STUDIO 325: February 2012

Victor Enrich distorted photography

Now these take some photoshop skill! Created by Spanish photographer, Victor Enrich, these images are digitally manipulated views of the city that form fantastical post-modernist structures. In a time when each 'starchitect' is competing for the title of 'most creative building or 'most advanced structure', Enrich takes this to the extreme, with split skyscrapers, gigantic red postboxes and balancing staircases.

Images: Victor Enrich

Labels: Architecture, Buildings, Cities, Collage, Photography

Dutch Mountain by Denieuwegeneratie

Dutch mountain is an underground house embedded in an artificial hill within a forest by Amsterdam design studio Denieuwegeneratie. The burying of the house simultaneously minimises the disturbance to the surrounding landscape, whilst also insulating the northern walls in the winter months. On the opposite side, the structure has been opened up with a wooden-framed glass facade, making the most of the southern light. The lark wood canopy regulates sunshine throughout the seasons, allowing for a split-level terrace at the ground floor. As explained by the architects; "The house is bold and unpredictable: an experiment in sustainable strategies in concept, structure, material and technical installations. A house that blends quietly in its surroundings, but stands out with spatial surprises." I was as intrigued by the sustainable strategies of the architecture as the unusual interior decoration by the owners, especially that car bookshelf!

Images: denieuwegeneratie

Labels: Architecture, Interiors, Photography

Antonio Marras A/W 12 Milan Fashion Week

Creative director of Kenzo until last year, Antonio Marras is renowned for his feminine clothes that have a hint of nostalgia or hark back to a vintage era. For A/W '11 models walked to a back drop of an image of Marras' mother, with the collection a show of polished beauty from the 1940s and 50s, that was drawn from memories of his mother's elegance. This season the image was replaced by the story of a showgirl and singer, Milly, who defined the showspace and inspired the theatrical curtain reveal of the models for the finale. The music set the scene perfectly, with a score fit for a 1920s silent black and white movie. The clothes were ladylike, showing coats patched together with floral vintage fabric, tweed and brocade. I particularly liked the elegant collars, which had been seen in crisp white for A/W '11, and also the Japanese-style wrap skirts as seen below.

Images: Vogue

See my post of Antonio Marras A/W '11 Milan Fashion Week last year.

Labels: Antonio Marras, Fashion, Fashion Collection, Milan, Milan Fashion Week

Stop, Look, Listen: Three things to do this week.

STOP.
English National Ballet at Tate Britain.

Tate Britain's Duveen Galleries plays host to the English National Ballet company for a week as part of the current 'Picasso and Modern British Art' exhibition. From 10.30-11.45am visitors can watch company classes and rehearsals, and on Friday night (6.30pm, 7.15pm, 8pm, 8.45pm) a premiere of three ballets inspired by Picasso's costume and set design for the Ballets Russes. See Tate website.

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LOOK.

Last chance to see 'Studio Life: Lucian Freud by David Dawson' at the Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert Gallery on Bury Street. This exhibition shows photographs of Lucian Freud in his studio and at home, taken by his assistant, David Dawson, during the final years of his life.

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LISTEN.

Film at The Yard.

From the 29th February to the 25th March, a new theatre created from reclaimed site materials in Hackney Wick will be showing various film screenings, including 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Breakfast at Tiffanys' and 'Requiem for a Dream'. Tickets cost £9. Visit the-yard.co.uk to find out more.

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Labels: Architecture, Art, Art Gallery, Exhibition, Film, Installation, Lucian Freud, Photography

Raf Simons last show for Jil Sander- AW12 Milan Fashion Week

This was the last collection of Raf Simons for Jil Sander, where he will go next is unknown (perhaps Dior, perhaps to concentrate on his own line), so the show understandably had a feeling of an end of an era, but also an excitement for new beginnings. The collection in typical Simons style was characterised by elegance and simplicity, with a pretty colour palette and calm, minimal shapes. Collarless cashmere coats were two-toned, with a light pink exterior and a pale cream interior, whilst dresses seemed inspired by vintage lingerie. The simplicity in the detail and the level of craftsmanship was the real winner; the clothes were well structured and beautifully made. And for someone who has had no formal training in womenswear, and who joined the brand with experience solely in menswear, this clearly is the beginning and not the end for Raf Simons.

Images: Vogue France

Set in the Milan showroom, designed by Gabellini Associates, the collection was set to a romantic backdrop of seven perspex plinths, encasing bouquets by Antwerp-based florist Marc Calle.