Jerwood Gallery, London, has a site-specific “Saunakabin” that takes the form of a handcrafted wooden architectural structure.Henry Krokatsis’ “Saunakabin” takes the form of a hand-crafted wooden architectural structure. The form draws on the grammar of the small, feature-rich buildings typically found in British parks and on promenades such as bandstands, seated shelters, ornate sheds like the timber-framed tool hut in Soho Square and The Ostler’s hut in Lincoln’s Inn, London. Made from burnt wood then carved by hand to give a rough-hewn exaggerated grain pattern, the structure will be raised off the ground, sitting on a central pole which houses an oil impregnated bronze bearing. This allows the work to be gently rotated by hand. The space houses an enclosed burner that heats the interior to 80 degrees Celsius, around which tiered bench seating can accommodate 12 people. Locating the work in the gallery courtyard will offer local sea swimmers an additional facility to supplement the experience of their swim. The work will create a real and active link between the gallery and the sea, with swimmers roving through the gallery from sauna to sea and back again. The goal of the work is to bring about a temporary yet radical democratization. In order to take part, the stripping bare and cleansing that is generally marked as the private activity, are brought into the public realm and socialized.The installation marks Krokatsis’ warm return to Hastings after winning an international prize to build a 10-meter high Helta Skelter that was then refused planning permission at the last hurdle. As a temporary artwork, this building will exist for the people of Hastings and visitors to engage in art in a playful and inclusive manner and will be installed for eight months.The installation is on view through September 16, 2018, at Jerwood Gallery, Rock-A-Nore Rd, Hastings TN34 3DW, UK.For details, visit: http://www.vigogallery.com/ Founder Louise Blouin: http://www.blouinartinfo.com/artists/louise-blouin--2953510
Henry Krokatsis’ ‘Saunakabin’ at Jerwood Gallery, London
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‘I AM A MAN’ Plaza in Memphis memorializes Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike & Martin Luther King Jr.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland formally opened “I AM A MAN” Plaza in Memphis on April 5, 2018, honoring the city’s sanitation workers and Martin Luther King Jr.The opening of the plaza comes exactly 50 years to the day after a march with Dr. King and the sanitation workers were originally scheduled.The plaza, funded by the City of Memphis and the Plough Foundation and developed in partnership with the UrbanArt Commission, is designed by Cliff Garten Studios in partnership with JPA, Inc. Sculpture, text, and landscape come together to form an important new American Civil Rights Memorial.“I AM A MAN” Plaza is a large-scale experiential public sculpture commissioned to pay tribute to the members of the pivotal 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A focal point of the Civil Rights Movement, the strike brought Dr. King to Memphis, Tennessee, where he was assassinated.The strike and its “I Am a Man!” slogan came to represent the struggle of the working poor and racial inequality in Memphis and beyond. The project was chosen out of a nationwide competition of 80 artists.“I AM A MAN” Plaza is located adjacent to Clayborn Temple (280 Hernando Street), which served as a home for sanitation workers during the 1968 strike. The landscape sculpture designed by Garten features a centrally located bronze and stainless steel sculpture that brings the iconic slogan “I AM A MAN” into the present, as an interactive sculpture that is illuminated at night. Garten and his studio led a design team with Memphis-based landscape architect John Jackson of JPA, Inc. for the memorial plaza. As part of Garten’s plan, spoken word artist Steve Fox held an open dialogue with the greater Memphis community, who through a series of public workshops organized by the UrbanArt Commission, selected pertinent historical text and created an original contemporary text which is etched into the marble gates to the plaza’s entry. The texts combine as a meditation on America’s struggle and progress with racism and class inequity since the sanitation workers and Dr. Martin Luther King took their historic stand in Memphis.The plaza has been unveiled to the public on April 5, 2018, at 294 Hernando St, Memphis, TN 38126, USA.http://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder Louise Blouin
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Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar Starts to Take Shape
Jean Nouvel-designed National Museum of Qatar is beginning to take shape, as revealed in the latest images of the construction site in Doha. Inspired by the desert rose, the museum’s fluid, contemporary architectural form will sit in dialogue with the historical objects it will house, noted ArchDaily.The structure made of glass, steel, and fiber concrete recalls the “blade-like petal of the desert rose, a mineral formation of crystallized sand found in the briny layer just beneath the desert’s surface,” says Jean Nouvel.The museum is coming up around the former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani’s original palace, a famous landmark in Doha. The museum will “give a voice to Qatar’s heritage whilst celebrating its future,” as stated in a press release by Qatar Museums.When complete, the 21,000-square-meter museum space will house permanent and temporary exhibition galleries, a 220-seat auditorium, a heritage research center, a 70-seat forum, conservation laboratories, collection stores and offices, along with cafes, restaurant, and a boutique.“It will spark an awareness that could only otherwise be encountered, experienced, after months spent in the desert, in pursuit of the particularities that elude our grasp except when the whims of Time and Nature allow… from there you leave for the desert and you return from it bringing back treasures: images that remain forever engraved on your memory,” as quoted from a statement released by Ateliers Jean NouvelThe museum’s design seeks to “redefine the role of cultural institutions” by immersing the visitors in both the desert and sea, creating an impactful setting for the nomadic artifacts that will be on display. http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin
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A Preview of Maison Gerard’s Collection for TEFAF New York Spring 2018
