new york 1984

A 35 year old Miuccia Prada, subsequent to selling her family’s luggage company, moves to New York after deciding a line of nylon handbags could spell the end of an already financially uncertain company. With the small funds from the sale of the business she decides to devote her time to an underground artistic movement that covertly meets in a disused water reservoir. The entrance to the space is only known amongst the tight group of painters, sculptors, architects and various other artists. There is rumour that Prada chooses to make her own entrance to the space via a manual hand-pullied elevator, the effort required for such a device could only be a testament to the commitment and effort that she demonstrates to the group. The aim of the collective, named Prada Linea Rossa is to produce original concepts and energetic works that fight the norms of city life and bring relief to the individual that is bombarded with advertising and media. After a brief burst of fame with small pop groups, and a solo album in 1983, at age 26
Madonna Ciccone chooses to step away from a singing profession to devote herself to the dance careers of young underprivileged New York girls much like herself many years ago. By day, the disused warehouse her company of dancer’s has occupied is a studio where they can experiment with emerging styles of hip-hop, while maintaining influences from disco that are becoming increasingly rare.
This space at night transforms into a club where the company has the opportunity to display their performance skills, with Ciccone taking centre stage most nights on her custom made gold platform that raises her onto the stage and into the spotlight in a theatrical manner.
The two now live together in a guttered apartment block in which they have created a dynamic series of living spaces, with differing sleeping area's to reflect their individual personalities.
The pair often meet on one level of their dwelling where they have resourcefully constructed basic furniture from scrap material. Each woman is determined to etch out a comfortable, productive and pro-active existence within such an overwhelming city; making uses of any resources available.