Type of Project: Academic - University of Toronto, John H. Daniels School of Architecture
Year: 2024
My Involvement in the Project: Proposed Gallery Design and Renderings
This gallery invites viewers on a journey through the vibrant intersection of globalization, creative agency, and cultural exchange in the world of luxury fashion. We begin with the compelling collaboration between the Parisian fashion house Christian Dior and the Chanakya School of Craft. This partnership exemplifies the fusion of Eastern and Western traditions within a globalized fashion landscape. At its core lies a celebration of the female artisans of Chanakya—women who are reclaiming spaces historically dominated by men and redefining their roles as central creators and cultural influencers in the luxury fashion industry.
Artwork By: Marta Roberti
Artwork Crafted by: Chanakya School of Craft
Proposed Gallery Design: Kamran Hemani
This space, anchored by Marta Roberti’s Ancestors of a Time to Come, evokes an immersive and organic environment. Its circular layout symbolizes the cyclical rhythm of life, regeneration, and the sacred harmony between humanity and nature. Sunken seating, embedded directly into the earth, invites visitors to ground themselves both physically and spiritually. This gesture reflects the mindfulness and holistic spirituality explored in Roberti’s work.
Eight trees, carefully selected to match the species depicted in the artwork, embody timelessness and grace. These qualities are closely tied to Dior’s iconic lucky number 8. The oak seating, arranged in a flowing figure-eight formation, echoes this symbolism and offers a space for contemplation and quiet reflection.
Overhead spotlights highlight the panels, while spherical elements placed along the floor suggest the ongoing cycles of nature and the fluid movement of fashion. A glass ceiling crowns the space, symbolizing transparency and the open exchange between Maria Grazia Chiuri’s creative vision and the broader cultural context.