POP 1048 Monday 12 November 2012
Today's POP is Helen's Highlights 2 of 2: London SS '13.
Painted Abstractions.
LOUISE GRAY
POP 1047 Weekend 10-11 November 2012
Today's POP is Top of the Pop's.
For those of you who missed the appearance of Psy performing the internet obsession and hit Gangnam Style on the Jonathan Ross show (yes, it's been on repeat here at the office).
[Hashtag]: The New World
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POP 1046 Friday 9 November 2012
Today's POP is Lily. There is most certainly something happening here.
The latest offering from esteemed Mayfair gallery Brancolini Grimaldi – a group exhibition showcasing the work of a new generation of photographers – is utterly enthralling. Curated by Tom Watts (Art Review) and James Reid (Wallpaper) There's Something Happening Here is an inspiring collection of work from a group of young artists as unequivocally diverse as they are talented. Exploring angst, neuroses and perception (among other things), this new generation don’t disappoint. From the prism work of Jessica Eaton, to the fashion photography of Jacob Sutton, it is a dissimilar (yet seamless) compendium of brilliant photography.
POP spoke to Watts and Reid. Lucky us.
What exactly is happening here?
TW: I hope it’s a stimulating visual and mental journey through a series of complex and subtly complimentary images. We refrained from captioning the images so as to maintain an uninterrupted journey for the viewer.
JR: A mushroom trip through the twisted psyches of some fascinating young photographers. An attempt to deal with – or escape from – the harsh realities of the mad, bad world.
How did you select this diverse body of artists?
TW: There was a lot of back and forth. We knew what the overall collection of images should ‘feel’ like, and worked backwards from there. Our background in art direction and magazine making is apparent in the mix of artists in the show. We work with, and come across, a diverse mix of talent across more ‘defined’ disciplines (Fashion, Still-Life, Documentary etc.), but we wanted to ignore these labels and select works that tell their own story when put together in an interesting way. I see the show as one image or mood, rather than a series of individual works.
JR: The idea for a group show has been percolating for around 18 months, inspired initially by a few key images such as Matt Porter's red car careening off a cliff, Jessica Eaton's psychedelic studio work and Steven Brahms' post apocalyptic visions. These got us thinking about what a new generation of photographers were exploring, with amazing results, in their work
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POP 1045 Thursday 8 November 2012
Today's POP is Malena. New York gallery ambition defining The New Mayfair… A comparative commentary.
David Zwirner, an established New York art dealer commissioned Annabelle Selldorf to transform an 18th century Georgian townhouse in the heart of Mayfair into a beautiful 3,300 square foot exhibition space. David told Jackie Wullschlager in an interview for the FT that he “wanted something that screamed Europe”. Whether Annabell achieved that is disputable but what is clear is that Zwirner is a new and strong contender to many of the existing galleries in London.
It was October, just before the opening of Frieze Art Fair, when David Zwirner gallery open it's doors with “Allo!” an exhibition of works by Belgian artist Luc Tuymans. Tuyman found inspiration in The Moon and Sixpence, a forgotten film based on Somerset Maugham’s book which tells the story of Charles Strickland, a Gauguin based character that leaves life to paint in a distant and exotic land. As with many of Tuyman’s works, there is an underlying reference to Belgium’s colonial history as well as strong sarcasm to modern artists’ adaptation of African Art. All this done in mouldy pastels, a chalky palette of greys and blues opening the viewers eyes to memories of the past. Somehow this unusual works in Tuyman’s oeuvre are the perfect way to open a contemporary art gallery which is set to embrace London’s past through it's new position as a gateway to Europe.
Michael Werner gallery also opened in London last month. The gallery occupies 2,500 square feet of a beautiful townhouse in Mayfair, in a street populated by Hedge Funds and private banks. For the opening, Michael Werner chose to exhibit new work by Scottish painter Peter Doig. Two decades after his first exhibition in London, and four years since his 2008 Tate retrospective, Doig surprises us with four less romantic, less traditional canvases in states of unreadiness. Like Tuymans, these paintings also echo distant lands; they saw light in Trinidad where
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POP 1044 Wednesday 7 November 2012
Today’s POP is Jodie. Bling-a-ling.
Born out of a hotchpotch of inspiration, Delfina Delettrez’s latest jewellery collection for Spring/Summer 2013 is a postmodern wonder. Christened as the Infinity Collection, Delettrez sought highly polished, ultra-reflective surfaces to project a hall of mirror-like continuum, while poster paint accents and customisable building block forms are products of her ongoing fascination with childlike play. POP caught up with the fourth generation Fendi kid to talk far-reaching inspirations and rubber.
Do you have a favourite piece?
For sure the infinity ruby ring, it’s like a magic trick.
Where did the infinity inspiration originate?
From optical illusions, reflective and shiny geometrical surfaces that, similar to a hall of mirrors, create an impression of infinity where stones and pearls multiply.
Your jewellery has become known for its playful design. How integral is this to your brand?