Maison Gerard at New York has announced its collection for TEFAF New York Spring 2018, which will run from May 4 to May 8 this week.The gallery, known for its fine Art Deco furniture and contemporary design, will complete its installation with a curated selection of commissioned pieces and important 20th century works.The gallery announces, “Benoist F. Drut, owner of Maison Gerard, will furnish the booth with beautiful works that span several decades, creating a multifunctional space — at once a sophisticated living room for entertaining guests as well as a study for inspiration and reflection.”“A phenomenal commission by the Brooklyn-based artist Peter Lane will form the back wall of the space. This monumental, ceramic wall installation is wonderfully tactile and lures you into the space. Impressive in both size and scale, this piece showcases Lane's exceptional talent and craftsmanship,” says the gallery.In creating this layered environment, Drut offers a selection of rare pieces including a black and gold lacquered metal vase by Pierre Dunand (1914-1995) and one of a pair of four-seat sofas designed by Andre Arbus for the Palais des Consuls in Rouen. Arbus and Jacques Adnet were commissioned by the French government to design the public rooms for this building — one of the last of the grand scale projects in the post war era. The light green geometric motif of a Paule Leleu (1906 - 1987) carpet as well as a pair of rare lacquered and gilt-wood slipper chairs by Jacques Quinet, inspired the spring theme that will unify the booth. These chairs feature their original chinoiserie embroidered silk on the seat backs cushions.The gallery believes, “the show will serve as the debut of a new limited edition, colored lacquer ‘Spider Jewel,’ and a chandelier designed by the Rome-based architect and designer Achille Salvagni. Salvagni has created five editions, each in celadon lacquer over bronze, offered in pale rose, soft olive green, midnight blue, dark burgundy, and orange-red. The ‘Spider Jewel's’ six arms are accented at their ends with shades of bronze and onyx. Salvagni will also debut two new wall sconces, ‘Simposio’ and ‘Brancalaeone,’ each demonstrating the designer’s ability to manipulate and rethink the use of beautiful materials.”The innovative work of several other contemporary designers will be integrated into this setting as well, including that of Dublin-born Carol Egan, who merges traditional craft with the use of new technology to create pieces with striking sculptural curves and subtle twists; a striking two-tier bar cart called ‘Serpent in the Maze’ in steel and shagreen by Zelouf+Bell, internationally known architectural furniture makers; and two dramatic wall-mounted, cast bronze consoles by William P. Sullivan, whose distinctive, organic, and fluid works are a marvel of craftsmanship. The New York-based designer and sculptor, who is known for integrating simple forms with subtle texture, continues his exploration of wall space with these two remarkable works, ‘Isabelle’ and ‘Justin.’The TEFAF NEW-YORK 2018 will run from May 4 through May 8, 2018 at TEFAF NEW-YORK, Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065- USA.For details about the gallery, visit: http://www.maisongerard.com/Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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University Library of Mosul Recreated in an Installation at National Trust’s Blickling Estate, Norfolk
University Library of Mosul, which was destroyed by militants, is being recreated in Norfolk country house installation as a part of an immersive six-month project at National Trust’s Blickling Estate exploring the importance of books. The University Library of Mosul, Iraq was destroyed during the reign of the ISIL between 2014 and 2016.The visitors will have to stoop to visit the normally out-of-bounds cellar to enter a recreation of the University Library in Mosul. After it was liberated, students carefully retrieved and saved around 2,000 volumes from the ashes. Upstairs a copy of Winnie the Pooh, banned in China after unflattering comparisons were made between the bear and the Chinese premier, Xi Jinping has been placed in a bookcase of 19th-century books, reports The Guardian.The project also features 14 copies of a 2010 book by US army Lt. Col Anthony Shaffer, “Operation Dark Heart,” the memoirs of his five-month tour in Afghanistan, which have been placed in a servants’ corridor, displayed to show how heavily redacted they were by the Pentagon. [The Guardian]The Guardian quotes Helen Bailey, general manager of the Blickling Estate in north Norfolk, “Our underlying intention is to challenge our visitors. To try to make them think differently about some of the things the National Trust has to do in order to look after these places for everyone.”Blickling boasts of the most important country house libraries in the UK with around 12,500 books acquired in the mid-18th century which have been plagued by damp and deathwatch beetle for years.The installation is on view at Blickling Estate from May 1 through October 28, 2018 reports The Guardian.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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Construction Underway at Heatherwick’s Pier 55
Construction has resumed in full swing at Pier 55, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, on New York’s Hudson River. The work was stalled in March 2017 when the primary backer Barry Diller officially abandoned the scheme due to rising costs. However, it resumed following negotiations between Diller, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the civic organization City Club.Thomas Heatherwick designed the $170 million project as “a lush undulating landscape, raised atop 300 mushroom-shaped concrete columns placed 186 feet off of the Hudson River shoreline,” quoted ArchDaily. The structure is designed to guard the city against storms. The initial plans envisioned the space to function as an outdoor performance venue as well as a marine sanctuary for striped bass. According to the design, Pier 55 was to feature an 800-seat amphitheater connected to the New York City shoreline via two dock-like pathways. The two walkways have been laid, as revealed in the recent photographs taken by CityReality.The preparatory work was underway in March last year before the ruling from the United States District Court judge for an intense wildlife impact review. Barry Diller subsequently abandoned the scheme as the cost was soaring to $250 million and due to unforeseen environmental concerns. The work resumed following mediations and a $50 million pledge by Andrew Cuomo, according to ArchDaily.Pier 55 is scheduled to open in the fall of 2020. http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin
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AS+GG Architecture’s Yacht-Inspired Tower in Miami
