Category Archives: Art

Marco Battaglini: Patchwork Culture

We are absolutely in love with Costa Rican artist Marco Battaglini’s work currently exhibiting at the Saatchi Gallery in London, here is how he explains the collection:

“Through a subtle interplay of multiple realities overlapping in the chronotope, Battaglini evidences the contradictions in mental models about the temporal contrast (chronological), and the cultural and linguistic barriers.

Compositions which at first seem ‘logicals’, immediately reveal temporal and spatial limitations that are disruptive in the interpretation of reality.

Battaglini invites us to think that in today’s global village, with the ‘democratization’ of culture, the evolution of knowledge, information immediacy, immersed in the heterogeneity, the Patchwork Culture forces us to confront with a need understanding beyond our geographical boundaries of time.”

Marco Battaglini Saatchi Gallery

Marco Battaglini Saatchi Gallery

Marco Battaglini Saatchi Gallery

Marco Battaglini Saatchi Gallery

Marco Battaglini Saatchi Gallery

Marco Battaglini Saatchi Gallery

Marco Battaglini Saatchi Gallery

Battaglini is currently on view at Saatchi Gallery (2nd floor).

For more info visit http://ap.saatchionline.com/mbattaglini001

Maison et Object 2014

The show is so vast these really are just a few of our favourites from Paris’ Maison et Object 2014, which was primarily dominated by colour.

 Jar RGB by Arik Levy for Lasvit was placed over a 45 degree mirror so you could see underneath.

Tom Dixon’s launch included this trivet inspired by internal bone structure

 Delightfull’s playful and quirky lighting solutions.

SAMSUNG CSC

 Il Laboratorio dell Imperfetto’s display inspired by nature.

 Les Dandy’s dark display also nature inspired.

 We loved this stunning monolithic display from Luigi Antolini.

 Beautifully soft yet fresh colours from Missoni Home.

 And there was even more colour from Paola Paronetto.

Diamonds Are Forever: Bert Stern | Marilyn @ JAMM Gallery

A beautiful exhibition of Bert Stern’s photographs of Marilyn Monroe is being hosted at JAMM art gallery located in Al Quoz, Dubai. The exhibition will last until 18th April so if you haven’t had a chance to visit yet you most definitely should.

In late June 1962, just six weeks before Marilyn Monroe’s untimely death, Bert Stern took almost 2,600 photographs of the American star over three daily sessions at the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles for the popular Vogue magazine; this photo shoot later became known as The Last Sitting.

Stern’s photographs carry a rare sensual and human vibrancy. Never before had the star allowed a photographer such intimate access, and Stern’s camera captures a revealing, naked portrait of Marilyn the person – a fragile, lonely, flawed woman who would die tragically a few weeks later.

“Marilyn Monroe was great, sexy, beautiful and funny- the perfect all American girl. I loved her. I am very excited to be having a show for the first time in the fabulous city of Dubai”, said Bert Stern

Here are some of our favourites.

Marilyn with Veil

 

Marilyn with Chinchilla

 

Marilyn with Nikon

 

Marilyn Pink Roses

Images courtesy of Z7 Communications.

DIFF 2012 VIP Lounge The Story: Part III

Ok, so it’s time for the final installment of the goings on at the DIFF VIP Lounge…

Colin Firth, who said he recognised the colour palette immediately, loved his Storyline of Inspired by The King’s Speech.  Michael Apted, director of The World Is Not Enough and The Chronicles of Narnia, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at DIFF 2012. Although he was a jury member, he found time to pick up his Storyline inspired by The Coal Miner’s Daughter. Representing regional talent we were also excited that Ali Mostafa and Amr Waked were able to join us, along with legendary Egyptian actress Ragaa el Gedawy. Last but most definitely not least, Jessica Mauboy picked up the Storyline of her first film Bran Nue Dae.

We’ve spoken to Ali Mostafa since and he has said he’d like Storylines of all the films he makes! Gotta be happy with that.

