ARTIST STEPHEN WILTSHIRE
This is pretty remarkable.
28 WORKS OF ART: ART BASEL
Art Basel is an interesting and somewhat bedeviling experience, with the actual artwork too often dwarfed by glitzy parties and celebrity sightings. Once you got past the dinners, cocktail parties and late night club scene, there were some stunning and inspiring works of art. Here are 28 that jumped out while walking the massive main convention hall filled with tens of thousands of paintings, sculptures, video installations, photographs, tapestries and other impressive pieces, including the above painting, Make Up 10, by Made in Company.
ART BASEL PREVIEW: LA PANDILLA
Of all the big time artists featured in the main exhibition halls down here at Art Basel, it’s the smaller presentations outside that are often the most intriguing. Take street artists La Pandilla, a pair of muralists, Juan Fernandez and Alexis Diaz from Puerto Rico who create highly intricate and detailed works of art that display an edgy genius. Harnessing this raw energy, top denim brand Diesel has smartly collaborated with the pair by showing their street art on the walls of their store on Lincoln Road with a party scheduled for tonight, appropriately starting at 9pm. It is Art Basel after all. Here’s the pair in action:
LEGO VOLKSWAGEN CAMPER
Consider this beautifully designed LEGO set more a piece of art than a straight up toy. You can feel confident knowing it will provide a few hours of nostalgic fun for the kid at heart in the family. Based on the classic 1962 Volkswagen T1 Camper, the van features the iconic safari windshield, pop-up top and rear hatch that lifts to display the engine. Great for any office, den or desk. 1962 Volkswagen Camper Van, $119, available at LEGO. Check out the great details: (more…)
BANNER RACERS BY CONRAD LEACH
It’s always good to see a new menswear site emerge that has a top notch selection of gear and products and a unique point of view. Bench & Loom is just that, a site dedicated to craftsmanship, heritage and authentic clothing – all inspired by male archetypes like Hemingway, Newman and McQueen. In addition to Dehen wool motorcycle sweaters and James Churchill gloves, the site features a specialty shop where exclusive, tightly edited items are sold. The piece (more…)
LESS AND MORE BY DIETER RAMS
If you appreciate beautiful design then Dieter Rams is someone you should know of. Born in 1832 in Weisbeden, Germany, Rams is widely regarded as one of the preeminent designers of his day. Working as Chief of Design at Braun for 30+ years, many of his designs — coffee makers, calculators, radios, audio/visual equipment, consumer appliances and office products — have found a permanent home at many museums over the world, (more…)
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
Of all the comic book adaptations that have come our way over the past two years, none looks more promising than the launch of the upcoming Tintin franchise. If all goes well, and by the looks of trailers for “The Secret of the Unicorn,” it most definitely should, the first film will be the start of many. The movie release is set for December 23rd, 2011 and the marketing machine is just starting to roll. Steven Spielberg’s first-ever appearance at last week’s Comic Con to promote (more…)
TERRAPIN STATIONERS
This is a big week in New York for the fashion industry as two major Spring/Summer 2012 trade shows take place, ENK NYC and Capsule. Just around the corner from Capsule, there is a much smaller spin-off titled “Something Old, Something New,” where we spotted this spectacular stationary from Terrapin Stationers (you get the reference). The sportsman motif is spot on and will make you look like a good old fashion gentleman upon receipt. It’s good to switch it up from email from time to time, regardless of the hassle. Available at Etsy.
JEFF KOONS DESIGNED BMW M3 GTS
Artist Jeff Koons is the latest talent to paint a “BMW Art Car.” First started in 1975, the company has invited 17 top artists over the years to cover their cars in bold designs and color. The car goes up for auction this week at the (more…)
THE VENICE BIENNALE
The Venice Biennale is arriving soon, and runs from June 4th to November 27th. Although the spectacle, glitzy events and commercial aspects have begun to overshadow the art and creativity, this would be one of the events on the very top of our list to experience. This and maybe the Glasgow Music Festival to balance (more…)
DELFONICS ROLLBAHN NOTEBOOKS
A good old fashion notebook makes just as much of a design statement as a fancy tablet. One of our favorites is the “Rollbahn” by Japanese design firm Delfonics.
