Umberto Boccioni Hits the Runway

As I clicked around on the New York Times during my European travels I read about how an economist derived his own system of artistic ranking, placing quantitative measurements onto a genre that romanticizes its ability to eschew the concrete for the intangible sphere of ideas and concepts. But for those of us who aren't selling pickled animals for a cool $20 million (Hello Damien!), a formalized hierarchy doesn't seem so daft.

As I clicked on the top 5 list, I noticed Umberto Boccioni's sculpture, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space and I immediately thought of the shoes created for the Prada Fall 2008 collection.



Boccioni's sculpture seems strong and almost soldier-like in the thick plates jutting out on the thighs and shoulders but the posture is delicately held with the knees locked in position and toes ready to fly off the ground, like a futuristic Mercury running through the air to deliver an urgent message.

Prada's shoes, with a winged back and armored shield, encasing the arch of the foot are perfect for a woman bored with the YSL tribute,the ubiquitous sexy-girl, ankle-breaking blister-creating platform shoe of the season. These shoes are tough but lovely.





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