An armoire, a mattress, a few stools, some plates, a steel table, and a mirror—the objects almost add up to a household, or at least a room. One could imagine living in the world of “Il Respiro nascosto delle cose” (The secret inspiration of things), though it would be very modest living—the simple white dress in the armoire was made of paper; the stools were old and worn; the plates were mismatched and lay on the floor.

An air of quiet mystery suffused these objects. Inside Lena Liv's Senza titolo (armadio) (Untitled [wardrobe]), 2001, a white dress, possibly a hospital gown, hung next