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Monday, November 28, 2011

DIOR COUTURE by Patrick Demarchelier

The soon to be released, DIOR COUTURE will make a lovely gift for this holiday season. This book is a portfolio of over one hundred iconic gowns for the entire era of Christian Dior haute couture, including dresses designed by Dior himself and those of his successors, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, and John Galliano.

Each of these divine portraits were shot by legendary French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier whose work is regularly featured in leading magazines including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Vanity Fair, and many others. Demarchelier was also the official photographer of Princess Diana of Wales, the first non-Briton to become an official photographer for the Royal Family.
Shot in various places, a movie studio in Beijing, Times Square in New York and, in Paris, in settings including a private chateau, the Opera Garnier, avenue Montaigne, and at the Hotel Plaza Athenee, the stunning gowns - vintage and contemporary - were taken on models including Natalia Vodianova, Gisele Bundchen, Karlie Kloss, actress Charlize Theron, and many others.

Founded in Paris by designer Christian Dior in 1946, the House of Dior is one of the most revered names in fashion, and his the archetype of Parisian couture. With splendid images accompanied by thoughtful text by former editor-in-chief of Interview magazine, and a special foreword by American artist Jeff Koons, DIOR COUTURE immortalizes one of the most important and long-lived couture houses in the world and is a book that anyone with an interest in fashion will want for their library.

DIOR COUTURE is published by Rizzoli New York
Release date: December 2011

Dior Couture by Patrick Demarchelier, the making

Courtesy Rizzoli New York
This post is also featured on the Huffington Post

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou: Egungun Project. A Sumptuous Masquerade

Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou (b.1965) is one of the pre-eminent photographers from the Republic of Benin, based in the capital Porto Novo close to the Nigerian border. Trained by his father, the world-renowned photographer Joseph Moise Agbodjelou (1912-2000), Leonce Raphael has since developed his own individual style in contemporary and innovative ways. Shooting with medium format in an outdoor studio, his recent project has focused on the Egungun masqueraders.

Egungun are both named and unnamed ancestral forbears of Yoruba-speaking lineages, found in the republic of Benin and in the Yoruba kingdoms of south-Western Nigeria. Beginning in the 11th to 14th centuries a.d., the masqueraders appear at funeral to mark and guide the passage of the deceased to the spirit world. Annual festivals are held in Yoruba-speaking communities at the beginning of the rainy season to cleanse the town, but Egungun can also appear at any time to avert major misfortune or affliction that threatens the local community. They occupy a range of roles that vary from recent deceased and historical forbears, to acting as community executioners of criminals and witches. Less important and junior performers, such as onidan (miracle workers) oloki (acrobats) and alaba (wearers of cloth) cam also entertain the onlookers with magical feats and the sumptuousness of visual display.
~~Dr Charles Gore, Senior Lecturer in the History of African Art, School of African and Oriental Studies, University of London

Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou explores these dynamic tensions in a major series of individual portraits of Egungun that capture both their individual personalities and quirks while making out their power and elusiveness as liminal visitors from the world of the dead.

Agbodjelou has received international recognition for his portrait photography. This new series - acquired by major private collections worldwide - firmly establishes him as preeminent emerging artist.

Egungun Project is currently on view at Jack Bell Gallery, London
November 17 - December 17, 2011

© Jack Bell Gallery

Courtesy Jack Bell Gallery, London

Egungun Project

November 17 - December 17 2011
This post is also featured on the Huffington Post

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Babylonstoren, an eco-chic getaway in South Africa

If you plan to spend the holidays somewhere and are still hesitating on where to go, you may want to check out Babylonstoren, an exceptional place located in the heart of the Cape Winelands, and an hour drive from Cape Town. In her inspired restoration of one of the Winelands oldest estates, the former editor of Elle Deco and owner of the estate, Karen Roos and her team have created a unique country getaway, a luxury hotel and working guest farm.

As a working farm, Babylonstoren's acreage is divided between orchards and vineyards. Its centerpiece is a magnificent eight-acre fruit and vegetable garden, modeled on the fabled gardens of Babylon, and inspired by Patrice Tarravella's creation of the medieval monastery garden at Prieure d'Orsan in France.

The historic werf, with its handsome buildings and pleasing spatial geometry is among the best preserved in the Cape. Among the old oaks and olive trees, a series of 18th century-style cottages have been built to accommodate guests. Skillful preservation and restoration of the original feel, combined with an infusion of 21st century life, the interiors are simple, yet utterly luxurious, a mix of modern and antique pieces and stylish touches such as a Magis Puppy Dog, a canvas wardrobe, a Xavier Lust hatstand.

The old cowshed has been converted into a cool milk-restaurant, Babel, where award winning stylist and food consultant Maranda Engelbrecht has come up with a unique new style of menu, which focuses on fresh produce from the garden and the region.

Babylonstoren

Farm entrance ©Babylonstoren

Farm activities @Babylonstoren

©Babylonstoren

Historical fowl house ©Babylonstoren

Historical Cape Dutch gable house ©Babylonstoren

Garden pond ©Babylonstoren

©Babylonstoren

Cottages ©Babylonstoren

Suites ©Babylonstoren

©Babylonstoren

Babel restaurant, a farm-to-fork experience ©Babylonstoren

©Babylonstoren

Bamboo spa reception ©Babylonstoren

Overview with the Simonsberg mountains, the finest terroir in the Cape ©Babylonstoren

Swimming in the pond ©Babylonstoren

Courtesy Babylonstoren, Drakenstein Valley, Franschhoek, South Africa

Monday, November 21, 2011

Yuko Shimizu; A Phantasmagorical Graphic Novel

The exceptional illustrator Yuko Shimizu creates her work melding traditional Japanese graphic prints with surreal comic art. Inspired by Matthew Barney, Jean Paul Gaultier, Raymond Pettibon, and eccentric raconteur Momus, the award-winning New York-based artist draws her basic forms and figures with calligraphy brushes and later digitally supplements them with additional colors and backgrounds. This technique results in elegant and harmoniously composed creative visions and science-fiction fantasies, which are often erotically charged and combine the best of American pop and Japanese comic culture.

Yuko Shimizu has won numerous international awards and has done commissioned work for the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, SPIN, Playboy, GQ, the New York Times and many more...

A comprehensive collection of Shimizu's different strikes and strokes, this book explores the Japan-born artist's marriage of East and West, commerce and art, mind and matter, sexy heroines and restrained sensuality.

From Yuko Shimizu