Following the Palazzo Labia in 2019 and the Gran Teatro La Fenice in 2022, the Arsenale Vecchio in Venice – another of La Serenissima’s historic jewels – served as the setting for this unique event. Usually closed to the public, the building was transformed for the evening into a spectacular reception hall for hosting a prestigious dinner for supporters of Venetian Heritage, artists, VIPs and friends of the House. As a tribute to the city’s symbolic, eternal connection to water, the theme of the ball was naumachia, re-enactments of naval battles that were particularly popular among the games held in Ancient Roman amphitheatres. Guests were greeted on the Arsenale’s quays by gondola-style boats – on loan from the Regata Storica di Venezia – illuminated by vibrant colours.
Inside the velvet-clad walls, tablescapes evoking imposing vessels were decorated with enchanting centrepieces mirroring the City of Doges and its canals in sumptuous miniature reproductions. Dior called on renowned model-maker Gilberto Penzo to replicate iconic monuments, from the Campanile di San Marco to the Rialto Bridge, which were set amidst exquisite floral compositions. Reflecting Dior’s desire to celebrate and perpetuate Venetian savoir-faire, chandeliers blown and crafted in Murano showcased the excellence of the region’s master glassmakers. In a captivating dialogue between cultures and traditions, tablecloths were embellished with harlequin motifs – a subtle reference to the legendary Carnival of Venice – echoing the graphics of the emblematic cannage that graced tableware by Dior Maison.
A fundraiser to benefit the restoration of the Porta Magna in the Arsenale and the Ca’ d’Oro museum, this grandiose ceremony marked a virtuoso new link between Dior and Italy, through the prism of creativity in all its forms. |
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