Guernica: from Picasso to Rushdie and Rifat Ozbek

Salman Rushdie's tale "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers" places the fantastical red slippers at the center of a raucous auction. The characters, from witches to political refugees, are all desperate to return to some time, some body or some place. They drip with desire for this tool and are armed with Uzi's and couture jackets.

One woman wears Picasso's Guernica on her back. The bombing of the Spanish town displayed on her body.


I came across this dress by Rifat Ozbek and was instantly reminded of the scene in Rushdie's novel. The Guernica'esque figures are etched onto her cool grey metallic shift.

I can see her slowly stepping around an auction house, only deigning to crinkle her dress to peer into the glass box with the ruby slippers.
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SB