Very. It comes from my desire to play with different shapes and from the constant need to explore. I like the idea of giving a different function, a kind of a different life to my creations; smart objects that move and that can be assembled in different orders, necklaces that can become belts according to your mood and your needs, or rings that have infinite ways of being assembled like building blocks.
I love the spear earring. What was the design impetus?
I wanted it to have a creepy side. You can actually twist the top part and select a different combination of colour.
What triggered your consistent technique of contrasting materials?
I love the strength of opposite forces and I am always searching for contrast: on materials, colours, shapes and preciousness. The unexpected twists give more personality to the object.
POP 1043 Tuesday 6 November 2012
Today's POP is Fran. Alliteration.
Sunetra sunglasses, ZanZan. 1950’s necklace with glass stones and Iris detailing, Gillian Horsup at Grays Antiques. Wool turtleneck, COS. Vintage brocade dress, Mint Vintage.
Anyone who loves a great pair of sunglasses should know about ZanZan. Initiated in 2009 by Megan Trimble and business partner Gareth Townsend, ZanZan came out of an obsession with vintage eyewear, but also a love of fashion, film, and photography. ZanZan, a Maltese term used by 60’s gangsters, translates as a “rush of style”, which perfectly embodies the shades. With each pair from the AW12 collection, Trimble has injected retro style with a contemporary edge, making them in England with some of the best vintage acetate we have ever seen.
Megan, neither you nor Gareth studied fashion design. What made you realise that you wanted to pursue design? What had you been doing prior?
My academic background – and first love – is photography, I majored in photography at Sydney College of Art, at Sydney University, so I've always been a visual person. I was a young girl who devoured Vogue magazines so a move into fashion and creative direction was natural for me. Learning to design and produce eyewear has been a long and interesting journey and we’ve had a lot of help along the way. What we do is very collaborative. There is so much untapped knowledge out there and sadly a lot gets lost when manufacturing moves off-shore.
POP 1042 Monday 5 November 2012
Today's POP is Beatrice on the secrets of Italian men…
POP loves Italy: Italian art, Italian food & Italian men.
What makes the man?
-Good taste
-A sense of modernity
-A sense of tradition
-Beauty
-Great style
To feed this POP pleasure, Tod’s has just released a series of portraits, celebrating Italian men & their impeccable style in a beautiful large-format coffee book.
Here we give you a peek at one of our favourite men featured: Gelasio Gaetani Lovatelli D'Aragona. A historical producer of a great wine, he is a journalist and writer. Born into one of the most ancient families in Rome; his ancestors include three Popes, the most famous of whom was Boniface VIII.
POP loves an aristocrat.
TOD's Italian Portraits is also available as an app at itunes.apple.com.
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POP 1041 Weekend 3-4 November 2012
Today's POP is Rachel, going Dodo.
Halloween's over, which can only mean one thing: the Christmas gift season has descended. This year charm brand Dodo offer the opportunity to not just say it with roses but spell it out instead.
Their new line of letter charms – each in a sparkling shade of rose gold – add an endless character limit to their already luxe family of animal charms, bracelets and necklaces.
To celebrate their launch, the Dodo itself caught up with POP to share a few fine words from the other side of extinction.
The Dodo brand is famous for your cute animal charms. What inspired the move to launch letter bracelets?
Dodo is a brand of 'talking' charms, where each charms carries a different message or meaning. The launch of 'Letters' was an extension of this concept. An alphabet of rose gold letters straight from the heart! Letters can be mixed in with the animal charms, or used alone to spell out a bespoke message on earrings, necklaces or bracelets.
What have you chosen to spell on your own letter charm bracelet?
My bracelet currently spells 'I LOVE NYC' – as we've just opened a store there!
Do you have any lucky charms? What are their significance to you?
My lucky charm is the ‘Junior’ Dodo. My gorgeous Lady Dodo gave it to me when our little one was born. I wear it with my four-leaf clover charm for extra good luck.
Spell POP a message in less than 5 words
POP ROCKS, DODO LOVES YOU!#
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POP 1040 Friday 2 November 2012
Today's POP is ARENA HOMME+. Boys Takeover.
See it & more from the new 'BOWIE VIRUS' – on newsstands now – at thehommeplus.com.
Production & Casting Art House Agency Ltd.
Set Design Poppy Bartlett at The Magnet Agency
Special Thanks Eddie the Wheel
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POP 1039 Thursday 1 November 2012
Today’s POP is Lily. For NYC.
Recently, Maurizio Cattelan and photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari claimed the much coveted billboard overlooking New York’s High Line with a piece from their self proclaimed ‘new generation’ magazine Toilet Paper. For those of you who are unfamiliar with TP, the magazine comprises entirely of photographs that combine high commercial production value with irreverent, bold and cheeky imagery. It is not for the squeamish.
Cattelan’s art often works at uncovering and exposing flaws and contradictions in society, critiquing authority and structures of power. He recently announced his retirement from art, following his 2011 major mobile-esque retrospective at the Guggenheim (which was shot by Ferrari in 3D for Wallpaper), however, Toilet Paper is evidence that his thought-provoking, offensive, playful work is still very much alive and kicking in this wonderful meeting of minds.