Tag 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

Damien Hirst and Alexander McQueen Exclusive Scarf Collection

Have you managed to get your hands on one of these exclusive scarfs yet? Most stores aren’t stocking all 30 designs, and, of the designs they do have, only one or two pieces are available. Considering its a fashion art collaboration made in heaven, it’s no surprise that a mere week after their launch they are already difficult to come by.

The Alexander McQueen skull scarf was first seen in the SS03 Irere collection and since it launching has become not only a signature accessory of the house, but started the skull trend that is still going strong 10 years later.

The Damien Hirst and Alexander McQueen scarf collection consists of 30 one-off designs.  Each is adapted from Hirst’s Entomology series – butterflies, bugs, spiders and other insects have been worked to form kaleidoscopic geometric shapes, laid out to create the signature McQueen skull motif.  The collaboration seamlessly plays on the shared aesthetic vision of Hirst and McQueen, in which an interest in symmetrical design is combined with strong references to the natural world.

And the haunting short film created by photographer Sølve Sundsbø promoting the collection is nothing short of a work of art within its own right.

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wK_-Ycn69sg

The scarves are available in Chiffon, Pongé, Twill and Cashmere with prices ranging from £315/ €340/ $515 to £715/ €785/ $1175.

All 30 designs are limited and have been available from 15th November 2013 at Alexander McQueen stores worldwide and from the scarf boutique of www.alexandermcqueen.com.

Which is you favourite?

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Alexander McQueen Damian Hirst Skull Butterfly Collaboration

Images via: Damien Hirst & Alexander McQueen

 

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.

Design Days Dubai 2013: Review

After the debut last year, we were very excited to see what Design Days Dubai 2013 had to offer, and we were not disappointed. With galleries from all over the world showcasing some show stopping designs, here are some of our favourites.

 

Based Upon

The artworks tell the story of their subject, often beginning with an important location or family history. Based on natural forms and ‘the passage of time’ the pieces are made from metals and resins. The gallery is based in London.

Fragmented Crack Coffee Table

 

Wandering Knightsbridge

 

Stilwerk Limited Edition Design Gallery

Based in Hamburg, Stilwerk is establishing a platform for contemporary products intertwining art and design

PLOPP Copper Family Stools by Oskar Zieta

 

Moto_OV Sideboard by Sgroll & Vidal

 

“Object of Transit” by Sgroll & Vidal

 

La Galerie Nationale

Dubai based La Galerie Nationale were exhibiting the design works of artist turned designer Helidon Xhixha – shaped, sculpted metal turned into furniture pieces. Check out his design work at www.styleand steeluae.com.

Vitality

 

Stainless Steel Sliding Door “Gateway of Light”

 

Seating Ensemble

 

J+A Gallery

Although usually specialising in offering the Dubai design scene with rare industrial and mid-century design objects and salvaged goods from Germany and Central Europe, the gallery had a few surprises in the form of artist and designer Ritchie Riediger’s work. The “Fire – Frequency Tubes” consist of borosilicate glass and polished brass, and emit an amazing crytal clear colorful light, the order and shape of which  based on the frequency of a burning fire.

 

Jens Praet with Industry Gallery

Italian based Belgian designer Jens Praet produced a Shredded Side Table during Design Days Dubai opening hours, in addition to running two fully booked workshops. ‘Shredded’ takes non-useful documents and leftover magazines and transforms them into valuable and useful objects. The selection below is from the Elle Decor Edition.

 

Carpenters Workshop Gallery 

Carpenters Workshop Gallery is known for its discovery of bold and iconic design-art. Like many of the artists it fosters, the gallery takes a young, fresh and dynamic approach, primarily following its own aesthetic. They exhibit unique and limited edition works both by emerging and established artists, and designers.

Lathe IX by Sebastian Brajkovic

 

Lathe Side Table 650 & 450 by Sebastian Brajkovic

 

“You Fade To Light” by Random International

 

Eiffel Tower Lamp by Studio Job

 

Fragile Future Chandelier 3.6 by Gordijn & Nauta

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