Madonna is the protagonist of «The Icon Issue», a new editorial project by Vanity Fair Italy, France and Spain

Vanity Fair announces a new European collaboration involving Italy, France and Spain for The Icon issuethe debut of an annual initiative that goes beyond the boundaries of publishing, becoming an artistic project that includes an exhibition, a short movie, a collaboration between fashion, art and design and an urban art performance.

The first protagonist of this journey could only be Madonna, a global icon for over four decades, pioneer, diva and pop star, who has dedicated herself to this project, created by photographers Luigi & Iango, expressing the values ​​she has promoted throughout her artistic and iconographic journey. Madonna participated in a two-day shooting together with more than 80 talents, wearing, among others, clothes by John Galliano for Maison Margiela, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier, under the direction of B. Åkerlund, Swedish stylist based in Los Angeles and fashion director of the service. The result is an extraordinary portfolio, including short films and videos for Vanity Fair’s social media and digital channels.

Madonna has released a Vanity Fair an exclusive interview in which she talks about feminism, sexuality,
religion and diversity, emphasizing its ongoing battles against patriarchy and acknowledging the
price he had to pay over the years to defend his beliefs.
The story of his upbringing in a Catholic family, his current spiritual approach, more
mystical than dogmatic, of the importance of his family life and of seeing his children grow up
expressing their talent and creativity, they outline an extraordinary portrait of the most intimate side of the pop icon.

This unique profile is accompanied by special interviews given for the occasion to Vanity Fair from John Galliano And Pedro Almodóvar, who talk about their respective relationships with the star. “Madonna’s career has a biblical dimension, a universal reach,” says Galliano. “The first time I saw her she was already inspired, fearless, with integrity and artistic pride.” Almodóvar talks about all of his encounters with Madonna over the years, even though the two artists have not yet worked together. “She has the dark side of her, but also another brighter side.”

Madonna has influenced and inspired the lives of many people and entire generations among them Vanity Fair Italy tells the story of Marilena Delli Umuhoza, Italian Afro-descendent photographer, director and writer, who recalls how many of her songs encouraged her to find her place in the world in 1990s Italy. Also included in the issue is the contribution of the English essayist Catherine Angel. If Madonna celebrated female desire, she made it an object of study and explains how subversive and political her provocation was then.
Madonna also reveals that she is working on her new world show The Celebration Tour. Between
his plans also a biopic of his own: «I’m about to create a new show. And I’ve been working since
several years to the screenplay of a film about my life. It’s a beautiful moment because I collect ideas, let myself be inspired, hang out with creative people, watch lots of films, listen to music”.

«Madonna has accepted not only to be part of a service but of an artistic project which is the
representation of the values ​​he has embodied over the past 40 years. Each image is a snapshot, a reflection on the great contribution this artist has made to culture in recent decades» he says Simone Marchetti, Vanity Fair European Editorial Director, who conducted the interview. «Those pages are the milestones of a discussion, progress and commitment that does not end there. A commitment that we strive to tell, explain and illustrate in each issue of Vanity Fair».

Alberto MorenoHead of Editorial Content of Vanity Fair Spain: «Retracing Madonna’s musical and personal career for the preparation of this special issue was almost overwhelming, and when we saw the final result of Luigi & Iango’s photographs for our first European Icon Issue, it was understood: Madonna he did it again. Her peculiarities are more alive than ever, always at the center of the debate, ahead of the times on many occasions since she began her career 40 years ago ».

Olivier BoucharaHead of Editorial Content of Vanity Fair France: «In this very special issue, Madonna is once again Madonna: an icon. Not just the embodiment of a trend
musical or of a style, but a figure as intriguing as it is sacred. She entrusted herself body and soul to
creativity of our photographers, Luigi & Iango, to redraw with them, three decades after Like a Virgin, the contours of his relationship with religion. Paintings, more than photos. Reinterpretations, more than
representations”.

This Icon Issue Of Vanity Fair it is a project that is only at the beginning of its journey: in September
2023, in fact, will be part of the anthological exhibition of photographers and artists Luigi & Iango al Royal Palace Museum in Milan.
Vanity Fair Italy is on newsstands since January 18thfollowed by Vanity Fair France and Spain the January 25th.
The complete interview and more images are available on the website:
https://www.vanityfair.it/article/madonna-interview-icon-issue

Credits:
Starring MADONNA
Photo LUIGI & IANGO
Editor-in-chief SIMONE MARCHETTI
Fashion director B. ÅKERLUND
Fashion Editor MICHAEL PHILOUZE