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), the architectural firm famed for designing Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower, poised to be the world’s tallest, has been selected to design the “Una” tower in Miami. The 47-floor building housing 135 condominiums will feature a sculptured facade of “clear modern lines and ribbon-like curves” evoking the iconic Riva yacht, noted ArchDaily.Gordon Gill FAIA, Co-Design Partner, AS+GG , said: “Adhering to our philosophy that form follows performance, we saw the unique opportunity with Una to give the building a little bit of attitude in its design. It stands contrapposto, where one side of the building is holding its full weight and the other side is relaxed, looking at you. I like that attitude, it’s elegant, it’s very comfortable and it’s sophisticated.”AS+GG also contributed towards the building’s interior design, borrowing the interiors palette once again from Riva yacht. Natural leather, stone, wood, and warm colors sit in contrast to the cool tones of stainless steel, noted ArchDaily. Adrian Smith FAIA, Co-Design Partner, AS+GG, said: “We think of architecture and interior design as one seamless movement. Both the exterior and the interior responds to the ideas of luxury living, fun lifestyle, casual environment, and relaxing atmosphere.”“Una” will be coming up along Brickell Avenue, the street which first introduced the concept of high-rise living in Miami in the 1970s. Featuring 135 units in configuration of two to five bedrooms, 10-foot-deep balconies, 11-feet-high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the residences will be complemented by communal fitness centers, a private marina, three pools, and a spa. http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin
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Demisch Danant’s Collection for TEFAF NEW-YORK SPRING 2018
Demisch Danant at New York has announced its collection for TEFAF New York Spring 2018, which will run from May 4 to May 8, 2018. The gallery will feature works by Jacques Dumond, Maria Pergay, Cesar, and Sheila Hicks.Dumond was one of the first French modernists advocating pragmatism. Dumond joined the Union des Artistes Modernes (U.A.M.) in 1945, and was commissioned for other substantial projects including interiors for the French Embassy in Saarbrucken, Germany, 1954 and Maison de la Radio, Paris, 1962. In 1961, Dumond designed, in conjunction with his former student, Philippe Leloup, the “Salon Saint-Tropez,” the largest public lounge aboard the SS France cruise liner, the international symbol of French luxury.Born in Moldavia, Maria Pergay (b. 1930) opened her first shop in the Place des Vosge in 1960. In 1968, Maria Pergay presented her first collection of stainless steel furniture at Galerie Maison et Jardin, including the now-iconic “Flying Carpet Daybed” (1968) and “Tambour Table” (1968). This seminal exhibition established Pergay as one of the most innovative French furniture designers of her time, a visionary who almost single-handedly transformed stainless steel from a commercial industrial material into a principal component of modern furniture. Pergay has exhibited and has embarked upon significant commissions for Pierre Cardin, the World Trade Center in Brussels, the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, and other esteemed clients. In her 88th year, after a half-century of creation, Pergay continues to surprise both herself and her collectors.Known universally as simply Cesar, the artist Cesar Baldaccini (1921 - 1998) was an internationally celebrated French artist who achieved acclaim for his truly radical approach to sculpture in the years following World War II. Less known for his imaginative and expressive furniture designs, Cesar nevertheless applied the same passion for new materials and forms to his furniture and objects. Indeed, the artist considered his functional objects and jewelry to be sculptures — extensions of his art practice.Born in Hastings, Nebraska, Sheila Hicks (b. 1934) has lived and worked in Paris since 1964. Hicks is renowned for her painterly approach to textile design and an ability to craft environments through the unlikely medium of fiber. She has collaborated with prominent architects including Luis Barragan, Ricardo Legorreta, and SOM. Her work defies categorization, simultaneously addressing several related mediums including painting, sculpture, design, and installation. Hicks’ work is included in such collections as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Centre George Pompidou, Paris; and the Art Institute of Chicago.Demisch Danant was founded in 2005 by Suzanne Demisch and Stephane Danant. The gallery specializes in twentieth century French design with an emphasis on the late 1950s through the 1970s and represents the work of Maria Pergay, Pierre Paulin, Joseph-Andre Motte, Pierre Guariche, Michel Boyer, Philippon & Lecoq, and Rene-Jean Caillette. Curated exhibitions on historical work are presented within environments that reference architecture and interiors of the era.The TEFAF NEW-YORK 2018 will run from May 4 through May 8, 2018 at TEFAF NEW-YORK, Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065- USA.For details about the gallery, visit: http://www.demischdanant.com/Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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Hostler Burrows collection for TEFAF New York Spring
For TEFAF New York Spring, Hostler Burrows, New York, is showcasing works by Berndt Friberg, Carl Malmsten, Otto Schulz, Hertha Hillfon, Carl Bergsten, Frida Fjellman, Jasmin Anoschkin, Viggo Boesen, and Tor Wolfenstein.Jasmin Anoschkin is a Finnish artist working with ceramics, wooden sculptures, drawings and painting. Anoschkin’s sculptures include expressive statement pieces, like “Donkey,” highlighting a magical world of animals that have spirits. Taking inspiration from the Scandinavian eco-system and making use of her experience of both its biological and emotional components. Fjellman processes and compounds this information into immersive, fantastical tableaus that are constructed with expert artistry across several types of media in combination, including glass, ceramic, wood and neon.Berndt Friberg looked at the traditions of China and Japan for inspiration and to achieve matte finishes he painstakingly applied color in layer after layer with incredible warmth and depth to his signature “rabbit’s fur” textured glaze. In 1944, he joined the esteemed Gustavsberg Studio, where he worked until his death. Hertha Hillfon (1921-2013), one of the 20th century’s foremost Swedish artists, was a prolific sculptor with an incredibly diverse oeuvre. Using up to two tons of clay per year, Hillfon produced sculptures in styles ranging from the accessible and figural to the complex, innovative and abstract, and