2011 Alessi project

Alessi project which received the 22nd Compasso d'Oro award in July 2011, inspired by classical Dutch painting. Love the composition of this picture.

Exclusive interview with emerging fashion designer Giuseppe Virgone

For my last interview of the year, I am proud to introduce you to the work of Giuseppe Virgone, an Italian emerging fashion designer who launched his first collection in 2010. Let's dive into his gothic and almost theatrical universe paved with historical references.

When is your brand born?
The project started in late 2009 when I gave birth to a first collection called "An animal must die". It wasunveiled at the RA shop in Antwerp a few days after its opening. I presented mywork as a performance with an installation which related to this universe.

Who, from the fashion or "creative world" doyou take inspiration from?
I am inspired a lotby the past, by strong characters, Greek mythology, and religious belief.  Also from the works of contemporary artists suchas Romeo Castellucci, the Chapman brothers etc. and strangely music inspires mea lot too.

Can you tell us a bit more about your backgroundplease?
I am a young fashion designer based in Brussels trained at the National Schoolof Visual Arts of La Cambre in Brussels.

After an internshipat Gaspard Yurkievich as a “modist”, I launched my first men winter collectionin 2010 called "An animal must die."

This collectionevokes the fate of a mortal man, an unconditional love for an animal and the incomprehensionof unjustified actions. Space and movements of the body are the essential focusesof my work.

Can you tell us about your latest collection?

I called this collection "Broken agreement" becauseit defines what Savonarole (an Italian Dominican friar) lived. First, there was a religious belief. This belief drove himmad.  Politics and religion were mixed inhis mind, he wanted to control everything but nothing worked. All this power drovehim to his loss and his death.

This collection reflects the time when the religious soul is confronted with a half human, half monster shell!

It is a portrait ofGirolamo Savonarola, a priest who died in the bonfire in Florence, Italy in1498. This character took over the city, censored nudity and the vanity ofpainters of the time. Contemporary thought was not welcome.

This collection is atransformation of the body and the mind. We begin with a very simple world, a mixof sacred and religion which then breaks down and merges into more contemporary shapes, materials, animal tissue, aggressive embroiderystifling the body.

In the end it willgive way to fantasy where reality mixes with dream. Bodies arecracking, the power falls, burns the vanity, the mind becomes king! The garmentis made up as if the body wanted to say something, a moment of pure grace inwhich all souls oscillate. Nothing has value,while there, everything disappears. There is not even a border between thebody, between words and surfaces.

My work is very dark.

What do you think about French Fashion's scene?

I really like Paris for the Menswear fashion week.  Collections are always right, but perhaps a little hard to penetrate when you are a young fashion designer. I wish for a Belgian fashion week. It would make things easier for us to show our work.

Have you had any support from other fashion figure?

As we speak, I am alone showing this body of work.

What are you expressing through your designs?

First of all I dress a space, a movement and then the body. I like to create a tragedy before suffocating the body. 
I really like the ritual of dressing and undressing. I like to say that throughout our movements, a celebration will be born.

Are you showing at Paris Fashion week or any other fashion weeks?

Yes, I will present my work as a video-performance-look book. I don’t have any space yet.

Where can we find your designs?

My first collection was sold in Antwerp at the RA shop and next month it will be available on: www.ledressing.be

To finish with, what would you wish to this blog and what do you think about it?

Your blog is well designed, a kind of diary for fashion. If you need any fashion information, your blog surely gives the answer.
I’d like to see a list of buyers and some "showroom space".

Thanks to  Giuseppe.

This is exactly how I feel...

Season's greetings from Banksy?

Interesting picture

Really like this image from I-D.

Raf Simons for Jil Sander, The Pick Me Up Issue

Photography: Willy Vanderperre

Styling: Olivier Rizzo

I wish you a punk Christmas

I wish you all a punk Christmas ! Enjoy the break and stay tuned for more interesting content on Art is Alive.

xxx

Nicolas.