NEW BALANCE CERAMICS
NEW BALANCE CERAMICS. Not a style you’ll be wearing anytime soon but worth a long look. If you haven’t noticed already, there’s a collective obsession with all things sneakers by a huge proportion of guys out there . The editors at SNEAKERFREAKER have uncovered these gems created by talented ceramic artist Jon Lawrence.
TOD’S WOVEN BRACELETS
TOD’S WOVEN BRACELETS. It can be quite difficult to find well designed men’s jewelry. Necklaces and bracelets in particular are either too precious, or gaudy and overdone. Inspired by last years World Cup, Italian powerhouse Tod’s created a collection of woven bracelets in a variety of bold, eye catching colors. Ideal for the upcoming warmer months, wear them with a white classic tee shirt and flip flops. Beach ready. Between $165 – $225. At Saks Fifth Avenue and Tod’s boutiques worldwide.
PANTONE MUGS
KANYE WEST “I DON’T DO PRESS”
KANYE WEST: “I DON’T DO PRESS.”
PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTIAN CHAIZE
PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTIAN CHAIZE
French photographer Christian Chaize captures southern Portugal with a beautiful image worthy of any apartment.
Statement from the Artist:
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
Five years ago, Portugal did present itself as a new landscape in my life – both literally and metaphorically. Since then, I have photographed exclusively along a very small stretch of its southern coastline. Returning to this specific place, I’ve sought out its nuances. In doing so, I have peeled back layers of how I see, and how I experience this magical environment.
The results of my slight obsession have evolved into two distinct series. Here are two images from Praia Piquinia, a body of work focusing on a singular, secluded beach front in which all of the pictures are taken from essentially the same elevated angle. What the still life was for Morandi, this beach is for me. From a distance, I observe the variables: light, weather, time of day, the ebb and flow of the ocean, and the sunbathers, unaware, below my large format camera. The images are shot vertically, a departure from the traditional, horizontal format in landscape photography. It puts my subject matter in the form of a portrait – an ongoing record of this ethereal yet playful nook in nature over the minutes, the days, the years. Ultimately, I try to instill an element of time within these captured moments… visceral time, elastic from one image to another. And always, I seek to have new eyes.
ARTIST ROBERT FALCUCCI
The Super Bowl media and advertising frenzy was difficult to endure, although skipping the ads would be akin to not studying for a quiz. You have to watch in order to be prepped the next day. When did they become must-see TV? Whether or not they were any good (they were bad) is a mute point, the battle has already been lost. The dominant commercials today lack vision and beauty. A lesson could be learned from the top graphic artist of his day, Italian Robert Falcucci. 1900-1989
It would be very refreshing to see a company create a print campaign using vintage graphic art work as inspiration. Falcucci, an illustrator, painter and decorator, specialized in destination travel and automobiles, with Renault and the Grand Prix in Monaco some of his finest work.
No gimmicks, just simple, beautiful advertising that relies more on creating a lifestyle than tearing one apart. When was the last time you wanted to display an advertisement on your wall?
ART BASEL – CLOSE UP
Of all the wonderful artwork on display at Art Basel, this painting by Lorraine Shemesh was one of the most striking. It’s a cliche to describe the merits of a painting on how closely it resembles a photograph but this one really played tricks on the eye. For more examples of her work, click on the image above.
ARTIST ALEX GREGORY
Cartoonist and TV sitcom writer Alex Gregory on how his two professions interact: “It has to do with learning how to punch a line, of using the minimum amount of words, and always delaying the twist until the end. So the caption for a great cartoon frequently comes in the same kind of zingery form as a TV-sitcom line.”
HOTEL COSTES CHAMAELEONIDAE
From the very talented Paris-based musician and DJ, Seuil. Chamaeleonidae delivers a huge mix of styles, influences and thumping dance floor beats. From the team at Hotel Costes, always a safe play. The album cover artwork is super tight.
