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.

Another Bowie obsession

David Bowie retrospective at the MAD in NYC

This summer, the Museum of Arts and Design presents David Bowie, Artist, a multi-platform retrospective re-framing Bowie’s daring, multi-discipline career as that of an artist working primarily in performance. From his roots in such performance-based practices as cabaret, mime, and avant-garde theater, to Ziggy Stardust, his revolutionary tour that synthesized theater, music, and contemporary art into a rock spectacle, as well as his innovative video collaborations, and his work in cinema and theater, David Bowie, Artist presents Bowie as one of the most iconoclastic cultural producers of the 20th century.

Presented as a multiplatform retrospective— including cinema series and interactive kiosks —David Bowie, Artist will presents a layered and shifting body of work that has continually innovated practices throughout a multitude of cultural spheres.

I wonder whether he'll show up at the vernissage...

"Ground Control to Major Tom" - Vincent Fournier's impressive photographs

 

Striking images by French photographer Vincent Fournier. Fournier's work focuses on the interiors of Chinese, Russian and US space agencies and astronauts training sessions in Chile and China. The result is impressive.

More info on: http://www.vincentfournier.co.uk/

David Bowie is my hero

Future Bowie kid

I really like this picture. Doesn't it remind you of something? Yes sure the cover of Aladdin Sane but also my own portrait by David Buisan...

"Whose Hair?" by Christina Christoforou

This fun book, published by Laurence King, contains over 200 original, hand-drawn illustrations of the hairstyles of the rich and famous, from politicians to film-stars, rock stars such as my beloved David Bowie, or Anna Wintour - both portrayed on the image above. It leaves the reader guessing who's behind the hairs. This book is an ironic take on the global celebrity phenomenon.

Dries Van Noten inspired by the Thin White Duke

"I wanted something glamorous without being feminine," Dries Van Noten said of his latest collection. Coinciding with the re-edition of David Bowie's Station to Station album, Dries Van Noten drew inspiration from the fictional character the singer/actor/genius invented for the the trilogy of album which included Low and Station to Station: the Thin White Duke. I am a huge fan of the collection. 

Flashback: Soul Train

Mick Rock's retrospective at the Idea Generation Gallery, in London

Celebrated as ‘The Man Who Shot the 70s’, Mick Rock’s images define rock n’ roll. Mick Rock launched his career in 1972 with his portrait of David Bowie, documenting the Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust,  and shot the videos Life on Mars and Space Oddity. 

He also spent the next four decades capturing the most fascinating and exciting characters in rock music: from Queen, Debbie Harry, Courtney Love to Mick Jagger.

Coinciding with the publication of Rock’s new book Exposed: the Faces of Rock n’ Roll (available to purchase in the gallery), Rock: Music includes many previously unseen and unpublished images, as well as rare and unexpected portraits from some of Mick’s classic shoots.

"London in the late sixties and early seventies was a hotbed of creative interchange. The prevalent hippie philosophy united all manner of artists, musicians, film makers, models, designers, actors, writers, and photographers into a unique and fertile community. My timing was excellent. Curiosity and circumstance drew me into the flame of rock n’ roll." - Mick Rock.

Until the 16th January.

David Delfin inspired by David Bowie?

I was taking look at the latest David Delfin's collection and suddently it appeared to me that the inspiration was this image of David Bowie which has also been featured on the cover of Cally Blackman's book entitled "100 Years of Menswear". The hair, the suit, the attitude, everything seems to be the same! Don't you think? Ironically Delfin's collection is for womenswear.

And to be absolutely clear, not this yellow suit, used for the Let's Dance tour - iconic as well but too 80's... I will find out asking David Delfin's directly. Stay tuned!

More info on : www.daviddelfin.com

Tilda Swinton / David Bowie and vice versa

David Bowie interview 1973

David Bowie still and always the pioneer

You put your left leg in, your right arm in...*

 

I'm sure many of you noticed the hoo hah surrounding the singer Rihanna as she performed onstage at the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam on February 4th in Miami Beach, Florida.

The fuss was triggered by "a peculiar one-shoulder, one-leg catsuit" that she bravely decided to wear for the event. The black asymmetrical concoction was finished with white trim, with two white hoops on one wrist giving the effect of bangles.

The ensemble contrasted nicely with Rihanna's spiky, died red hair...I say 'bravely', but then it hit me that I had seen something very similar before.