R.I.P scultpor John Chamberlain

Exclusive: the first look at Madonna's fragrance ad

Madonna's Truth or Dare fragrance ad has strangely leaked on two famous blog / website and I wanted to share it with you in exclusivity. Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, it it pretty much inspired by Lee Miller.

What do you think about it?

Cristóbal Balenciaga Museo, Spain

www.cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa – Aldamar Parkea, 6 20808 Getaria

Louis Vuitton condom

By Irakli Kiziria, architect and artist. To F*ck with style !

The beauty of Soviet brutalism by Taschen

Photographer Frédéric Chaubin reveals 90 buildings sited infourteen former Soviet Republics which express what he considers to be thefourth age of Soviet architecture. His poetic pictures, published by TASCHEN inthe book entitled CCCP Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed reveal anunexpected rebirth of imagination, an unknown burgeoning that took place from1970 until 1990. Contrary to the 1920s and 1950s, no “school” or main trendemerges here. These buildings represent a chaotic impulse brought about by adecaying system. Their diversity announced the end of the Soviet Union. 

Fascinating and scary ! A nice Christmas present! Anyone?

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Love this video! Pease folks take notes because we will soon see Lana del Rey on every single cover of magazines from Dazed to Vogue ! I am sure ! I love her style, her universe, her fragile and not-oh-so naive attitude... She's the next big thing for sure...

"When Nico ruled the world" dixit Lou Reed today on Facebook

The Francisco Godia Foundation presents a major exhibition of works by contemporary artists from private collections

This exhibition curated by Sara Puig, the director of the Foundation, features artworks by Anish Kapoor, Cristina Iglesias and Andreas Gursky, Robert Mapplethorpe and Bill Viola, Ignasi Aballí and Cindy Sherman, among many other originating from private collectors based in Barcelona.

Barcelona Colecciona. From December 14, 2011 to March 26, 2012
Fundació Francisco Godia, Diputación, 250. Barcelona

King Karl wishes you a Beautiful Christmas

Karl who will style the next edition of the Paris Biennale des Antiquaires has also styled the windows of the Printemps shop in Paris - Opéra, wishing us a Merry Christmas ! Thank you Karl !

Marilyn ice cream

Stoyn were selling their crazy ice creams at Fountain Art Fair in Miami during Art Basel Miami Beach, 1–4 Dec, 2011.

The Thailand International Furniture Fair

These sofas will be exhibited at the next Thailand International Furniture Fair will take place from 14 to 18 March 2012 in Bangkok. I love them !

Florence + The Machine's Choice

I really like Florence + the Machine, especially her song "What the water gave" played at the recent Chanel song which was a beautiful moment. She's now taking part in an interesting campaign called Secret 7.

Secret 7 is an exciting project combining music and art in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. Seven bands and recording artists are inviting creatives to design the artwork for a seven inch vinyl sleeve inspired by one of their songs. The project will culminate in 700 unique vinyl sleeves displayed in Idea Generation Gallery in London in the week leading up to Record Store Day 2012. On that day, each of the vinyls at the gallery will be available to purchase with all of the profits going to Teenage Cancer Trust.

None of the buyers will know who created the sleeve, or even which song it's for, until they are holding it in their hands - the secret lies within.

In this challenge, Florence + The Machine has selected the track 'Only If For A Night' and are inviting creatives to interpret the song, however they please, via an original piece of seven inch artwork. This is an incredible opportunity for aspiring artists and designers to collaborate with one of the world's most loved bands, to have their artwork seen by millions, be exhibited alongside established artists and in the process, raise valuable funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Hedi Slimane Exhibition at MOCA’s Pacific Design Center

Little people know why Slimane revolutionized men's fashion: because he cut suits in a way that had never been done before. Inspired by the Bauhaus school, his cut was almost feminine. He's the reason why Lagerfeld lost so much weight...

 After he left Dior Homme in 2007 at the top of his game, he became a full-time photographer. The results of his career as a photographer is currently exhibited at the MOCA in L.A where he spent significant time photographing Venice-beach skaters and celebrities...

