Vanity, a word often imbued with negative connotations, was the opening topic of discussion at Miu Miu’s Tales & Tellers program during Art Basel Paris. This year’s inaugural event brought together directors, talent and artists who have participated in Miu Miu’s Women’s Tales and/or collaborated with the fashion brand. The first of five panels, on Oct.
16 and 17, presented Laura Citarella, Ava DuVernay, Catherine Martin and Carla Simón in conversation with moderator Elvira Dyangani Ose. Argentine director Citarella spoke about the dichotomy of promoting her art when focus often falls on her as an individual, drawing attention towards her and away from the film itself. Fellow panel member and director DuVernay shared, “I was thinking, is there any male director that thinks that? But the way that we’re conditioned – and this is speaking in a generalization – diminishing or holding back is such a woman thing to do.
To assert our own space is hard.” For all five women on stage, the subject of self-promotion was deeply personal. “If you don’t define yourself, somebody else will do it for you,” said Dyangani Ose.
“For those of us that have been, for many years, outside of the main table, outside of the greater conversation or continue to be – or we have never been able to shape life or history-making to our advantage – I think is important that we claim that space.” While fashion can be seen as frivolous, Simón explained how clothes allow a perso.