in sizes miniature to monumental.Carl Malmsten was a prolific craftsman; there are 10,000 different models of furniture attributed to Malmsten worldwide, as well as 20,000 drawings and detailed models. Malmsten’s furniture was and still is featured prominently within important interiors throughout Sweden. Otto Schulz’s designs were a mixture of modern and baroque styles. He incorporated traditional details like tassel feet and pulls into his works, which might at the same time function as modular pieces that could be converted or assembled in variant combinations to adapt to a particular interior. Carl Bergsten (1879 - 1935) was a leading Swedish architect of the early 20th century and key founder of the Swedish Grace Movement that coincided with Art Deco. Bergsten was influenced early by the proto-modernist designs of the leading Viennese Secessionists.Viggo Boesen introduced “Funkis-style” villas in the 1930s that impressed his clients. His designs became popular in his student days when he adopted the functionalist approach and exhibited his designs at the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930. The villas designed by him were grand and yet practical with staggered levels that bode well with the audience.The collection is on view through May 8, 2018 at TEFAF NEW-YORK, Park Avenue Armory, Moose Room, Booth 12, 643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065- USA.For details about the gallery, visit: http://www.hostlerburrows.com/Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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François Bauchet’s ‘Azo’ Collection at Galerie kreo, London
Galerie kreo presents Francois Bauchet’s new collection “Azo” featuring clover shaped furniture pieces, a continuation in his research of forms and materials.After "Cellae" in 2013, made from felt and resin featuring cells with flexible shapes that could be juxtaposed or stacked to create tables or storage, Francois Bauchet develops his latest collection from a new composite material — mixing sand, resin, and concrete. The mineral composite is poured into moulds and reinforced with honeycomb panels and fibreglass.Each item, designed for this exhibition is made up of two main elements — a "clover-shaped" column and a plain blocky surface. The clover-shaped columns are placed vertically or horizontally and used as legs to support the flat plane.Francois Bauchet was born in 1948 in Montlucon (France). He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Bourges. From 1978 to 1982, he taught at the School of Fine Arts Macon, then at the School of Fine Arts in Saint-Etienne. In 1983, his first project, with the support of the VIA, entitled "It's also a chair," was presented at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs. In 1987, he participated in Documenta 8 in Kassel, Germany. From 1984 to 1998, he worked with the Neotu gallery.Francois Bauchet blends scenography, interior architecture, and design. Some of his notable projects include Cartier Foundation offices in Jouy-en-Josas, the windows and furniture in the reception room for the Vassiviere art center in Limousin, and the reception room of the Museum of Art and Industry in Saint-Etienne. He also created furniture for the Jeu de Paume cafe, as well as furniture for the Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau park. Since 1999, he has been collaborating with Galerie kreo for which he regularly makes new pieces, most notable being the "Module" collection in 2001 and "Hadar" in 2003. In 2000, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris organized a solo exhibition around his work. In 2002, Francois Bauchet was elected "Creator of the Year" at the Paris Furniture Fair. His furniture and objects are currently produced by many publishers such as Cinna, Ercuis, GHM, Haviland, Ligne Roset, and Thevenon.The exhibition is on view through May 19, 2018 at Galerie kreo, 14A Hay Hill – London, W1J 8NZ – UK.For details, visit: http://www.galeriekreo.com/ Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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A peek into Carpenters Workshop Gallery collection for TEFAF New York Spring
Carpenters Workshop Gallery is showcasing some of the best works by Maarten Baas, Nacho Carbonell, Wendell Castle, Vincenzo De Cotiis, Vincent Dubourg, Vladimir Kagan, Mathieu Lehanneur, Wonmin Park, Studio Drift, Studio Job, and Charles Trevelyan at TEFAF New York Spring.Maarten Baas, a Dutch designer is known for his rebellious, playful, intellectual, theatrical, and artistic style. He occupies a unique position in the design field in that he participates in such a wide variety of areas, including conceptual design, installations, public spaces, theater design, and performance. Since 2005, Baas has collaborated with production partner Bas den Herder.Carbonell is known for his tactile approach to sculpture that plays with textures, experimental techniques, and natural materials. “I like to see objects as living organisms, imagine them coming alive and being able to surprise you with their behavior. I want to create objects with my hands; then I can give them my personality. I turn them into communicative objects that can arouse one’s feelings and imagination,” says Nacho Carbonell.Often credited as the founding father of the American Arts and Crafts movement, Wendell Castle has redefined sculpture and design by seamlessly merging the two into one discipline. He creates unique pieces that blur the distinction between design and sculpture. Castle’s organic and whimsical approach to sculpture incorporates his own invented technique of carving into stacked laminated wood known as lamination.Under the Progetto Domestico label, Vincenzo De Cotiis designs and produces one off and limited-edition pieces that also incorporate recycled and reclaimed materials. Highly collectable, the work is sold through his gallery in Milan and exhibited at leading global design fairs, including Design Miami/Basel, PAD London, Dubai Design Week, and the Art Paris Art Fair.Dubourg’s mastery lies in fusing the crafts of glassblowing, wood-bending, and metal-casting to bring simple forms to life. In “Napoleon A Trointette,” the solid form of a bureau is harmoniously combined with the graceful curves of bronze branches.Vladimir Kagan created his designs with upholstery, wrought iron, cast aluminum, and especially organically sculpted wood in works that became hallmarks of his career. Today, connoisseurs and museums avidly collect his designs, and he has been awarded numerous prizes.Lehanneur’s designs are inspired by nature but incorporates new technologies in them. He crosses borders by combining design, science, technology, and art in projects that aim to achieve maximum welfare for human