September 17, 2023 |
Artisanally piled, draped, bundled and balled concoctions writhed and danced at Di Petsa’s Reflections of Venus show. It was an allegorical exploration of love – the unconditional love of a mother, the conditional love of oneself, the loss of growing older and, as the untouchable parts of our body expand, of affection all together – told through the mythology of Aphrodite, Goddess Venus the Erotic. A naked model – Venus – was cocooned softly and raised above the audience on a set of stepping stone plinths (similar to the boulder Dimitra Petsa performed on during her last show) courtesy of Ellie Koslowsky. As she awoke, uncoiling her body to the sensual drumming of a beat, a pack of scantily-clad women, guided by Dimitra, enclosed and caressed her in chrysalis.
Then Venus is reborn, her nudity now shrouded by a lustrous metallic gold gown in Di Petsa’s signature Wetlook style. Across her chest, a detaias of rose quartz healing crystals dangled and the goddess lead the procession of the catwalk.
What followed was a mosaic of Bohemian baroque ensembles. Textures were visceral, begging to be embraced. Richie Shazam, swaying her hips and twirling her wrists, slunked out in a silk-spun, gold-embroidered cut-out mini dress, concealing and revealing. Other models dripped in intricate embellishments and beaded embroidery; some wielding the scepter with bewitching bouquets of dried flowers or a mirror in hand. A nymph sporting muse held half of a clay pottery wine jug up to her chest as if she were pregnant, and it was her ripe belly. The more masculine looks featured tiny cod pieces and bikinis with elongated strings.
The birth of Venus; an ethereal dream; Di Petsa is coming into its own.
Photography courtesy of Di Petsa.
