Chalisée Naamani Blends Fashion, Kitsch, and Classicism in Milan

At Ciaccia Levi gallery in Milan, Chalisée Naamani (born 1995 in Neuilly-sur-Seine) presents a solo exhibition that fuses fashion, kitsch, and classical references. The show's title, 'Quando va male, il leopardo,' borrows a fashion industry phrase describing leopard-print collections created to offset poor sales. Naamani's work critiques the political and cultural power of fashion, as seen in 'Do not put clothing on your words,' which uses modified photos and torn posters to reflect on women's conditions in the Middle East. The artist reinterprets myth in 'Athéna,' where a red curtain photographed in a Milanese church evokes the Temple of Athena from the anime 'Knights of the Zodiac,' equated by Naamani to the contemporary smartphone. Kitsch and forgery appear through fake branded bags, pendants, and travel souvenirs, exemplified in 'French Kiss and Orientalism,' which pays homage to Paris via a plastic Eiffel Tower, a kiss-covered blanket, and silhouettes of the tower. Four works intentionally recall the four remaining main compartments of Piero della Francesca's 'Polyptych of Saint Augustine,' with saints peeking through fabric folds alongside counterfeit bags, costume jewelry, and rap lyrics. Naamani states she archives images from daily life, screenshots, and scans to create new combinations. The exhibition emphasizes material variety and continuous construction and deconstruction.