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Monday, August 6, 2012

MILAGRITOS: "Small Miracles" by Alinka Echeverria

Small Miracles continues the exploration of the relationship between image, miracle and faith in contemporary Mexico. For this new series, Alinka Echeverria visited the schrine of the Virgin of Juquila which is hidden in the highlands of Oaxaca in southern Mexico: a rural state facing deep economic crisis, mass emigration to the USA and a prevailing drug war. Popular legend asserts that the statue of the Virgin and her long black hair remained undamaged during a tragic fire that destroyed the village. Since then, she has been venerated by millions who visit her shrine in order to ask for miracles and give thanks for those she has bestowed upon them. Echeverria isolates the milagritos - bronze pendants that are attached to the Virgin and represent the object of prayer - and photographs them using the pin and string they originally came with.

This series is presented in light boxes with a rich wooden frame, giving the impression of an elevated altarpiece, with the miracle becoming a glowing token of hope mounted on a cardinal red background.

Alinka Echeverria was born in Mexico City in 1981. Her work explores the boundaries between documentary and fine art. Small Miracles is the first series of work produced by Echeverria since 'Road to Tepeyac', for which she won the prestigious French prize HSBC Prix pour la Photographie in 2011.

Alinka Echeverria

'Small Miracles'

A plea for a chicken

A plea for a husband conquering his alcoholism

A heart for love

Thanks for the healing of broken bones

A plea for a good crop of maize

Courtesy of Alinka Echeverria / EB&Flow, UK

Small Miracles was on exhibit at EB&Flow, UK

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Fairy Tale Fantasies; " Black Antoinette " by Olaf Hajek

Black Antoinette is a collection of Olaf Hajek's most recent work that was created over the last three years - a striking selection of personal artwork, editorial contracts, and commercial portraits that showcase a remarkable style that has become more free and painterly during this time. His colorful illustrations and textured paintings are infused with a folkloristic naivety and freshness. The German artist masterfully melds influences from West African and Latin American art to create surreal juxtapositions of fairy tale fantasies and disordered realities.

Based in Berlin, Olaf Hajek is currently one of the world's most successful and well-known illustrative artists. His work can be seen in newspapers including the New York Times and the Washington Post, in magazines such as Rolling Stone and Time, in advertisements, and on stamps for Great Britain's Royal Mail. Over the last several years his personal work has captured increasing attention on the international art market. After exhibitions in London, New York, Atlanta, Buenos Aires, and Cape Town, Olaf Hajek's artworks are now on view at Gestalten Space in Berlin.

This exhibit also celebrates the launch of Olaf Hajek's second monograph Black Antoinette.

The exhibit

Black Antoinette by Olaf Hajek

Illustrations from the book

Images Courtesy of Gestalten

Black Antoinette, The Work of Olaf Hajek will be released in August in the US.
Courtesy of Gestalten, Berlin.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

HEY 'YA (Let's Go): Arab Women in Sport by Brigitte Lacombe

In celebration of the 2012 London Olympics, Hey 'Ya: Arab Women in Sport, the first exhibition by the renowned French photographer Brigitte Lacombe with the documentary film-maker Marian Lacombe, will be on view at Sotheby's Gallery, London from July 25 to August 11, 2012.

Commissioned by Qatar Museums Authority, this timely exhibition is a visual exploration of Arab women in sport, and features a new series of large-scale photographs by Brigitte Lacombe of more than 50 women athletes, from beginners to Olympians, from 20 different Arab countries, shown alongside videos by her sister, Marian Lacombe, which situate images within the women's personal histories and a wider - often unspoken - discourse of gender, culture and sport in the Arab world.

The project, shot over a period of seven months, began in December 2011, in the Athletes Village at the Arab Games in Doha, where Brigitte and Marian Lacombe set up their own outdoor studio, working side by side. Thereafter they travelled working with women athletes of all ages and levels of achievement in countries from the Gulf to North Africa. With the support of Qatar's Aspire program, which promotes sporting opportunities for young people, they also worked with the talented younger generation of sporting hopefuls.

Hey 'Ya: Arab Women in Sport

Basketball player Amal Mohammad Awad, from Qatar
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Equestrian Dalma Malhas, from Saudi Arabia
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Athlete Feta Ahamada, from Cormoros
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Basketball player Miriam Hussein, from Somalia
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa Arakji, from Qatar
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Fencer Sarra Besbes, from Tunisia
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Athletics Team from Sudan
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Tennis player Olla Mourad, from Qatar
Photograph © Brigitte Lacombe / Qatar Museums Authority

Courtesy of the artist / Qatar Museums Authority / Sotheby's Gallery, London

He 'Ya Arab Women in Sport

Sotheby's Gallery, London

July 25 - August 11, 2012

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Prêt-à-Papier or Couture Paper: The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave

For over 15 years, inspired by the rich history of fashion represented in European paintings, famous costumes in museum collections, and haute couture designs, the Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave has turned her passion for painting toward the recreation of elaborate costumes - crumpling, pleating, painting, and sculpting the surface of ordinary paper - to achieve the effect of textiles and create the illusion of haute couture.

A selection of iconic dresses, reinterpreted in trompe l'oeil paper masterpieces is presented in the exhibition Prêt-à-Papier: The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave, currently on view for the first time at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in Washington, DC. More than 25 of de Borchgrave's quintessential interpretations of historical costumes and haute couture dresses, with six new pieces made for this exhibition, including one commissioned solely for Hillwood will be on display.

From the lavish apparel of the Russian imperial family and 18th century French aristocracy to turn-of-the-century fashion designers Mariano Fortuny and Charles Frederick Worth, discover the extraordinary paper sculptures of Isabelle de Borchgrave.

Prêt-à-Papier: The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave

Installation view

Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens

Pompadour Dress
Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens

Pink Dress, costume realized at the occasion of the installation of the Marie Antoinette Bathroom at the Palace of Versailles. Inspired by ca. 1776 engraving in the collection of the Musée du Louvre, Paris
Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens

Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens

Fortuny Orange Dress, after late 19th century design

Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens

Lanvin Dress based on 1924 period in spirit of Chinese prints and lacquers. painted to resemble diamanté and bead embroidery
Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens

Peter the Great dress based on c. 1730 design

Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens

French 18th Century dress à la Polonaise. The patterns come from a costume at the Kyoto Costume Institute and the shape of the dress is from an etching by Antoine-Jean Ducios, c.1760, based on a painting by Augustin de Saint-Aubin
Photo © Alain Speltdoorn
Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museums and Gardens