 

I was then that I remembered the stunning outfit above, that model Candice Swanepoel wore on the runway during the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at The Armory in New York City on November 19th.

It all seemed to be jogging my memory, the asymmetrical outfit with sparkly bits woven into the fabric, covered in bold geometric designs, with not only the two wrist bangles, but a great pair of platform shoes too. Still wasn't quite it though...no red hair for a start.

While searching I did stumble upon the House Of Field designed creation above that hit the runway at the Barbie 50th Anniversary Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week on Feb 14th last year.

It was close, but no sleeves at all and no bangles...though the diagonal design was triggering something. One thing's for sure, if Barbie had looked like that when I was a lad, I would have spent less time with Ken!


I was about to give up, when it hit me like an Aladdin Sane lightning bolt from the blue...

It was Kate Moss I had remembered wearing the exact outfit I had been thinking about all along...even if there was no sign of red spiky hair.

I didn't think I could get any closer. The picture was from a feature in Vogue from May 2003 (04.10.2003 NEWS: BOWIE INTERVIEW AND CLOBBER SPECIAL IN VOGUE) in which Kate was photographed wearing different stage outfits belonging to David Bowie.


Hang on a minute. David Bowie!?

Of course, David Bowie had pioneered the look thirty seven years ago with the costume above created by Japanese fashion designer, Kansai Yamamoto.


It was all there, all those years ago: the asymmetrical outfit with sparkly bits woven into it, the two wrist bangles, the diagonal stripes and geometrical shapes...and of course, bright red hair.

Bowie was so comfortable with the asymmetrical look that he had Freddi Burretti knock up a couple more for Ziggy's last fling during the filming of The 1980 Floor Show in London in October 1973.

Somehow, though they are even more flamboyant, this look seems to work on Bowie a bit better than the other examples on this page.

And there was much more to come...but that's another story.


*So, you think Bowie has never sung The Hokey Cokey?

Total Blam Blam - (BowieNet News Editor)
Courtesy of David Bowie.com http://www.davidbowie.com/news/index.php?id=20100205

To add to this, I have to say that I am really tired of this lack of innovation by the Rihanna and Lady Gaga of this world. I am not a fan at all and I don't think we'll remember them...but we'll remember David Bowie !

David Bowie by Dean Chamberlain

To learn more: http://www.deanchamberlain.com/

Quote of the day

My quote of the day: "Tilda Swinton reminds me of David Bowie, Thin White Duke era"

Heroes

Edo-Tokyo Museum - David Bowie

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Edo-Tokyo Museum opened a special exhibition last month entitled Netsuki Shinten: Kansai Genki Shugi (Passionate Exhibit: The Energy Principle of Kansai).

Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto collaborated on the production of the exhibition which explores the impact of traditional culture and Japan’s unique aestheticism using his designs as a starting point.

As you're most likely aware, some of the very best examples of his work are the stunning stage clothes he made for David Bowie in 1972/73, some of which can be viewed in the breathtaking display of Kansai Bowie costumes at the exhibition. Here's a recent quotation from David regarding them.

"The Kansai Yamamoto costume designs that Kansai and I chose for the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane tours contributed significantly to pushing away from the 60s and for creating new sensibilities for the post-modern 70s. Kansai's brave ideas brought Japanese clothes design to the forefront of fashion." - David Bowie 2008.

Netsuki Shinten: Kansai Genki Shugi runs until June 6th.

Total Blam Blam - (BowieNet News Editor)

To learn more: www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/index.html

Christian Dior's Museum will celebrate Dandysm

The Christian Dior Museum in Granville will celebrate dandysm with an exhibition entitled "Dandysms 1808-2008, from Barbey d'Aurevilly to Christian Dior".
Starting 1 May, visitors will be able to discover this movement through objets, clothes, accessories, belonging to several dandies such as Oscar Wilde, Honoré de Balzac, from Sacha Guitry à David Bowie. A portrait of the theorician of dandysm, Barbey D'Aurevilly dating from 1881 coming from the Château de Versailles will showcased as well.
More accessories such as a shirt by Oscar Wilde, a suitcase by Sacha Guitry.
To learn more: www.ville-granville.fr/en/Museechristiandior.html

Just for the love of it.

Because you're worth it !
To learn: www.davidbowie.com