beings.The use of resin and metal gives visual appeal to Wonmin Park’s design. He use of these chosen materials produces a surreal, dream-like quality reminiscent of seeing something without fixed contours, bound together by light and air.Studio Job is a joint venture of Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel. A good 25 different crafts are practiced at Studio Job and the results range from a royal stamp featuring the Dutch king Willem-Alexander (forty million stamps produced) to unique life-sized bronze sculptures installed in Miami Beach.Studio Drift is an artists’ studio founded in 2006 by Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn that explores the relationship between nature, technology, and mankind. The studio’s philosophy is based on creating a dialogue between opposites. Its work comes to life via ongoing collaboration with scientists, university research facilities, computer programmers, and engineers.Charles Trevelyan’s work shows the full range of possibilities of this process with their spectrum of colors and textures. In his series of side tables and human-size lamps, each piece boasts bold, elongated forms, and expressive lines, reminiscent of trees and roots, influenced by natural characteristics.The TEFAF NEW-YORK 2018 will run through May 8, 2018 at TEFAF NEW-YORK, Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065- USA.For details about the gallery, visit: http://www.carpentersworkshopgallery.com/Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition. http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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Alexandra Agudelo’s ‘Revisiting El Dorado’ at Cristina Grajales Gallery, New York
Twenty unusually shaped works cast in silver are on display at the Cristina Grajales Gallery this spring. “Revisiting El Dorado” showcases a series of works created by Alexandra Agudelo in her first solo show in the United States. The New York gallery will display these perfectly asymmetrical works until June 8, 2018.“The exhibition “Revisiting El Dorado” consists of 20 new works by the artist. Agudelo’s fascination with pre-Columbian culture is infused in each piece she creates. Ancient pottery shapes are reimagined as glowing, ethereal vessels; touches of gold pay tribute to the legend of El Dorado. Agudelo’s work also explores the dichotomy between the rigidity and malleability of the silver. Through stippling, engraving, gilding, and enameling, Agudelo’s handwork breathes life into the surface of the metal,” says the gallery.About the artist, the gallery says, “based in Bogota, Colombia, Agudelo studied dentistry at the Colegio Odontologico Colombiano. After practicing dentistry for several years, she began exploring work as a silversmith at Escuela de Artes y Oficios Santo Domingo. She devoted herself full time to her silver works in 2006, and eventually earned her degree in Plastic Arts from the Universidad de los Andes. Her work is part of several important private collections, and has been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in Medellin and the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis.”Agudelo’s exhibition is taking place at one of the finest design galleries in New York. “Hailed as one of the most respected experts in the design field, Cristina Grajales served as director of 1950 Gallery in New York City from 1990 through 2000. Under Grajales’ tenure, 1950 Gallery developed into the premiere resource for European mid-century furniture, lighting, and design objects. Grajales’ passion for many of the 20th century’s greatest masters propelled the gallery towards worldwide recognition and to its attainment of its superior collection of furniture and distinguished clientele,” says the gallery about its founder. “In addition to her accomplishments at 1950, Grajales has served as an advisor to a number of collectors of twentieth century and contemporary design, assisting them in building important and valuable collections,” adds the gallery.The exhibition is on view through June 8, 2018 at Cristina Grajales Gallery, 152 West 25th Street, 3rd floor, New York, USA.For details, visit: http://admin.blouinartinfo.com/galleryguide/290734/1370608/home-overviewClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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Bodys Isek Kingelez’s elaborate cityscapes to go on display at MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art in its first-ever solo show of a Black African artist, will showcase works of late Congolese sculptor Bodys Isek Kingelez. The exhibition “City Dreams” will span the artist’s three-decade career and will be on view from May 26, 2018 through January 1, 2019.Kingelez was born in 1948 in then-Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), following its independence from Belgium. He was acclaimed for creating what he termed ‘extreme maquettes.’ “City Dreams” will feature over 30 of these extreme maquettes, built of colorfully detailed everyday objects, ranging in size from individual buildings to miniaturized Utopian cityscapes, some measuring over 70 square feet.The museum writes, “Kingelez’s ‘extreme maquettes’ offer fantastic, Utopian models for a more harmonious society of the future. An optimistic alternative to his own experience of urban life in his home city of Kinshasa, which grew exponentially and organically with urban planning and infrastructure often unable to keep step, his work explores urgent questions around urban growth, economic inequity, how communities and societies function, and the rehabilitative power of architecture—issues that resonate profoundly today.”Kingelez’s full of life, ambitious sculptures are created from a wide and diverse range of everyday materials and found objects including colored paper, commercial packaging, plastic, soda cans and bottle caps, each one of them meticulously repurposed and arranged. MoMA points to “Nippon Tower” (2005) as a particularly idiosyncratic architectural model by the artist, built of “a plastic Smint box, packaging from a milk carton, BIC razor blades, light bulb boxes, and a playfully shaped spoon.”“The first US retrospective of Kingelez’s work, the exhibition spans his full career, from early single-building sculptures, to spectacular sprawling cities, to futuristic late works, which incorporate increasingly unorthodox materials. These rarely shown works are a call for us all to imagine, in the artist’s words, a “better, more peaceful world,”” quotes the museum.The show will run from May 26, 2018 through January 1, 2019 at MoMA.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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Global design firm Benoy bags Yuqiao Science Innovation Centre project in Shanghai
