When we think about a model on the catwalk, immediately we think about a tall and extremely thin woman. And it is no coincidence that this should be the first image that comes to mind when talking about models, because since the fashion world stopped being an elitist sphere in order to become a vehicle for the beauty industry, models began to embody these new beauty standards. Since the “supermodel” era of the 90s these figures of the fashion world became something more than just models, they became role models for all the young girls striving to be as thin and desired as them.

With the turn of the century the beauty standards on the catwalk changed, since in the 90s these girls became even more famous than the designers and their collections. And this is when the famous phrase “Models should be a clothing rack” came about. A phrase that would later cost these designers the worst campaigns against anorexia on the catwalks, because these “racks” turned into “skeletons where you could hang the clothes and the lifestyles of these women”. Anorexia became ubiquitous and ended in a few model deaths.

In 2007 the organizers of the London fashion week raised attention to this problem promoting the event with the slogan “London, catwalks without drugs and anorexia”. And after that, naturally, the most important catwalks joined them. Nowadays world famous designers demand models with a healthy BMI and size 36. The last designer was Lorenzo Riva, one of Balenciaga’s former students, who supported the concept that thinness couldn’t be the only beauty standard around.

Thus, he joined Nadia Accetti, president of the association “Donna Donna onlus”, which promotes campaigns against anorexia: “Together against eating disorders”. Thanks to institutions like this the big fashion houses and catwalks couldn’t keep their eyes closed, especially since a model is not only a clothing rack, but indeed a role model for women all around the globe.

Nowadays the fashion world tries to engage with the real world and make small steps into making their models into representatives of more realistic beauty standards.

If you are interested in fashion and want to see these changes happening on the catwalks then you should go to Milan. Rent apartments in Milan, and enjoy your stay in the world’s biggest fashion capital.

If you stroll down the streets of Milan, you’ll see a two part sculpture called “Needle, Thread and Knot” that symbolizes Milan’s dedication to the world of fashion. You can admire this sculpture in the Plaza Cardona, an important area adjacent to the railway station Cardona. The gigantic sculpture has strings placed under the earth and features the colours of the subway lines, whose end is located across the sidewalk, marked by a sculptural representation of a final knot. Its curious and colourful perspective harmoniously integrates with the classic building in the background.

The sculpture was created by renowned sculptor Claes Oldenburg and his wife Coosje van Bruggen.

Oldenburg was born in Stockholm (Sweden) but when he was just a boy his family immigrated to the United States. He graduated from the Chicago Latin School and later studied at Yale University and the Art Institute of Chicago. He is considered one of the pioneers of Pop Art happenings made some part of his sculptures which are characterized by using very simple materials such as cardboard, fabric, plaster, paper, plaster etc. Almost all his works from 1962 are large scale.

In 1977 he married the artist Coosje van Bruggen. She became an essential collaborator with him, offering advice and working together to reconstruct and relocate their works around the globe.

In all his works, both individual and those made with his wife, Claes uses common, everyday objects. In some of them he is looking for interactivity with the viewer. He received the Wolf Foundation Prize for the Arts in Jerusalem and the Schock Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. If you do not want to miss this extraordinary sculpture don’t think twice and come to the birthplace of fashion. Rent apartments in Milan and enjoy the sculptures of Oldenburg.

Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio, is a famous artist who was born in 1571 in Milan and died in 1610 in Porto Ercole. Now, for the first time the supposed remains of the artist are on display to the public in the port city where he died.

Presumably, because the experts are only 85% certain that they are the remains of Caravaggio. For this event the city authorities held a ceremony “to give a decent burial.”

The urn which has his remains will be on display throughout the month of July in the enclave Forte Stella along with pictures of the various stages of the research to determine if indeed they were his remains.

Caravaggio’s remains were buried in 1610 in the cemetery of San Sebastian in the city where he died, and many think he died there after fleeing from Rome because he had been sentenced to death for having committed a murder.

The research to determine if the remains were of the artist was conducted jointly by researchers from four Italian universities and initially they had to exhume the remains of more than twenty persons among whose remains Caravaggio’s remains could possibly be found. After subjecting all of them to carbon-14 testing they narrowed it down.

At this time, they performed DNA testing and compared results to DNA of the offspring of the sister of the painter, called Caterina Merisi, but as the line of succession was broken, a DNA link could not be determined. The next step was to make the same analysis to people who called themselves Merisi or Merisio (a derivative) and found that many had similar genetic conditions.

In the city of his birth, many of his greatest works such as “Supper at Emmaus” or “fruit basket ” are on display. You can rent apartments in Milan and enjoy not only his paintings but also pay your respects to his homeland.

The Museum of Contemporary Photography Cinisello Balsamo, on the outskirts of Milan, hosts an exhibition of 18 images (and video) by the German photographer Karen Knorr (Frankfurt am Main, 1954) from the “Fables” series, made between the years 2003 and 2008 until September 12, 2010

Early in her career Knorr, became interested in social reportage, and aligned herself with the new trend developed by British documentary photographers such as Martin Parr, Anna Fox, Pauil Seawright, Keth Arnatt and Eileen Perrier while living in the UK. She became known to audiences and critics with her series Gentleman (1981-1983), a report on English clubs for men. Later she turned her attention to the study of the relationship between nature and society.

The images displayed in Milan are from this phase of her creative journey. The viewer who visits the exhibit will wonder at large-format photographs which highlight contrasting natural elements with formal settings and the overlap between the wild and cultural and artistic expressions of human beings. The main protagonists of the photographs are animals, alive or stuffed (birds, foxes, wild boars, fawns etc.) which are placed in atypical and surprising contexts, like cultural and artistic venues such as museums or historic buildings (the Carnavalet Museum in Paris, the Musée Condé in Chantilly, Chambord Castle Museum of Hunting and Nature of Paris, the Villa Savoye and the Museum of Orsay)

Knorr has exhibited her works in prestigious cultural institutions, and also given classes or lectures at the Tate Modern, the University of Westminster, Goldsmiths, Harvard, and the Art Institute of Chicago. She currently teaches photography at the University College of Creative Arts in Farnham.

Do not miss the opportunity to admire the works of this unique photographer. Admission is also free. Stay in the heart of the Lombard capital, to enjoy the best shops, bars and apartments in Milan. For more information on museum opening times and how to get there, consult the the Museum of Contemporary Photography website http://www.mufoco.org.