YOKO ONO "EYE BLINK" FILM

Enchanted by this silent minute...

Camera: Peter Moore. Entry by George Maciunas: “High speed camera, 200fr./sec. view of one eyeblink.”

GAGA'S WORLD(S) AT BARNEYS

There’s always something special happening in NYC and no visit could ever be the same. This year alone there were several exhibits, including the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the MET which I had to miss due to timing, unfortunately.

I was in Ny last week, and for this Christmas the Barneys windows (and the store’s entire 5th floor) are designed by Lady Gaga and her team, which includes her Mom!

A take on Santa's iconic workshop, the project has been realized through the eyes of renowned creative talents: Lady Gaga, Nicola Formichetti, and Eli Sudbrack and avaf, in collaboration with Barneys' creative director Dennis Freedman.

Gaga's Budoir

Created in collaboration with renowned hairstylist Bob Recine, this window is a surrealist take on Lady Gaga’s own personal boudoir. Constructed entirely out of hair, the room is filled with iconic references to hair styles and fashions from Gaga’s past.

Gaga Crystal cave

 

This mysterious ice world is a light installation featuring a mermaid sculpture reminiscent of Gaga.

Gaga Machine

This window plays with the idea of Lady Gaga physically morphing into a gilded motorcycle.

Gaga Constellation

Q4, an NYC-based experiential digital agency, collaborated on this window, which features a film by director Tim Richardson and Nicola Formichetti. The interactive short film portrays Gaga as a series of evolving constellations.

BE AMAZED. 20 YEARS OF DAZED&CONFUSED EXHIBITION

Preservation Vamp, 1995, photography by Donna Trope, styling Katie Grand

Celebrating 20 years of their controversial magazine content, the Dazed and Confused exhibition at Somerset House brings together a host of various photo shoots, cover shots and artwork. Having used a variety of different ways to tell visual stories, the magazine commissioned work from many influential photographers, designers and artists over the years, all of whom left their mark on the publication and it's reputation for being a cutting edge voice of the new media.

 

 

 

Within the exhibition, two smaller courtyard rooms are dedicated to the late Alexander McQueen’s involvement with Dazed & Confused. There is a room solely devoted to the 1996 ‘Fashion-Able’ shoot which represented disability in a way that no other magazine had ever attempted, both then and now. The images in this room highlight McQueen’s ability in powerful social commentary and also his passion for seeking innovative ways to get a message across.

 

CHRISTIAN DADA: PURE CREATIVITY FROM TOKYO FASHION WEEK

The Spring Summer 2012 collection of Christian Dada is very dark but absolutely addictive and cool. The black aura that hovers look by look to increase the pathos and to highlight the subtle creativity of the designer.

This season’s theme is entitled “SIGNAL/NOIZE.”  This is the second runway show for the brand, and they exclusively presented womenswear. The collection was developed with influence by dumb type’s work [S/N].  “Signal” represents cloth and “Noise” representing mixed media.  In this vein, they have likened the icon “death” to that of bones, and then created a collection based on this visual.   

THE STUNNING CREATIVITY OF LISA WALKER

“I’m not really a technical expert in anything”, claims jeweller Lisa Walker, and many of her pieces certainly look like it. This is jewellery that seems to leave all traditional notions of skill behind. If you are drawn to a brooch like this one, it is not in admiration of the handwork that lies behind it, but something else. 

Lisa Walker is a New Zealand designer who lives in Germany since many years. An eccentric and bizarre art, which is observed in its exaggeration. These jewelry pieces are stunning and you definitely do not let go unnoticed.

MINNA PARIKKA BETWEEN MODERNISM AND ROMANTICISM

Minna Parikka, is a finland young designer with a strong creative ability. At 15 she draws her first shoes and at 19 years is in England to study footwear design at De Montfort University. She won the "Young British Glove Designer" conferred by the British Glove Association and in 2005 she launched the first collection signed Minna Parikka. It's about  gloves, bags and shoes .. must have with a retro' flavour! A niche style, but not difficult to understand. A romantic touch mixed with glam and modernism. Minna Parikka already boasts names like Lady Gaga among his fans .. definitely to watch!

 

 

DISNEYLAND "UNDER ATTACK"- MAX PAPESCHI

Max Papeschi is the 'hottest' digital artist of the moment. Disecrator, polemical and politician, director/ author in theater, television and film. As a figurative artist, his approach to the Art-World was an instant success both public and critics. His Politically Scorrect pop cites the 'American Life' revealing its horrors in a way so ironically realistic. From Mickey Mouse to the Ronald McDonald warmongering Nazi cult icons lose their sympathy turned into a collective nightmare. A new-pop poetry from the strong social content, but cut thin, ironic and always over the top.

