An Architectural Indulgence

After having a good little poke around the Tiffany&Co website, I came across another brilliant collaboration. This time with Canadian born, Avant Garde architect; Frank Gehry.

His cleaver and witty mind has been revolutionary to the concepts and aesthetics of architecture. Through shifting how we perceive a building, and challenging what we consider to look ‘correct’ plays a large role in his concepts. With buildings that look as if they will simply collapse, or are falling apart, Gehry defiantly shocks viewers. His major projects have included the renowned Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, The Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Experience Music Project in Seattle.

What I think is so cleaver about his collaboration with Tiffany&Co is that it masterfully combines both Gehry’s unique Architecture philosophies with Tiffany&Co’s sleek, sophisticated and chic aesthetic. With the idea of twisted, contorted and strained pieces, the jewellery is such a wonderful transition into smaller objects. All the aesthetic and conceptual integrity is at no point lost in the collection. A True collaboration!

Check it Out!!!!
LOVEhelen







Images:
http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Category.aspx?cid=288188&mcat=148206
http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/g/frank_gehry/index.html

An Innate Design Destiny

Flipping through the paper this morning I was completely blown away with the incredible magnificence of one of Paloma Picasso's necklaces! It was so beautiful, one can only dream and lust after a piece as magical as this. The chunky, raw and natural state of the stones really emphasized the essence of modern jewellery; to feel it's presence on you, and to radiate all women's beautiful qualities of course!!!!!!




The daughter of the infamous artist Pablo Picasso has been involved in the fashion, design and jewellery industry for many years now as a style icon and muse. Inspiring couturiers like Karl Lagerfeld, YSL, Marc Jacobs and Stuart Vevers at Loewe, she is now crafting her own works, with her collaborative Collection for Tiffany&Co. She believes that "Jewellery must make you look good", "But the primary reason is to feel good; it must feel good on your body." (The Age, GoodWeekend Magazine, 06.02.2010) And I couldn't agree more!

I got so excited by her strong femininity and alluring style that I went and had a look at her new collection. So here are my favorite pieces and images of Ms Picacco!

LOVEhelen










Images:
The Age, Good Weekend Magazine, Feb 6 2010
http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Category.aspx?cid=288189&mcat=148206
and ....; Google Images.
Quotes:
The Age, Good Weekend Magazine, Feb 6 2010, page22

Consumer Expeditions

Positioned opposite the retail pyramid; Melbourne Central, is a free exhibition celebrating Melbourne’s lively shopping culture. The State Library curators have hauled thought their archives, mixed old with new and picked only the best, (just like true shoppers should!), for their ‘Til You Drop exhibition.

What I found this exhibition did wonderfully, was the vastness of time and eras which they so beautifully covered. Beginning as early as the 1880s right up to the current date, the exhibition was concise and excitingly illustrated through multiple pieces. The fashion and product illustrations created a charming idea of what fashion was in the past, while many photos documented the growth of the consumer needs. My favourite pieces in the exhibition were Mark Strizic’s photography, the fashion illustrations and the Georges section. This exhibition is a beautiful nostalgic archive, which showcases the blossoming of shopping and fashion in Melbourne.

LOVEhelen

DETAILS:
What: ‘Till You Drop, Shopping, A Melbourne History
Where: The State Library of Victoria
When: December 11 till October 31 2010, FREE
Images: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/gallery/gallery.php?title=til-you-drop

The New Still Lifes

Currently at the NGV International, twelve pieces are waiting for your attention. These pieces are so life like, that artist Ron Mueck could also be a magician. His works are so astounding and baffling, that viewers have a similar response to an audience witnessing a magic trick; they want to believe in the reality of what was just seen.

His pieces seem to suspend the subjects in a moment of time, frozen, yet not cold. As their presence conveys all the emotional, inquisitive, and thoughts built into this moment. It is amazing to feel so much from latex and synthetic hair.

I think that the realism of these pieces is what has catapulted Mueck into the International Contemporary Art world. In a society where everything is religiously documented to minute details, with most people owning digital cameras, iPhones, Internet and Facebook, it is no surprise that we subconsciously crave the same accurateness and precision of information in art again. And this is exactly what Mueck delivers.

This unbelievable likeness to life is contrasted with the monumental or minute scale of the pieces. It is this sense of proportion that Mueck uses to heighten the viewers’ awareness vulnerability and humility, creating very poignant reactions. One is constantly questioning the lifelessness of the piece, waiting intensely or hoping that something will happen. A blink, the hand twitches, but no, this is just our imagination. And it is this reaction, which I found so intriguing; so many people were baffled by this, that their interaction with the piece (staring, waiting, taking photos) was more that I have ever seen in one exhibition. First the viewer would judge the piece, and then almost instantaneously the piece would begin to judge back! Soon the other people in the exhibition became as much apart of the collection as Mueck’s twelve pieces. But this time; living, breathing, feeling works of art. Mueck not only address the facts of life (birth, emotion, pain, death) but actively relates and intrigues the society around it. Making him a truly astounding contemporary artist.

LOVEhelen





Details:
What: Ron Mueck
Where: NGV International, Ground Level, 180 St Kilda Road
When: January 22 till April 18 2010
Images: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/

Turban Delights

I was so excited when I flipped through the paper this morning, it was sunny, there was an article on Marianne Faithful about her romance with Mick Jagger, a recipe of Pineapples rolled in coconut + mangos and TURBANS!!!
.......I Absolutely LOVE turbans, head scarfs, bowes and any other hair accessories or ornaments that you could possibly think of!

This photoshoot was part of the Sunday Age Magazine "Sunday Life". Probably due to the fact that retro bikinis and turbans were involved; I became so overly excited that I just had to wear one today too!
So I know this sounds very indulgent, but what's a Sunday meant to be if you cant indulge in something? So I hope you enjoy my complete obsession with turbans and this photoshoot!