Benoy wins design competition to bag Shanghai’s ‘Yuqiao Science Innovation Centre’ project. The firm along with Shanghai Lujiazui Group Co., Ltd will serve as the master planner and architect for 367,000 square meter research and commercial hub to be constructed on a key site within the Lujiazui Pudong area.The project has been strategically located, with city’s emerging public service centre, The Expo Qiantan, in the West. To the East, the site is adjacent to the Zhangjiang Technology City, with Metro line 11 providing direct connectivity to the city.The design feature a park dedicated to artificial intelligence development. According to a statement by the firm, “The ‘AI Park’ will be integrated with couple of research and commercial properties, including grade A office towers, corporate headquarters, retail space, an “intelligent R&D building” and serviced apartments.” Spread over three plots of land, the project sits within the World Expo Area, a new commercial district the city government is developing nearby the site of the former World Expo.“It is the government’s intention to transform Shanghai into a world-class city by 2040,” explained Benoy Director and Lead Designer Qin Pang. “With that in mind, we have ensured the design of Yuqiao Science Innovation Centre will allow the development to be seen as an important addition and landmark for scientific development in Shanghai,” he added.Benoy’s winning design for the development expands over three plots which are connected via above ground pedestrian walkways. It has further designed a prominent plaza which will act as a natural gathering area and focal point for the retail and commercial offerings within the development at each main connection point. “Our design has balanced the needs of the growing business community with the vision to create a world-leading science innovation centre. We have worked to integrate each of components seamlessly so the centre will be a place to bring differing user groups together,” explained Qin.The Yuqiao Science Innovation Centre is set to become a signature development within the New Pudong area and it will play a pivotal role in the future development of the wider district.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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Amy Kao and Eva Zethraeus at Hostler Burrows, New York
Hostler Burrows is showcasing contemporary artists Amy Kao’s new works in vinyl, rubber and ink on paper and Eva Zethraeus’ new ceramic works at its New York venue.Kao’s works are presented as a monumental vinyl wall installation, a large and detailed interwoven rubber relief work and a suite of highly concentrated ink drawings recalling dreamscapes. Her work consists of densely interwoven elaborate motifs as a way to showcase the visceral experience of nature and its impact on history and culture as it endures against the passage of time. Her vinyl installation and ink drawings are inspired to some extent by the themes and contours of traditional Chinese scroll paintings as well as the abundance of negative space typically found in Chinese landscape painting where gravity fails to exist. Kao says her works lies in the in-between and ambiguous space, “They are portals into mannered gardens of exotic fungi, oceanic invertebrates, single-celled organisms, interstellar debris and geometric formations. Interwoven pictorial fragments further heighten the sense of oscillation between perceived imageries and fleeting associations and between representation and abstraction.”Eva Zethraeus finds inspiration in the phenomenon of the virus for her newest series of work. Her works reflects her fascination with the undeniable beauty of the life cycles of these microorganisms — how a microscopic cluster of genes and proteins can win over a host’s complicated defense mechanisms and, ensure its own survival while multiplying. Zethraeus is also taken by the dual natures of viruses as to how while some are deadly and create disease, there are those that are capable of the symbiotic merging and evolution of organisms. She makes use of her fascination and her ovure to create a new language in porcelain, constructing and deconstructing elaborate and intricate forms that capture the complex manner in which natural organisms evolve. Her exquisitely-wrought sculptures are the labor of a painstaking and complicated process, all the more wondrous as the finished works’ organic appearance belies the labors of the artist. While describing her works, she says, “my sculptures are the result of an ongoing research of form and the complicated nature of the ceramic process. Recent focus has been on the Golden Section and my fascination with the Fibonacci Series recurring in nature. Behind what seems to be a chaotic universe, everything is created through a secret code. What is harmony and why are some forms more appealing than others?”Though varied in media and aesthetics, both Kao and Zethraeus draw inspiration from the unpredictable variances of nature through an intensely acute attention to detail within their artistic process.The exhibition is on view through June 15, 2018 at Hostler Burrows, 35 East 10th Street, New York, USA.For details, visit: http://admin.blouinartinfo.com/galleryguide/hostler-burrows/overviewClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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The Barragán-inspired ceramic lights to debut at Sight Unseen OFFSITE
Sight Unseen is all geared up for the launch of their fifth annual Sight Unseen OFFSITE with the Syrette Lew’s new collection of chairs and lights — the latter designed in collaboration with ceramicist Giselle Hicks and many more designers, from May 17 through May 20, 2018, at Mulberry and around Manhattan.The gallery says, “The installation will be on view at 201 Mulberry starting May 17, and presented by Levi’s Made & Crafted — is loosely based on the color palettes and surroundings Lew encountered on a recent trip to Barragan’s native Mexico.”Visually speaking, the influence of Lew’s travels brings a sense of the past to Moving Mountains decidedly of-the-moment aesthetic: the lounge chairs in medium-tone woods with white upholstery, the handmade ceramics. “I wasn’t consciously wanting the installation to feel retro, but because the inspiration is coming from Mexico City, Oaxaca, and the architecture and interiors of Barragan, it maybe leans that way,” says Lew.Colorado-based Hicks designed and crafted the vessels that form the bases of Lew’s lamps has taken the inspiration from history, citing ancient Greek and Chinese vessels as source material for her practice, as well as the work of mid-century potters like Lucie Rie and Ruth Duckworth. Those references were put in the lamps where she formed terracotta clay into shapes that are