing set for the event, which took over the town’s Piazza Duomo, transforming it into a magical wonderland of colour.

Senatore worked in collaboration with Puglia-based light designers Fratelli Paris to evoke the feel of a local fairground, dressing the town’s dome and erecting arcs of light across the public space. At the same time, a number of the artist’s provocative slogans appeared behind models dressed in sheer tulle dresses, crocheted knitwear and whimsical folk-inspired fabrics.

An 18-strong orchestra, folk dancers, 21 local musicians and Italian rockstar Giuliano Sangiorgi rounded off the bumper performance, which had no official audience in attendance but drew the interest of locals who watched from the fringes.

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