Francesco Vezzoli's 'Diva?' Monograph Explores Glamour and Tears

A new monograph by Francesco Vezzoli, titled 'Francesco Vezzoli: Diva?', has been published by Skira. Originally conceived as a catalog for his last exhibition in Shanghai, the book transforms into a multi-voice reflection on visual history through the artist's gaze. Dedicated to the late Mirella Petteni, the volume features large photographs of Hollywood and opera legends such as Anna Magnani, Sophia Loren, Maria Callas, Judy Garland, Édith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, and Jane Fonda, whose faces are embroidered with gold tears. The book includes an interview with Vezzoli by Hans Ulrich Obrist, a conversation between Vezzoli and Sophia Loren, and critical essays by Donatien Grau and Nancy Spector. Curated by Shai Baitel, artistic director of the Modern Art Museum of Shanghai, the publication examines the intersection of glamour, suffering, and visual culture. Vezzoli notes that early in his career he faced resistance for working with camp and kitsch during a time dominated by conceptual art. The title's question mark reflects his view that the true diva is a construction.