Inside the "Louis Vuitton Voyages" Exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing - From May 31st to August 30th. These are beautiful pictures by Luc Castel for Louis Vuitton.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Primavera Sound 2011 – excellent edition this year
One of the most important events of Barcelona , the San Miguel Primavera Sound festival took place last week, in a context of public’s discontent and political demonstrations on “the main square” - the Plaza Catalunya - as Jarvis Cocker, leader of the Sheffield band Pulp would put it. He dedicated the last song of this successful comeback concert “Common People” to the ‘indignados’.
Needless to say that the crowd went mad when the band played some of their eternal hit-songs "Underwear", "Disco 2000" and "Do You Remember the First Time", words which were initially projected thanks to a green laser on a sexy purple curtain, before the show started. It reminded me of the art background / involvement of Jarvis.
More arty sight-and-sound effects were displayed on giant screens, including the blue and purple neon PULP sign, first used in their “Common People” video.
More arty sight-and-sound effects were displayed on giant screens, including the blue and purple neon PULP sign, first used in their “Common People” video.
"This evening is not about ancient history, we are going to make history," said the nervous dandy Jarvis who also raised a glass to the band "Suicide", explaining they were one of the best. But he needed not to stress as the band really delivered…
He actually talked a lot during the set, often cracking typical British jokes, unlike another big headline of the festival - which included great performances by Grinderman, Suicide, Fleet Foxes, Belle & Sebastian, the Flaming Lips and Animal Collective and many, many, many more – the one and only, PJ Harvey.
She remained quiet during the whole set, only thanking the crowd for “listening”...
She remained quiet during the whole set, only thanking the crowd for “listening”...
This year, it is reported that 140,000 people attended the festival which is really impressive, a true international crowd. Primavera has been praised by the organizers of the Coachella Festival in the past.
I was kindly invited by the organizers and I can't say I have been disappointed. I particularly enjoyed a young grunge band called No Joy.
It is rumoured that the festival will export itself, and it should, it’s excellent! If you don’t know the festival, have a look at Paco and Manolo’s documented book. It features portraits of some of the artists who have played at Primavera in the last ten years, including some of my favourites: Antony Hegarty and Cat Power etc.
More info on: http://www.primaverasound.com/
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Fashion World of Jean-Paul Gaultier at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
From June 17 to October 2, 2011, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) will present The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, the first exhibition devoted to the celebrated French couturier who launched his first prêt-à-porter collection in 1976 and founded his own couture house in 1997.
Jean Paul Gaultier is indisputably one of the most important fashion designers of recent decades. Initiated, developed, produced and circulated by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to mark the thirty-fifth anniversary of the designer’s own label, this exploration of Jean Paul Gaultier’s creative world has been organized in collaboration with the Maison Jean Paul Gaultier. Following its presentation in Montreal, the exhibition will travel to the Dallas Museum of Art (November 9, 2011–February 12, 2012) and then to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young (March 24–August 19, 2012).
As a reminder, Gaultier has worked with Pedro Almodóvar, Angelin Preljocaj, not to mention the world of popular music, Madonna – who has graciously lent two corsets from her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour but also Beth Ditto, featured on this blog before etc.
I am a huge fan and I hope I will meet him one day!
Pandemonia loves Art is Alive
Pandemonia, the amazing artist has kindly sent me this picture! It's so lovely ! Thank you so much !
SWAB art fair, Barcelona
Jean Denant, Mappemonde, 2010 - L.A Gallery
I've had the chance to be invited to go to SWAB, the Barcelona art fair and I was pleasantly surprised by the high-standard organisation and the quality of the art. It was the fourth edition of the fair and this year, and 48 galleries from 13 countries took part in it.
“Our objective is not to make money but to serve as a platform for emerging galleries and young artists.” said the Director Joaquín Díez-Cascón. Galleries pay around 4.500 euros for a stand and artworks can be found for as little as 200€.
This fair reminds me of London Art Fair, which I used to work for when I was in London: emerging artists, reasonable prices, good atmosphere and an Art Projects section, curated by Laurent Fiévet and Silvia Guerra from Lab’Bel, a curatorial office. Pieces of this section were a bit more risqué than in any other parts of the fair.
I particularly enjoyed the works of David Oliveira represented by the Serrenho Gallery from Lisbon featuring iron sticks sculptures, really impressive and beautiful: especially the Gorilla (picture below). Jean Denant's mappemonde at L.A Gallery was amazing too.
This fair has got potential, though there are significant areas of improvements… I look forward to next year...
