ROME – Galleria Borghese, famed for its renaissance statue collection, is set to showcase its new Azzedine Alaïa “Soft Sculpture” exhibition. Despite fabric being Alaïa prime medium, defining him as a sculptor is no misnomer at all.

The Tunisian-born, Paris-based designer sculpts, as much as designs, garments that perfectly fit the female form. 

Alaïa, inspired by a Dior-wearing,  famous ballerina that married into his family, studied sculpture as a teenager in Tunis, before working as an assistant for the likes of Christian Dior, Guy Laroche and Thierry Mugler. Alaïa made a name for himself, popularising leggings, decorative metal studs, bandage dresses, and perforated leather. Since opening up his own atelier, Alaïa has had an exceptional clientele, working with big names such as Grace Jones, Naomi Campbell and Greta Garbo. 

His work is characterised by precision and control, often sewing women into their outfits to achieve the perfect fit. He uses a wide-range of materials, from Lycra, to leather and suede.

As such, Galleria Borghese has deemed his works worthy to be showcased alongside the life-sized works of Bernini and Canova, in a new exhibition “Soft sculptures”, opening on July 11. The white and coloured marble, bronze, luxurious reds, golds, and frescoed ceilings of the Borghese will become the backdrop of 80 of Alaïa’s garments, generating unexpected congruencies between the classic and modern works.

Dresses with spiralling zippers, perforated leather belts, tassled and bandeau dresses, and wedding gowns, will all be on show for visitors of the exhibition.

Alaïa’s works are famed for his use of shapes and the silhouette, which, according to a statement from the gallery, “only Galleria Borghese can host, a historic place that continues to promote the transformation of base matter into perfect forms.”

The gallery exhibits sculptured bodies that are worthy of celebration, being able to “craquer les hommes”, and this is likewise what Alaïa aspires to do – create garments worn by ideal women that “crack” the hearts of men.

Alaïa meticulously chose his pieces that would best work with the spaces available to him at the Galleria – analysing the colours, the light, and the permanent collections.

According to a statement by the museum, Alaïa has “translated the chisel into scissors, altering the body and its lines, playing with cuts.”

The exhibition is located at Galleria Borghese, Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5, 00197 Rome.

The exhibition will be open from July 11 to October 25, 2015, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.00am to 7.00pm.

Ticket reservation is required. You can reserve at: www.galleriaborghese.it