 MOCA Director Jeffrey Deitch said: “Hedi Slimane has created a new and fresh visual language for youth today… his black-and-white images capture the essential expression of the emerging art, fashion, and music scenes around the world.”

The Hedi Slimane Exhibit runs until January 22, 2011. Let me know what you think if you have a chance to see the show... I won't have the chance to.

Quote of the week: Trent Reznor on Bowie

"It started to feel like if I didn't force myself into a change I would regret it. It's a fear of not wanting to try things because you're in a comfort zone. I always think about my hero David Bowie and his fearlessness to destroy something that isn't ready to break yet and start something new. He'd throw out an identity, confuse his audience and it's a great risk career-wise. But he had the balls and didn't milk it out to the last drop".  
Trent Reznor on releasing another album in 2012 with NIN.

Rooney Mara is on the cover of Dazed

David Fincher's "the girl with the dragon tattoo" kills this cover, in McQueen !

Azzedine Alaïa at the Groninger Museum, the Netherlands

From 11 December 2011 to 6 May 2012, the Groninger Museum presents an exhibition dedicated to the fashion designer and artist Azzedine Alaïa. This exhibition displays the most fantastic creations of the last ten years. This show is a follow-on to the overview of his work shown in the Groninger Museum in 1998, which was subsequently displayed at the Brant Foundation in New York in 2002.

R.I.P Creative Genius François Lesage.

World AIDS Day: Martin Margiela

"There is more action to be done to fight AIDS than to wear this T-shirt but it's a good start", reads the slogan across Maison Martin Margiela's World AIDS Day T-shirts, available here: www.maisonmartinmargiela.com

Tilda Swinton graces the cover of The Room

Exclusive interview with fashion film Director Jason Last

SCALPEL/STRADIVARIUS from JASON LAST on Vimeo.

Meet the incredibly talented and well-established fashion film Director, artist and friend Jason Last. Jason has been an Art is Alive supporter since the beginning and exclusively for Art is Alive he agreed to provide more insights on his inspiration, his next projects and his amazing artistic approach.


Can you introduce yourself please?
Hi, I'm Jason Last.

How did it all start for you?
I've always been drawn to moving image & sound - especially growing up watching a lot of music videos & seeing video art. I've always somehow played & worked with video. When I decided to study in Fine Arts,  I specialized in video & from there, it grew - technically & mentally.
In terms of fashion film; defining the genre personally came from my early (to recent) collaborations with Jaime Rubiano. We experimented with, & blended the worlds that drive & inspire us creatively; art, fashion, film, performance, photo. It was quite a natural process.

Can you tell us about your recent projects?
Right now I am working on a longer film with complexgeometries, featuring their SS12 collection w/ Andrej Pejic, & a score composed by Grimes - who is amazing.. called The King's Son.  
Also, completing a film from last year, Barrel Of A Gun (BOAG), which tells somewhat a story through narration. 
Jaime & I just completed Scalpel/Stradivarius (first video above) which we are quite excited about. It is presented by Vogue Italia & features live performance by Sarah Neufeld (Arcade Fire/The Bell Orchestre), who composed the score for the film, & model Meghan Collison. It won Thecorner.com prize at ASVOFF4 in Paris this year, & is circulating to various festivals/ screening at the moment. It features all kinds of designers from Ackermann to Demeulemeester to Givenchy. (http://vimeo.com/31196193)

THE KING'S SON - PREVIEW from complexgeometries on Vimeo.

Which one are you most proud of?
I don't know if we are more proud of one more than others. Each piece has it's own life & identity. I know that as the work grows & develops; so does our ability to make stronger work. We're always defining & redefining what we do.

Is video the best medium to showcase fashion? 
I don't think so. There is definitely an intimacy with the clothing & design that can be achieved with video for the viewer, & there is control over presentation & concept; with music, narrative, whatever... but there's nothing like a strong runway show, & the energy & experience of live performance. Video is an incredible & important vehicle for fashion, but it's only one.

Jason

Who or what do you take your inspiration from?
My past, art, a lot of music, nature. normal things.. too many things. I work very closely with Jaime, who's creative mind continuously pushes hard at our work.