LOVEhelen






Photoshoot:
The Sunday Age Magazine "Sunday Life"
January 24 2010

Wearing:
Headscarf: sarong
Dress: Stussy
Pants: Linen 'Marcs' men's pants from Op-Shop
Belt: Fat
Jewelry: Verity Copland, Dinasour Designs
Shoes: Melissa

The Bound Bangles

I received a present from one of my treasured friends and their family.
It is these two beautiful bangles which are by a young Melbourne based designer Verity Copland. While there is not much information about her on the internet, I believe she is a part of Craft Victoria, which is a fantastic part of the Melbourne Design, Fashion and Art culture!

What is cleaver about Copland’s jewellery is (for me) the play between hard and soft elements of the texture and material choice but also the balance between them. When I look at these bracelets I see a very aggressive relationship between the materials in their construction. It seems that the idea of surface decoration so common in jewellery has surpassed just aesthetic in these pieces, and has become the ‘sole’ form of keeping and binding the bracelet together. It is from this concept I think the bracelets become something quite different to that of conventional jewellery. As the beauty of them is in the fraying fabric edges, loose threads and knotted wire.

Craft Victoria always showcases wonderful designers and exciting exhibitions. They are situated at 31 Flinders Lane Melbourne, 3000.

LOVEhelen

Pop-Ups Drop-Down

Last night, the now Melbourne based fashion label Limdrop partied down in celebration of their wonderful label, their summer sale, and the closing of their GPO Pop-UP Store.

Limedrop designers Clea Garrick and Nathan Price constantly capture wonderfully wearable and whimsical designs into each of their collections. With both mens and women's wear, they are certainly on top of the growing need for cool, sporty and ultimately fun street wear. Their designs are sharp, with cleaver and bold proportions that seem to challenge the eye, yet with the combination of their bright and energetic graphics, you can't help but smile.

While the send off party was on Friday, for all those who missed out, their sale and regular trading hours will run for the next week. The Limedrop Pop-Up store is nestled in the heart of GPO Melbourne. Positioned on the First level of the beautiful shopping palace, a few escalators will take you away from the rush of Bourke Street, and into their lovely glowing, bright and snazzy store. Limedrop is right between the ever lovely Akira store and Belinda. Their beautiful store looks over the Melbourne City streets, with light shining in, which is all so appropriate as all the cool city kids are strolling beneath them!

Bon Voyage!

LOVEhelen

http://www.limedrop.com.au/

Together Alone

Yesterday I spent the day in the city, and had a wander around the NGV Ian Potter Centre. There is an exhibition on for all you design lovers that you will just adore! ….Hahha! Yes, Darlings! This is for you!

Together Alone is running in the Fashion & Textiles Gallery, level two, from October 1st 2009 till the 18th of April 2010, (so you’ve got plenty of time to make your way there!!). It’s a collaborative exhibition showcasing the outstanding works of Australian and New Zealand Fashion Designers. Ranging from the soft and sensitive works of Akira Isogawa and MaterialByProduct, to the outlandish and outrageously fun designs from Romance Was Born and World. This exhibition really touches on the broad range of intellectually charged and dynamic undercurrents that have flown through our fashion industry for many years. What was interesting about this exhibition is that it theatrically entertains the viewer with bold, bazaar and embellished garments but also music and film. While this was exciting, the balance came through with the incorporation of beautifully detailed and subtle pieces, which complemented the other designers.

Together Alone, for me, was so enjoyable because it not only included designers which I already knew, but also ones which where lesser know, and ones that I had not even heard of. It is hard for me to pick out my favourite pieces, but I did make some drawings of the ones that allured me most, I really enjoyed the collection, and I would strongly recommend seeing it!!!

LOVEhelen

INFO:
Drawings By: Helen Pappas
Image Sourced: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/togetheralone/
Exhibition Details: Together Alone: Australian And New Zealand Fashion, NGV, Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, 01.10.09-18.04.10, --FREE—
Designers: Akira, Doris de Pont, MaterialByProduct, Toni Maticevski, Nom*D, Romance Was Born, World, Zambesi.

Destino

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzzZa5o1q5k#watch-main-area

Just after posting about the surrealist inspired film Waltz with Bashir, I remembered my ULTIMATE favorite surrealist animation!
Destino.

Destino is the collaboration between Salvador Dali and Walt Disney.
I first saw this film during the NGV's Winter Masters Collection in 2009 of Salvador Dali's retrospective works. I loved this animation so much, it completly embraced me with all the emotions I think Dali would feel when he invisions his works. I love this movies so much that I sat in the film room and watched it five more times!!!! I really think this is one of the most beautifully emotive works which I have ever seen!

LOVEhelen

Come Waltz With Me

Recently I watched Waltz with Bashir and was completely entranced by it! I had been wanting to see it in the cinemas... But alas; never got round to it! so when I saw it in the DVD section it was not sitting on that shelf for very long!!!!!!!

What I liked about this movie was the link between one's perceived reality and their physical reality. Waltz with Bashir is a movie which 'documents' one man's aim to pinpoint himself during the First Lebanon War, a time which he has so memory of. Through his search to remember himself at this time, he revisits old acquaintances to hear their memories of him, in hopes to regain his own. I felt that this notion of memories and dreams draws from many Surrealist ideals, which is so beautifully recreated in the animation of the film. And I think that the combination of the surreal with the horrors and terrible facts of reality complement each other in the stories and the animation.

I also found that the web page is fantastic! full of information, pictures, clips and interviews!
http://waltzwithbashir.com/home.html

LOVEhelen