Féminin Expo-Invited by Villa Noailles during Design parade Toulon 2017

The scene of Féminin, Valentina Cameranesi’s recent exhibition in Toulon, France, is set in a former hair salon, a place of self-reflection. Conceived as a spatial still life that includes vases, fabrics, and photographs, the show inspires nostalgia for the 1980s a time when hair was big, blocky shapes defined interiors, and people generally weren’t afraid to make bold style statements.The title of the show is taken from the vinyl lettering remaining on the salon’s window façade. It is the ideal reference for Valentina Cameranesi’s work, which deals with a perception of femininity from an era when the understanding of confident, sensual femininity was being redefined as many women’s idea of power dressing started to emulate that of men.One could say Cameranesi is looking for an artistic lexicon of shapes, colors, and ornaments, her themes referencing the issues of female identity. Today the sensually elegant L’Oréal woman from the late 70s and early 80s may no longer be present, but in Féminin her image lingers on.Valentina Cameranesi consciously took time to elaborate on the body of her work.Now it is placed here as a contribution to contemporary nostalgia.

Matylda Krzykowski