TERRY RICHARDSON "MOM&DAD" EXHIBITION AT COLETTE

I was in Paris for fashion week but unfortunately i had no time to go around snooping. From the September 26th till November 5th, there's one more reason to go to Colette,"Mom & Dad". The Terry Richardson exhibition that features photos of his parents; a series of portraits, letters and interiors document the very origins of Terry Richardson.  Treating the subject as any of his other shoots, Terry delves deeply and indiscriminately with his camera revealing the all too personal nature of his life… his family life.  The exhibition is joined by a small pop-up store, which will include a selection of products such as T-shirts, G-shock and BabyG Casio watches, Richardson’s Moscot collaborative glasses, “Uncle Terry” figure collection, Terry’s custom bear, and all of Terry’s books.

THE KING OF NYFW: PRABAL GURUNG

Thanks God the New York fashion week boredom was interrupted by a young talent who is making headlines of his own. Prabal Gurung launched his first eponymous collection during New York Fashion Week in February 2009 with a presentation at The FLAG Art Foundation in Chelsea. Gurung was born in Singapore and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was in New Delhi, India that his design career truly began. While studying at New Delhi's National Institute of Fashion Technology, he apprenticed at several local production and fashion houses and designed with Manish Arora. Gurung's travels took him to Melbourne and London, where he assisted stylists for various fashion shows and international publications. In 1999, after seven years of traveling, Gurung moved to New York City. He began his career in New York interning for Donna Karan while attending Parsons School of Design. In his first year, he was awarded the "Best Designer" title at the annual Parsons / FIT design competition. 

Prabal Gurung had a sensational SS2012 show during the last NYFW; an avant-garde, sexy and irreverent woman. Man cut blazers, along with shorts mixed with prints, colors which bringing joy. Outfit by outfit sees the surprising combination between sado latex and romantic prints. A genius triumph that we will see next summer worn by the coolest celebrities.

SAN PELLEGRINO AND BULGARI AT EXCELSIOR MILAN OPENING

Tonight at the opening of Excelsior, the new concept store in Milan, designed by Jean Nouvel, I came across this brilliant collaboration between San Pellegrino and Bulgari, created to celebrate the 125 year anniversary of the luxury maison. Must have limited edition!!!

WALKING IN CHARING CROSS ROAD..ART ON WINDOW!

A couple of weeks ago, during my usual summer vacation in London, i was walking in the evening with friends of mine. We were in Charing Cross Road and in front of the Central Saint Martins school i have been kidnapped by an art installation. Two students of visual art were on window, performing their art work. Cool!

THE KNITTED ART OF LAURA THEISS

Every time I go for a walk around the Victorian & Albert museum,  I always find lots of interesting artists. Laura Theiss is one of them, fashion designer graduated from Central Saint Martins (London) in 2009, is already in her second collection. Much to look at and everything is absolutley to wear..

The designs combine traditional hand-knitting and crochet techniques inspired by the Far East costumes with metallic embellishment, unusual color combinations and futuristic, feminine vision in the forms.

The Lithuanian-born Theiss is focused about knitting. "For me, knitwear is like my mother tongue: it's a sort of language embedded in my DNA .... The Best Part of Being a designer is That I can create my own fabric with just a needle and yarn" she said.

Very contemporary and original, interesting and not boring voice in the upcoming scene. I like her!

CHANEL&GIGI BURRIS

Several have been rumors about hiring Gigi Burris as head of millinery at Chanel. But the reality is that the maison is in talks with her for the recruitment as assistant. Gigi Burris is a really talented and promising milliner. She is only 23 years old, graduated from the Parsons school in New York she is the "protegée" of the gorgeous Kate Lanphear. Within two years her name has been around the world. Such as Coco Chanel, also for her, feathers and pearls make their mark.

IT'S ABOUT BUBBLES ...

A few days ago, I discovered this brilliant idea .. We are in Roubaix, northern France. Rudolph Palladino has designed the Bubble Room. Made of canvas semi-(recycled material), under pressure, able to sustain itself without vertical supports, temperature controlled, occur simultaneously hyper and retro, with their ability to offer overnight stays indoors, without depriving themselves of all comfort, but under a starry sky and surrounded by nature. The illumination color is the choice of the host.

I have absolutely to see them..and try!