Who would you be interested to work with if you had the choice?
A lot of the people I want to work with are in music. Creative subjects that bring their own art to the table. My art reflected through my idols.
Crossover of genres is very interesting to me. Collaboration is everything. Music, art, fashion, performance - these worlds have always worked somehow together, & those incestuous combinations fascinate me the most creatively.
In fashion, again there are too many designers & models that I want to create & collaborate with.

Would you consider doing something else if you were not an artist? 
No.

To finish with, what do you think and wish to this blog?
Art Is Alive is one of the first sites I remember looking at years ago. & I always have connected to the way it integrates art & fashion. 

More info on: http://www.jasonlaststudio.com

Thank you so much Jason.

Diego Rivera: Murals for The Museum of Modern Art

Diego Rivera. Agrarian Leader Zapata. 1931. Fresco

Diego Rivera was the subject of MoMA’s second monographic exhibition which run from December 22, 1931, to January 27, 1932. MoMA brought Rivera to New York six weeks before the exhibition’s opening and gave him studio space within the Museum, a strategy intended to solve the problem of how to present the work of this famous muralist when murals were by definition made and fixed on site. Working around the clock with two assistants, Rivera produced five “portable murals”—large blocks of frescoed plaster, slaked lime, and wood that feature bold images drawn from Mexican subject matter and address themes of revolution and class inequity. After the opening, to great publicity, Rivera added three more murals, now taking on New York subjects through monumental images of the urban working class and the social stratification of the city during the Great Depression. All eight were on display for the rest of the show’s run. The first of these panels, Agrarian Leader Zapata, is an icon in the Museum’s collection.

This exhibition, until 14th May 2012, brings together key works made for Rivera’s 1931 exhibition, presenting them at MoMA for the first time in nearly 80 years. Along with mural panels, the show includes full-scale drawings, smaller working drawings, archival materials related to the commission and production of these works, and designs for Rivera’s famous Rockefeller Center mural, which he also produced while he was working at the Museum. Focused specifically on works created during the artist’s stay in New York, this exhibition will draw a succinct portrait of Rivera as a highly cosmopolitan figure who moved between Russia, Mexico, and the United States, and will offer a fresh look at the intersection of art making and radical politics in the 1930s. MoMA will be the exhibition’s sole venue.

Chanel, the luxury book

Chanel Luxe, by François Baudot and François Aveline, éditions Assouline, traces the history of the most famous French fashion house. It's a beautiful item and would make for a nice Christmas present ! But you will have to be patient because it's already out of stock.

Coming Soon: The Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum

Certainly megalomaniac but also interesting: the new virtual Valentino Museum should "open" soon. It will feature all the collections ever made, advertising posters, press coverage, intimate pictures... A fascinating insight into Valentino's world.

I look forward and maybe one day a real museum will be built. Valentino already had retrospectives in big museums such as the New York's Guggenheim...

Cézanne at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris

A remarkable exhibition at the Musée du Luxembourg gathers 77 works by Paul Cézanne.  Until February 26.

Quote of the week: Karl Lagerfeld

"I think they should make a tax so that when you earn a certain amount of money, you have to spend a certain amount on shopping. To buy whatever … And that way, we create tons of jobs. I think it’s a good idea. What I hate is people with a lot of money who don’t spend it."

Karl Lagerfeld to WWD.

Yayoi Kusama at the Pompidou Centre in Paris

Yayoi Kusama is one of my icons. Her universe and the visual language she's developed are fascinating.

The Centre Pompidou is presenting the first French retrospective dedicated to the Japanese artist and I hope to see it asap. Following her career through 150 works created between 1949 and 2001, the exhibition tracks the major moments in the life of the artist and illustrates the protean character (paintings, sculptures, environments, performances) of a collection of works which Kusama has herself described as "obsessional". Strongly rooted in a childhood memory, a hallucination from which she developed the polka dot motif, this unclassified work still has significant influence on the cotemporary scene.

