Francesco Vezzoli’s Perfect Day

Italian artist and filmmaker Francesco Vezzoli explores the power of popular culture and how it operates across the thin line between truth and fiction. Through replicating different media formats including film and advertising, Vezzoli interrogates the seductive power of language and the fragility of the concept of the public persona. His famous embroidered pieces feature altered portraits of film stars who worked for famous directors. Other popular works include a trailer for a remake of Gore Vidal’s Caligula, starring Vidal himself, Helen Mirren, and Courtney Love, and an advertising campaign directed by Roman Polanski for Greed, a fictitious perfume.

We asked Vezzoli about his fantasy ‘Perfect Day’, where he travels across Europe, drinking with Giorgio De Chirico in Rome, meeting with Gianni Versace in Milan and travelling to Paris decked out in designer clothes.

Morning

Personally, I am not a morning person. So, ideally, I would like to wake up in Rome around lunchtime. Possibly in one of those nice hotels atop the staircase in Piazza di Spagna. Later, I would meet with Giorgio De Chirico, who has his studio nearby. I would take him out for a walk and we would probably go to Caffé Greco and have drinks. I would probably discuss with him the influences of Ancient Roman culture towards Surrealism. Then, I would celebrate by going to the Bulgari store and buying myself a jewel made with ancient coins.

Afternoon

In the afternoon I would go back to Milan. And I would book two appointments: one with Ettore Sottsass, to have him refurbish entirely and redecorate my apartment; and then I would meet with Gianni Versace, as I would love him to design some new outfits for me. Maybe I could borrow some fairly modernist pieces from his early collections as well… At that point of the day, I would feel that I’ve obliged to all my duties. So, I could concentrate on my nightlife plan. The most important of the day.

Evening

I would fly to Paris and go to Le Palace all dressed in Versace leather and have a wild night, clubbing and dancing until dawn. I would cruise all the boys and try my best to make at least one of them fall in love with me. This evening would be exclusively dedicated to pleasures, so networking would be banned. I would imagine just indulgence, desire and vanity. This would be my ideal day, if there were no boundaries in terms of time, space and money.