Following up on his 2022 grotesque sci-fi thriller Crimes of the Future, David Cronenberg is turning to Prada for his next disturbing project. As part of a larger exhibition for the company titled “Cere anatomiche: La Specola di Firenze | David Cronenberg,” the director was recruited to shoot a new short film which will be one of the centerpieces of the show. In typical Cronenberg fashion, the short plays with body horror through its use of four 18th Century wax female corpses that were originally used for medical studies. The exhibition is set to run from March 24 to July 17.
The Prada Foundation gave some insight into the theme and purpose of Cronenberg’s film. “Through his short movie, David Cronenberg will provide an alternative gaze on the four female wax models on display, liberating them from their academic function as medical demonstrations and educational tools,” the official statement read. They added that the film “will reveal the vivid and unexpected dimension of the female wax corpses that until now have been known for their static and severe nature.”
The exhibition is based in Milan and will feature wax figures from Europe’s famed La Specola scientific museum in Florence, including one of its most famous – the Anatomical Venus. Cronenberg noted that the anatomical figures were often utilized by medical students who lacked access to corpse dissections at universities and hospitals. Venus is especially unique due to having removable parts, appearing very lifelike and serene with real, flowing human hair before peeling back her layers to reveal organs, bones, and muscles beneath. She marked the beginning of a scientific revolution, mending together the artistry of Medici Florence and the inquiry of the Enlightenment.
