Guangzhou – After stops in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City, the Italian Shoe Design exhibition arrives in Guangzhou, on view from April 15 to May 20 at the Guangzhou K11 Art Mall. The exhibition showcases some of the most iconic shoes in fashion history—footwear that defined eras and, in some cases, sparked cultural revolutions. Curated by Elisabetta Pisu and organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou, the show presents 31 pairs of women’s shoes, ranging from historical examples to recent creations, selected from some of the most influential Italian brands and designers. These rare pieces—some jealously guarded by fashion houses—were chosen for their innovative design and evocative power, representing a wide variety of styles and interpretations of the shoe as an object.

Two main themes guide the selection: the heel—dizzyingly high, needle-thin, sometimes bordering on the impossible—which makes the shoe both desirable and almost unattainable; and brightness, expressed through reflective fabrics and Swarovski crystals, elevating the shoe to a precious jewel. “The exhibition celebrates the uniquely Italian ability to merge the art of an ancient manufacturing tradition,” commented Valerio De Parolis, Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou, “with the beauty and harmony of form, resulting in a perfect blend of creativity and elegance that only Made in Italy can express.” The show spans visionary inventions by Salvatore Ferragamo, the minimalist aesthetic of Sergio Rossi, the opulence of René Caovilla, Prada’s symbolic designs, the eclecticism of Versace, and the elegant architecture of Diego Dolcini. It also highlights the work of emerging Italian designers, including the bold forms and bright colors of Francesca Bellavita, the refined lines of MARIæN, and the hyper-femininity of Alfredo Piferi, who combines glamour and sustainability. (9colonne)