Colin Firth & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

Colin Firth & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

 

Colin Firth & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

Yasemin Richie donated a limited edition Storyline inspired by The Kings Speech at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

 

Colin Firth & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

Colin Firth & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

 

Yasemin Richie and director Michael Apted

 

Yasemin Richie and City of Life Director Ali Mostafa

 

Yasemin Richie and City of Life Director Ali Mostafa

 

Yasemin Richie & Amr Waked who apparently is going to put his Storyline inspired by Salmon Fishing in the Yemen above his bed!

 

Amr Waked & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

Amr Waked & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

 

Nahla Rafih, Ragaa el Gedawy & Yasemin Richie

Nahla Rafih, Ragaa el Gedawy & Yasemin Richie

 

Ragaa el Gedawy & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

Ragaa el Gedawy & Yasemin Richie at the Oxfam DIFF 2012 charity gala

 

Jessica Mauboy with her Storyline inspired by Bran Nue Dae

Jessica Mauboy with her Storyline inspired by Bran Nue Dae

DIFF 2012 VIP Lounge The Story: Part II

For the next few days the DIFF VIP Lounge was busy, busy, busy – Freida Pinto (who looks stunning even without makeup), Mohammed Al Turki, Kristin Davis, Khaled Nebawy and Yosra El Lozi and spent time in the lounge, along with loads of other arab stars.

 

Freida Pinto & Yasemin Richie: Storyline inspired by Slumdog Millionaire

 

Yasemin Richie & Mohammed Al Turki

 

Yasemin Richie & Mohammed Al Turki (who wants a Storyline inspired by Arbitrage!)

 

Kristen Davis at the Oxfam Charity Gala: she already knew about the Storylines after seeing a pieces at the event and loved her own SATC Storyline!

 

Yosra El Lozi & Yasemin Richie

 

Mansoor Ali Al Feeli

  

Mai Masri

DIFF 2012 VIP Lounge The Story: Part I

Cate Blanchett & Yasemin Richie at the IWC Gala Party in Dubai: Cate loved her Storyline inspired by Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Since Yasemin Richie are sponsors of the DIFF VIP lounge we thought we’d give you the low-down through out the week.

VIPs to the lounge on the first day were the stars of the opening night red carpet film “The Life of Pi”.  Suraj Sharma, Adil Hussein and Shravanthi Sainath all left with personalised Storylines – Suraj took a Storyline inspired by The Bicycle Thief, a film given to him by Ang Lee while he was perparing for his role in The Life of Pi.

On Monday Best Actress Academy award winner Cate Blanchett made a whirlwind visit, which was tightly scheduled and carefully planned, and loved her Elizabeth: The Golden Age Storyline. Also we had singer/songwriter Bryan Ferry who popped in before heading off to the IWC Gala where he was Master of Ceremony and Cirque de Soleil star Erica Linz – Bryan left with a Storyline inspired by Legend. Throughout the day the Lounge was filled with Kuwaiti television stars.  Leading ladies Shaima Ali and Fatima Al Saffi came in along with brothers Mahmoud and Abdul Bouchari and actor Hamid Al Omani.

Although he didn’t manage to get to the lounge, we had a lovely time with Kevin Spacey at the IWC Gala and he left Dubai with his very own Storyline inspired by American Beauty.

Kevin Spacey IWC Gala Yasemin Richie

Kevin Spacey at the IWC Gala in Dubai: Kevin has a Storyline inspired by American Beauty

 

Suraj Sharma & Yasemin Richie

Suraj Sharma & Yasemin Richie with a Storyline inspired by The Bicycle Thief

 

Shravanthi Sainath & Yasemin Richie

Shravanthi Sainath & Yasemin Richie: Storyline inspired by the Bollywood film Straight from the Heart

 

Adil Hussein & Yasemin Richie

Adil Hussein & Yasemin Richie with a Storyline inspired by his film Ishqiya

 

Mahmoud Bouchari & Yasemin Richie

Mahmoud Bouchari & Yasemin Richie

 

Ahmed Bouchari & Yasemin Richie

Ahmed Bouchari loved the Storyline inspired by The Matrix

 

Andrew Adamson & Yasemin Richie

Had a great chat with Andrew Adamson, director of Shrek, about how the colour palette of a film is created

 

Andrew Adamson & Yasemin Richie

Andrew Adamson & Yasemin Richie

 

Bryan Ferry & Yasemin Richie

Bryan Ferry &Yasemin Richie

 

Yasemin & Richie Delaroche

Yasemin & Richie Delaroche at the IWC Gala during DIFF 2012

Behind the Scenes at Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Spring/Summer 2012

Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Spring/Summer 2012 via www.viviennewestwood.co.uk

Some fashion designers are just that, fashion designers, while others create works of art. Vivienne Westwood is undeniably one of the latter.