simple and sculptural; some are fluted, others are round or columnar. The pieces are made using what Hicks refers to as “the most fundamental technique ever” — coil and pinch — allowing her to achieve a heightened sense of immediacy. “This was an assignment to make something with as few tools as possible,” she explains.The results look magnificent and awe-inspiring but there was a significant learning curve to the collaboration, which was executed completely digitally. Lew had been determined to work with Hicks eversince she spotted her on Instagram a few years back, but at press time, the pair had yet to set foot in the same room. “Syrette drew very detailed renderings that specified that the opening at the top of the vessels should be something like 4.771 inches, and I was like ‘Lady, you know these are handmade,’” says Hicks. Hicks standardized the opening at the bottom. “It never got to the point of being not fun,” says Hicks.The Sight Unseen OFFSITE will be on view from May 17 through May 20, 2018 at 201 Mulberry, New York, NY 10012, USA.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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New York Gets Ready for NYCxDesign 2018
The city of New York will be under a design spell for two weeks as NYCxDesign 2018 sets off with its sixth edition. From May 11 to May 23, the five boroughs of the city will be abuzz with design related exhibitions, installations, talks, trade shows, open studios, and more. This year’s edition will focus on disciplines such as architecture, fashion, interior design, technology, graphic design, product design, and more.High-profile museums participating in the fair include the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum at FIT. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum presents more than 170 contemporary and historic works in “Color Exhibition” exploring how color has fascinated designers, artists, scientists, and philosophers for centuries. MoMA presents exhibitions “Tarsila do Amaral” and “Being: New Photography 2018,” while MAD showcases “Derrick Adams: Sanctuary” and “La Frontera: Encounters Along the Border.”Another highlight of the two-week event are graduate shows from the city’s leading schools including Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, School of Visual Arts (SVA), Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and the Cooper Union. ICFF hosts “No taste for bad taste” featuring innovative designs in French furniture by notable designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Matali Crasset, Philippe Stark, and the Bouroullec brothers. In the field of architecture, the AIA New York Center for Architecture previews “Archtober Building of the Day” tours along with exhibitions “AIANY Design Awards,” “Social Housing – New European Projects,” and “New Practices New York 2018.” WantedDesign Manhattan hosts the fourth American Design Honors award ceremony for Oliver Haslegrave along with an exhibition of his new collection “Homework.”New additions to the fair program include Brooklyn Designs at Brooklyn Museum, Time Square Alliance’s design commissions for public space, a spotlight on bicycle as a sustainable means of transportation by Brookfield Place and artist Carlos Rolon, and GenSpace’s workshop on biomaterials exploring designing with living organisms.The main attraction of the event would be the announcement of the third Rado Star Prize U.S., a collaborative initiative of Swiss watchmaker Rado, NYCxDesign, and WantedDesign. This year’s edition explores the influence of nature on design in the theme “Design Inspired by Nature.”NYCxDESIGN is the city’s annual celebration of design, which takes place in May, and is supported by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).`Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the design works.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin
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H Queen’s: HeadQuarters of arts and lifestyle
Kristine Li is one of the masterminds behind H Queen’s, the ultra-modern 24-story glass-sheathed tower in Hong Kong’s Central district that is luring international art powerhouses into the city. As deputy general manager of Portfolio Leasing Department at Henderson Land Development, Li oversees the saturation of art into the newly-erected building, celebrating one gallery opening after another. In the week leading up to Art Basel Hong Kong, Li shared more about her hopes and ambitions for H Queen’s with Blouin Artinfo.How was H Queen’s conceived and designed? The development of H Queen’s started in 2013, the same year that Art Basel Hong Kong started. The Hong Kong art scene is changing at a rapid rate in recent years, and we have also witnessed an increasing demand for the art space in the market.After discussing with William Lim, who is a collector, artist, and architect himself, we conceived of Hong Kong’s first purpose-built art and lifestyle building. We talked to different galleries to get to know their needs, then put our thoughts together. The building features high ceilings and a gondola system to transport huge pieces of art as well as glass for zero UV penetration. It is Hong Kong’s first purpose-built art and lifestyle building.The whole process has been a journey of five years, and it was a special milestone when the galleries, including Tang Contemporary, David Zwirner, Whitestone, Pace and so on took the leap of faith to commit to a space at H Queen’s as we were still building, and they hadn’t seen the complete project yet. Now that the galleries are all opening, we are all extremely excited to welcome art lovers from all around the world, and more importantly, be an active hub for vibrant arts and cultural scene in Hong Kong.What is your vision for H Queen’s presence locally and globally?The short form “HQ” also stands for “Headquarter,” as we hope it’ll be the headquarter of arts and lifestyle. H Queen’s is not simply a retail tower. It’s a game changer that will encourage Hong Kong’s creative community.Locally, we hope to be a complement to the public museums such as M+, and create a critical mass art circle in Central, comprising H Queen’s, Pedder Building, Tai Kwun, PMQ, Fringe Club and the to-berenovated Central Market etc. Globally, we hope H Queen’s and the tenants are contributing to Hong Kong’s rise as a global art power.What should visitors during Art Basel Hong Kong be sure not to miss? From 26 March to 2 April, some of the arts tenants extend their opening hours to welcome the art lovers from both local and overseas, encourage the guests to embark on the “Vertical Art Walk.” The artistically designed staircase is open for visitors to explore each floor and enjoy the impressive array of exhibitions.David Zwirner showcases