All that's Italian

Modern and eclectic, classic and memorable are the words used to describe the exhibition, 'Italian Style - Dressing the Body and Daily Life' at the Art Centre in Manama.

A BD756,000 ($2 million) exhibition featuring Italian clothes, furniture, paintings, Leonardo da Vinci's interactive installations are on display until May 2 before it moves on to a tour of Asia.

The 160 items on display represent the "true essence" of Italian creativity, style and luxury. The exhibition is funded and co-ordinated by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organised by the Italian Embassy in co-operation with Sartirana Art Foundation and has already toured Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The object of the exhibition is to present the history of Italian ingenuity over centuries from Leonardo da Vinci to modern times, said an official.

Dresses created by world-renowned designers like Versace, Armani, Ferre, Valentino, Krizia and worn by celebrities and divas present a first hand peek into the wardrobes of the rich and the famous and showcase the magnificent creativity of individual designers.

Various pieces of furniture and objects d'art ranging from the extraordinary 'Big Red Rose - Silk Velvet Sculpture' by Carla Tolomeo to the gold lounge chair by Roberto Fallani to the more classic Italian design present the opulence and ingenuity that are hallmarks of Italian furniture.

"My personal favourite is the black dress embellished with Swarovski crystals made with different types of laces worn by the supermodel Naomi Campbell, the white silk dress by Versace worn by Princess Diana because of the way its pleats are constructed and the mere fact that it is her dress, the red shift dress for its vibrancy and the gold evening dress by Renato Balestra for its richness and detailed work," said Indian Rupal K Sagar, an Art teacher at L'Atelier living in Manama.

"I'm a great fan of all things Italian and love to wear Italian designer wear. The exhibition is a great opportunity to view world-class names in lifestyle and clothes up close and personal. The furniture is very funky. I love it," gushed Dina, a Lebanese housewife from Juffair.

"The exhibition is of great interest to me because I design clothes myself. The clothes are beautiful and the cuts very interesting. I wish I could own a dress like this," said Fatema Asif, a budding dress designer living in Hoora.