Describing her Gold Label Spring/Summer 2012 collection, Westwood cites three main influences;

“China, because I hope their traditional wisdom and experience from a culture going back to Confucius may help us to save the planet; the desert because of climate change; and 17th century corsets.”

You can vividly feel these influences come through in the beautiful ‘Behind the Scenes at Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Spring/Summer 2012’ video. Whether it’s the music, which was composed by sixteen year old Kyle Nash-Baker who performed live at the show, the fabulous cinematography, the collection itself, or a combination of all three, this three-minute video will give you tingles and is a work of art in its own right.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrwxt5i8o9A&feature=player_detailpage]

Altstadt Vienna: A Must-See Art Hotel

When you step into the Altstadt Vienna you immediately feel the impact of its unique vibrance. Simply, it is stunning.

Built in 1902, the hotel building was the palace of an industrialist from the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy who originally used it to showcase his products.

Over the years factory halls were built into the court of the Patrician house, which were eventually reconstructed into lofts and, during the 1950’s, the building was used as a boarding house.

In 1991 the current owner, Otto E. Wiesenthal, bought the house and converted it into what is now the Altstadt Vienna offering 42 rooms and suites in addition to long stay apartments spread across five storeys.  Wiesenthal’s personal art collection is displayed throughout the hotel. Each hallway differs in style and each room has been individually designed.

Located in the 7th Viennese district, the Spittelberg area which is famous for its artistic flair, the hotel is made special by its daring interior design and the huge art collection that can be admired throughout.  With each corridor you turn down, or room you walk into, you are accosted with spectacular design: a dark, sensuous hallway punctuated with retro photography on the way to the cozy salon with an open fireplace; or original parquet floors contrasted with candy-colored walls and furniture.

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Original wrought iron balustrades with brightly coloured, geometric stair runner

And there have been quite a few big names that have contributed to the interior of this truly unique hotel: one guest room has a Philippe Starck designed bathroom; there is an original Helnwein along the staircase, and a Prachensky at the front desk. Some of Vienna’s numerous museums even enrich the collection by lending artwork to the Altstadt, and Otto E. Wiesenthal himself lives in a suite in the hotel – you may see him straightening the edges of the Alstadt’s Warhol-to-Gilbert & George art collection.

As if this was not enough, there are nine new neo-baroque style rooms designed by Italian architect Matteo Thun. With massive chandeliers, dark damask wallpaper, and a framed soft-focus nude pin-up on the ceiling above some of the beds, the Altstadt’s website describes these rooms as having a ‘touch of the erotic’ and they are not wrong.

After spending the day wandering around the museums, art galleries and antiques shops of Vienna all you will want to do is get back to your suite and enjoy a soak in a large freestanding bath while enjoying beautiful contemporary art, well that is, if like us you are staying in Junior Suite 15. With original oak herringbone parquet floors, bright red walls, and dark wooden furniture brought together with accents of olive-green and burgundy, the space has a dramatic impact that still feels warm and cosy.

Leaving the room for breakfast in the morning you are awoken by a lively yellow corridor covered with contemporary art – paintings, photography and sculpture. Actually, it takes you a while to get down to breakfast as it feels more like wandering around a well decorated art gallery as oppose to a hotel. One thing the Alstadt does not have is that ‘chain hotel’ feel.

One of my favourite design aspects of this hotel is that it purposely contrasts its many original decorative features – the parquet floors, the ceiling mouldings, the wrought iron stair balustrades, for example – with a bright, pop-art colour scheme, contemporary art and modern patterns.

Each piece of art, each carpet runner and each room you walk into has been specifically placed or designed to create a different mood, yet the culmination of this is an interior that is relaxing, while inspiring, and a space you just don’t want to leave.

Altstadt Vienna – http://www.hotel-altstadt-vienna.com/

Photography © Yasemin Richie, 2011