First Floor Under Campaign
These posters were produced for First Floor Under by the Italian branch of TBWA, the ad agency. They were made to illustrate a campaign about music piracy, consisting of 6 poster images. Here is my selection.
My "Palme d'Or" for best fashion goes to...
I know it's a bit old now, but still I wanted to share with you who I think, was best dressed at this year's Cannes Film Festival and of course, Tilda Swinton had to be amongt the winners...
Bill Viola's collaboration with the Palau de la Música in Barcelona
Bill Viola, the acclaimed contemporary video artist, is no stranger to Classical music collaborations. Amongst other works, he co-produced a version of Wagner’sTristan und Isolde with director Peter Sellars, premiered in 2004 in Los Angeles and later revived in Paris for the Opéra National de Paris.
On 4 April 2012 in Barcelona, Emergence and Departing Angel, striking pieces by the video art genius dealing with the theme of rebirth, will be projected right before Bach’s Passion According to St Matthew, performed by the Chorus and Orchestra of Collegium Vocale Gent and under the Belgian conductor Philippe Herreweghe stick. Palau 100, a classical music festival held at the Palau de la Música will offer fourteen high-standard concerts and, this year, it bets on synergies with contemporary art.
Bill Viola was awarded the 2009 Catalonia International Prize, known as the XXI Premi Internacional Catalunya 2009, by the Catalonian government of Spain.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Mixx chair by Matthias Demacker for Area DeClic
Munich designer Matthias Demacker released this chair with interchangeable upholstery pads for Italian brand Area DeClic in Milan last month and I really like it!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
It's a Keith Haring's invasion and I am seriously getting tired of it
Nicholas Kirkwood, the acclaimed British shoe designer recently unveiled his Keith Haring capsule collection in partnership with Swarowski, which featured 80's crystal-encrusted roller skates amongst other models.
Watching this short film with interviews with Kirkwood, I suddenly realised that I may be bored with Keith Haring's use of artworks in fashion. We may start to see it too much and these marketing strategists somehow have to be careful. Let Haring rest in piece now! But isn't it rather the Keith Haring Foundation's fault to give permission to any companies for cash purposes? I am wondering...
Let me refresh your mind about some of the companies which have recently used Haring's artworks: Tommy Hilfiger for a shoe collection launched at Paris' trendy shop Colette first, before globally being released in September 2010, Zara is currently selling Haring's tee-shirts following last summer's collection, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac printed some of Haring's artworks on dresses in 2003, another Brit-designer Jeremy Scott partnered with the Haring Foundation for Adidas in 2008 etc. etc. etc.
Jeremy Scott for Adidas
JC Castelbajac - Summer 2003 collection
Hilfiger's collection
Nicholas Kirkwood
Zara t-collection
I agree that there's a need to keep Haring's heritage alive but at the same time I can't stop thinking that it's a huge lack of creativity from fashion houses... But what do you think?
2011-2012 Fall Prada
I know I am a little obsessed with Prada these days but this brand is so innovative...
David Lynch now designer for the Paris Club Silencio
David Lynch can now add "designer" to his CV. The film Director has been commissioned to design the interior of the Silencio Club un Paris. This space features a concert hall, a movie theater, an art library, a restaurant and a cocktail bar. The club's name is the same as the club in his amazing movie Mulholland Drive...
Looking forward to seeing the whole thing !
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Yves Saint Laurent look
I love this Yves Saint Laurent's skirt. I think it's amazingly beautiful.
"My goal has never been to 'sum up' Saint Laurent", Stefano Pilati, Artistic Director of the Fashion House insists, "The YSL woman hasn't changed - she remains the symbol of French elegance, seductive and subtly provocative." And she smokes too ! The house sells cigarettes in Russia and Asia, sparking debate and controversy.
I shouldn't say so, but I think the packaging is elegant too.
Max Bill - five decades
Max Bill, was architect, sculptor, painter, typographer, draftsman, curator and professor. He spent his early and formative years at the Bauhaus where he studied under Klee, Kandinsky and Albers between 1927- 1929. Moving shortly thereafter to Paris, the young Bill exhibited with the group Abstraction-Creation, along with Mondrian, Brancusi and Arp.
He was engaged with several British artists also affiliated with this group such as Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson, and formed a lasting friendship with Marlow Moss.He is one of the seminal figures in Concrete Art and helped to form the Allianz group in 1937, which held a strong emphasis on colour theory that Bill carried throughout his work since his time at the Bauhaus.
Max Bill is on show at Annely Juda Fine Art Gallery in London until July 30th.
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