Sandalet van wit leer, afgebiesd met lichtblauw leer c. 1970 - 1975

This sandal, made of white leather trimmed with light blue, was created by Silvia Fiorentina. It’s not painting exactly, but it involves similar thinking. You choose a material - leather in this instance - and find your way with it, pushing it and pulling it, until it becomes something else. I imagine Silvia in her workshop, carefully stretching the leather over a form, considering the delicate balance between structure and form. That light blue trim - isn't that a beautiful touch? It’s so subtle but adds this dreamy, ethereal quality to the shoe. The gentle curves and soft color palette evoke a sense of femininity and grace, like a line in a drawing that delicately defines a shape. It reminds me of the work of painters like Mary Heilmann, who also use playful color combinations and simple forms to create a sense of joy and lightness. It seems the urge to create beauty crosses all forms.