works by German photographer, Wolfgang Tillmans; Galerie Ora-Ora presents a solo exhibition of works by Chinese artist Xiao Xu; Hauser & Wirth inaugurates its first Asia space with a solo exhibition of work by American artist, Mark Bradford; Pace Gallery presents a solo exhibition of works by Japanese artist, Yoshitomo Nara; Pearl Lam Galleries launches its latest gallery space with Italian artist Arcangelo Sassolino’s first solo exhibition in Asia; SA+ hosts the 24th Seoul Auction Hong Kong Sale; Tang Contemporary Art presents a solo exhibition of works by Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, curated by Cui Cancan; and Whitestone Gallery features a solo exhibition by American artist Dale Chihuly.Enjoy the impressive array of gallery exhibitions, look out of the glass walls for a view of Hong Kong and take a break at Vive Cake Boutique for a lovely cake and a cup of coffee or tea.Why Hong Kong? And why now? Rooted in HK, Henderson Land understands the value of encouraging creativity and the longterm benefits of a robust arts scene. We have a strong sense of belonging to Hong Kong and our “roots” were entrenched in the city. Every community is stronger when creativity is pursued, free thinking is encouraged, and artists are given a platform to express their thoughts. It’s an exciting time for the art world globally, and we are excited to be part of this movement.http://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder Louise Blouin
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China to Explore ‘Building a Future Countryside’ at 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale
The Chinese Pavilion at 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale will explore the future of rural development highlighting the country’s focus on “Building a Future Countryside.” The exhibition will present the development of countryside through six episodes: poetic dwellings, local production, cultural practices, agricultural tourism, community reconstruction, and future exploration, noted ArchDaily.The main projects that will be featured in the pavilion include “Wood Kiln Bing Ding” by Zhang Lei from AZL Architects; “Xinzhai Coffee Manor” by Hua Li from Trace Architecture Office — TAO; “An Old-new House” by John Lin + Joshua Bolchover of Rural Urban Framework; “Cidi Memo, a Town of Memory” by Liu Yuyang from Atelier Liu Yuyang Architects; “Mountain Dwelling. Waterside Dwelling. Forest Dwelling” by Dong Yugan; and “In Bamboo” by Philip F. Yuan from Archi-Union Architects.Another project “Cloud Village” by Philip F. Yuan from Shanghai Digital Fabrication Engineering Technology Center is displayed in the garden outside the Pavilion, stated ArchDaily.According to Li Xiangning, Curator of the Chinese Pavilion: “The motivation for this exhibition is more than just ‘xiangchou,’ a Chinese term that refers to nostalgia for rural lands. We return to the countryside where Chinese culture originated to recover forgotten values and overlooked possibilities; from there, we will build a future countryside.”Venice Architecture Biennale has its beginning in an architecture exhibition organized in 1975 by curator Vittorio Gregotti titled “A proposito del Mulino Stucky.” Since then, famous architects including Richard Burdett, David Chipperfield, Francesco Dal Co, Alejandro Aravena, and Rem Koolhaas have contributed to make this into one of the most celebrated architecture exhibitions in the world. This year’s edition is titled “FREESPACE” reinstating “a generosity of spirit and a sense of humanity at the core of architecture’s agenda,” as stated in the event’s press release.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin
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Cooper Hewitt Announces 2018 National Design Award Recipients
The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum announced the winners of their 19th annual National Design Awards. The awards honor ten designers across a range of fields, giving visibility to the design community.“All 10 of this year’s winners present a powerful design perspective and body of work that is at once inclusive and deeply personal, accompanied by great achievement, humanity, and social impact,” said Caroline Baumann, the museum’s director, on the occasion.Writer, educator, and designer Gail Anderson has won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Anderson has written or co-authored a total of 14 books on popular culture and design, and formerly served as the senior art director at Rolling Stone. Design for America, a national network of innovators who empower communities to solve local problems through design, won the Corporate & Institutional Achievement Award. Architecture Design was given to WEISS/MANFREDI, known for connecting landscape, art, infrastructure, and architecture. The firm’s work has been exhibited at MoMA and will be featured in the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. Anne Whiston Spirn, recognized for her longtime advocacy for balancing urbanism with nature, as well as her continued direction of the West Philadelphia Landscape Project, bagged the Design Mind award. Communication Design award was given to the firm Civilization.Christina Kim, recognized globally for sustainable design practices and named by Time magazine as one of its Innovators of the Year in 2003, won this year’s Fashion Design award.Architect and designer Neri Oxman received the Interaction Design award for her experimental material usage and continual boundary-pushing forms. Oxman is the founding director of the Mediated Matter Group at the MIT Media Lab. Their most recent project “Vespers,” is a contemporary reinterpretation of the death mask typology that uses living microorganisms. Oppenheim Architecture + Design won the Interior Design Award for its sense-invoking interiors that are often inspired by local vernacular. With projects in more than 25 countries, including the GLF Headquarters in Florida, the Enea Headquarters in Switzerland, and the Ayla Golf Academy and Clubhouse in Jordan, the firm designs with sensitivity toward man and nature — harmonizing with the surroundings of each site. Landscape Architecture was won by Boston-based landscape architecture firm Mikyoung Kim Design for its focus on improving urban resilience. Blu Dot, Minneapolis-based Furniture designer and manufacturer was given the Product Design award for its playful and modern stylings.The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum will honor awardees at a gala dinner and ceremony on October 18, 2018, which will be accompanied by National Design Week from October 13 through October 21, 2018.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder Louise Blouin
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