Susanna Hardage, Mannequin with Textile Assemblage, Coins and Costume Jewellery, 1980s, Mixed Media Sculpture

Susanna Hardage was one of the most active women in the search for a perfect emulsion between art and history. She tried in several works to place elements that aroused feeling in the human soul. Unfortunately, an accident cut her and her husband short on 8 May 2017.
She was an eclectic artist: capable of using a thousand different materials and techniques - from decoupage to painting to trompe l'oeil - to give new life to forgotten objects, thus transforming them into works of art.
In this case it is a mannequin taken over at La Scala in Milan. The bust is supported by a cylindrical iron base in patina.
Going up we see the central body, a mix of techniques that together are nothing short of explosive.
We see at the neck a very flamboyant necklace of brilliants, under which fabric buttons, in the shape of flowers, have been applied. The shoulders appear to be wearing a jacket with epaulettes, typically from the 1980s, from which green and gold fabric braids descend beautifully.
from the sides of the neck we see applied a burgundy and white fabric that goes to maintain the breast, made of braids rolled up on themselves, so as to create a somewhat eclectic effect. In between the two breasts there is a very beautiful decorative element made of pearls.
The bust is made of fabric rods, to create a sort of bust, embellished with coins of different colours.
At the waist we see a belt forming a V on the pubis, embellished with a coral-coloured oval jewel.
The thigh part is adorned with different coloured fabrics, embellished with a green and white woven belt.
The sculpture is a veritable explosion of art and creativity!