Beautiful, scary and amazing at the same time!  Go and see it, it's until 9 January 2012

The Calouste Gulbenkian Cultural Centre opens new headquarters in Paris

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has unveiled on 17 of October, the new headquarters of the Calouste Gulbenkian Cultural Centre in Paris, located in a 1869 building at number 39 Boulevard de la Tour Maubourg in the area of ​​Les Invalides. Since 1965 the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has been developing its activities in the former residence, at 51, Avenue d'Iena. The center has played a key role for more than four decades, in Luso-French diplomatic relations, and its library has become the largest and most important library of Portuguese language outside Portugal and Brazil. The new space on the Boulevard de la Tour Maubourg features around 1,900 square metres on five floors and a basement. The rehabilitation project has been carried out by the Lisbon-based architect Teresa Nunes da Ponte and includes an exhibition area of 240 square metres, and a hall with 140 seats for seminars and conferences. 

I love this Marc Jacobs' Spring 2012 collection dress

"Dear all,

The Marc Jacobs PR team is sorry to inform you that our press day tomorrow in the Marc Jacobs store is canceled, due to the theft of the spring/summer 2012 collections during its transfer from Paris."

... said the unfortunate press release.

The latest Benetton ad campaign rocks !

The campaign is called ‘Unhate,’ and features images of world leaders kissing each others - the Russian way. There’s one of Barack Obama with Chinese leader Hu Jintao, France’s Nicolas Sarkozy with German chancellor Angela Merkel, the European tandem, and most controversially, in Rome, an image of the Pope with Egyptian imam Mohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb.

No artist has been named yet but I am sure, I am convinced it's inspired by Dmitry Vrubel, God! Help Me to Survive Amongst This Deathly Love (1991–2000) featured in a show at Haunch of Venison, in London a few years ago.

Well done Benetton ! It rocks !

France: the first mobile Museum dedicated to kids features works by famous artists

Very interesting initiative by former “be contemporary” editor and friend Ingrid Brochard. She’s created a mobile museum which is currently touring France and next year in Africa to make primary schools kids aware of contemporary art. It features some amazing artists such as Mc Carthy, Buren, Huyghe, Moshiri or Weiner...

 Touring museums seem to be quite trendy in France... Remember the mobile Pompidou Centre?

Kate Moss on the cover of Dazed

The December issue of Dazed & Confused boasts 20 different covershots by co-founder Rankin, featuring the likes of Kate Moss, Chloe Sevigny, Eva Green and Alicia Keys. I like Kate's !

Twin Parallel is a film written and directed by Justin Anderson

Twin Parallel is a film written and directed by Justin Anderson showcasing the Jayne Pierson S/S 2011 collection. Premiered at London Fashion Week it features two girls caught in the Twin Parallel- a parallel time shift of the twin paradox theory- with still life, a cuckoo clock and the golden goose girl.

Viktor & Rolf - Fairy Tales

Needless to say that Viktor&Rolf are some of my favourite fashion designers ever. What impresses me the most is the innovative and artistic approach. I've always praised them in the past and invite you to read again my previous post (link here) which was actually shared with them, at the time it was written. They sent me their best regards after reading my comments.

One of the designers' new creative initiative, setting their artistic reputation to another level is their brand-new book called "Fairy Tales". The book features tales of the pampered Princess Giselle in The Golden Dress; of Princess Shanilla in The Fifth Perfume Bottle and of the transformational magic behind Flowerbomb.


The perfect Christmas present and an immersion into the pink and positively weird world of V&R!

Save Keith Haring's mural in Melbourne

While Comme des Garçons releases a capsule collection of Keith Haring's t-shirts, a more serious issue arises in Australia. 

Keith Haring traveled Down Under in 1984 and painted a mural in Collingwood as a gift to the city of Melbourne.
  
The mural is currently in a sorry state and we should all play a part in helping to preserve it ! Please simply sign a petition at Save Melbourne's Keith Haring Mural  website: http://www.savemelbourneharingmural.com.au/help.html

THANK YOU !