[Lady Art] Olga Titus on Creating an “Emotional Community” Around the Lady Dior Bag

Welcome to the Dior Talks series themed around the 5th edition of Dior Lady Art and hosted by Paris-based journalist Katya Foreman. For this year’s event, ten artists and collectives from around the world have participated in a game of metamorphosis by rendering the iconic Lady Dior handbag as a unique piece of art. Trans-culturalism, identity and spirituality are key sources of inspiration for our latest guest on the series, Olga Titus. For her reinterpretation of the iconic bag, the Swiss-Malaysian artist gathered elements that trigger emotion and explored the concept of cultural “in-betweenness.” This “third space” is one she knows well, and it serves as a conduit for cultural exchange inspired by the Indian theorist Homi K. Bhabha. “In my artistic work I encircle a cosmos, a galaxy in which self and external perception, biographical elements and cultural identity are reflected and represented in all their facets,” says the artist, whose creative process can be likened to building a cabinet of curiosities. One case in point: a floral rug in her atelier became the basis for one of her Lady Dior bags, and also references Monsieur Dior’s love of gardens. An assortment of mini masks creates an emotional “community” around the bag.   Tune in to this episode to learn more about how Titus approached the Lady Dior, using her signature sequin works as a starting point, and how she incorporated harlequin effects and a kaleidoscope of glass beads to create craft-intensive masterpieces that showcase embroidery at its most extreme.  Discover Olga Titus’ creations :https://youtu.be/A5-knt4E1vY

Om Podcasten

Step inside the contemporary Dior mind with ‘Dior Talks’, a series of podcasts aimed at bringing together both the people who directly shape the creative direction of the House and those whose artistic, cultural or intellectual impact influence its narrative. The sixth series, ‘Feminism’, focuses on the women who have inspired Maria Grazia Chiuri, both professionally and personally, and who have been involved in the bold collaborations with the House that the Creative Director of Women’s collections has orchestrated and championed since her arrival in 2016. These podcasts provide a stimulating outlet for the voices of these influential and empowered figures, who talk openly and honestly about their lives, their motivations, the challenges they’ve overcome and their hopes for the future. The series is hosted by Justine Picardie, the London-based journalist and biographer.