MARIA LA CALLAS: the Art of Italian Costume Design in the Film

The exhibition Maria La Callas: The Art of Italian Costume Design in the Film pays tribute to Maria Callas through the visionary costumes created by Massimo Cantini Parrini for the film Maria, directed by Pablo Larraín. The exhibition is curated by the film’s costume designer, the internationally renowned and award-winning Italian costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, in collaboration with students in Fashion Art Direction at Polimoda, of which he is also an alumnus and mentor.

The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of Italy in Athens and Benaki Museum, under the patronage of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, the exhibition portraits costumes as a main feature of cinema and theatre. It honours the genius of Italian costume design, a blending of craftsmanship, research and storytelling, showcasing the legacy of the immortal Diva.

Massimo Cantini Parrini’s approach explores the powerful and multifaceted personality of Maria Callas, focusing on snapshots of pivotal moments in her life and artistic career. Legendary opera costumes coexist with pieces redolent of the glamour of her social life. A vibrant tribute to the captivating identity of “La Divina,” one of the most refined and recognizable divas of the twentieth century, an icon of style and timeless elegance.

Through the “Made in Italy” pieces in the collection, the exhibition reflects on the sociological and cultural evolution of three critical decades in the 20th century.