Archive for the ‘Embellish/Art+Design’ Category

Three years in the making, The Rug Company’s collaborative effort with the late Alexander McQueen has resulted in four rugs. The four-piece series includes a cashmere Feathers rug [shown above] featuring a pattern based on a hawk’s feather; the wool and silk Skull rug, which comes with the designer’s most famous motif; Hummingbird [shown] depicting birds in flight against a black background. Originally used in a McQueen 2009 collection, the hummingbird pattern was based on a stop-motion wildlife photograph. The last design, Military Brocade, which reportedly was McQueen’s personal favorite, features golden oak leaves border and serpent. Said to be among Alexander McQueen’s last designs, they may be his swan song.

|| Sources: 1, 2 & 3||

Traditionalists Want Takashi Murakami Out. Traditionalist organization has colllected 4,387 signatures in protest of the Takashi Murakami installation at Versailles. [ Racked ]

Out with Gap in with JCrew. The Gap has allegedly relinquished sponsorship of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to J.Crew. [ Fashionista ]

Lanvin x H&M. H&M has announced collaboration with Parisian luxury brand Lanvin. [ Lucky ]

Using common, everyday objects such as tape, paper and plastic, artist Claire Ashley and jewelry designer Lauren Manoogian create uncommonly stunning objects.

1. Claire Ashley’s Big Bagpipes, detail 2010, plastic, duct and masking tape / Bagpipes, 2010, masking tape on plastic / Untitled 2, 2009, cardboard, house paint, duct and masking tape / Bagpipes, 2010, masking tape on plastic // 2. Lauren Manoogian necklaces crafted of paperclips, silver rings and vinyl tape. Select styles of Manoogian’s jewelry are available at Shop Pour Porter and Bona Drag.

ContainerPLUS is a multidisciplinary art and design collective. By combining illustration, photography, set design and animation, the collective creates incredibly multifaceted, narrative fantasy worlds.

Shown are pieces from Literary Fragments, an installation for West London bookshop Lutyens and Rubenstein [October 2009] and Hay Festival, book installation for SkyArts [May 2010].

By superimposing and cutting old photos, maps and tourist brochures, British artist Abigail Reynolds creates multilayered abstract collages from otherwise familiar images.

You Are Beautiful is an anonymously organized series of installations. The singular message is installed in public spaces all over the world. In an effort to have others participate, free stickers with the three-word motto are available.

From the artists:

You Are Beautiful is a simple, powerful statement which is incorporated into the over absorption of mass media and lifestyles that are wrapped in consumer culture.

The intention behind this project is to reach beyond ourselves as individuals to make a difference by creating moments of positive self realization. We’re just attempting to make the world a little better.

Intention is the most important aspect of the You Are Beautiful project in its idea of purity. Nothing is sacred. Everything that has a perceived value becomes commodified. We work extremely hard that this message is received as a simple act of kindness, and nothing more.

Advertising elicits a response to buy, where this project elicits a response to do something. The attempt with You Are Beautiful is to create activism instead of consumerism.

You Are Beautiful uses the medium of advertising and commercialization to spread a positive message.

Projects like these make a difference in the world by catching us in the midst of daily life and creating moments of positive self realization.

|| You Are Beautiful | Via Inside-Out, Topshop’s blog and my new fave site to stalk ||

Hope this entry helps make you feel as warm and fuzzy inside as the You Are Beautiful crew did me. Happy Friday!

By cutting, folding and fraying the layers of pages, Belgian artist Christopher Coppers, transforms magazines into sculpture.

|| See more on the artist’s photostream |

Paris born and based Maud Vantours works primarily in paper, creating multi-leveled paper pieces and installations. Playing with both the positive and negative forms of the cutouts, Vantours’s resulting artwork are whimsical floral vignettes and landscapes.

With designs coming up roses, here’s a pick of the bunch 1. Utility meets pretty in designer Nika Zupac’s 5 O’Clock chair for Moooi. The Slovenian designer says she was inspired by “a supreme commander of an army [who] owns a teahouse” // 3. British designer and reigning queen of punk Vivienne Westood collaborated with wallpaper company, Cole & Sons, on a line based on signature designs from her fashion collections. Her Absence of Rose artwork appeared in a collection of knitwear and is highlighted with a crystal effect // 4. Alexander McQueen’s S/S 2010 Eyewear adverts make use of the designer’s love of patterns and fascination with skulls // 2, 6&7. Paul Smith’s F/W 2010 collection presented a 50’s inspired, come undone, post-punk English Rose.

Cliff’s Notes style.

Art History (Part 1 Version C) poster by Vuk Vidor.

|| Spotted at Design Milk ||