Mietis

May 28, 2018May 19, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

I’m so happy to post the work I’ve done lately for Mietis! The six collages, joint together to tell a surreal, out-of-this-world narration, depict the mood behind Maria Fontanellas‘ (the brand’s designer) autumn-winter 2018 collection.

With its Spanish origins, Mietis is a reflection of a familiar savoir faire. The family leather tanning tradition, run by three generations since 1954, brought Maria back to Igualada. Here, she opened her atelier in which top quality leather is the essence – reinterpreted in a contemporary way. The collections are defined by Fontanellas’s unique and transgressive design and attention to detail, with an emphasis on tailoring (inspired with David Bowie and the bull fighters, for instance) and an eclectic use of materials and custom-developed fabrics.

All collages by Edward Kanarecki, exclusively commissioned by Mietis.

Gallery Weekend Kick-Off

April 28, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Made some new friends. Thanks MCM for those pandas!

Even though I couldn’t stay for the entire Gallery Weekend in Berlin (which ends tomorrow), I managed to come for its very kick-off, which happenned at Andreas Murkudis. I’ve written about this store here and there, so I think there’s no need to explain once again why this place is one of the most incredible concept stores in the world. For the occasion, Andreas Murkudis organised an event called Seoul10Soul, which celebrates the leading designers from Seoul. From Blindness and Bourie to Ych and Munn, the magnificent bamboo rack construction placed in the front of the store presented the intricacy and innovative character of Korean brands. Along Céline trench coats and Dries Van Noten dresses, you can also view Murkudis’ personal collection of rare photography books from well-established artists including Larry Sultan, Wolfgang Tillmans or Walker Evans. Plus, every Berliner knows that a party at Andreas Murkudis is a party to be at. And, there’s a large probability that you will meet your Berlin-based Instagram friends, in real life. Nice to meet you, @iampatrickmason!

During Gallery Weekend, nearly every place you visit booms with art. Odeeh, which is just across Andreas Murkudis, had a small party celebrating a Berlin-based artist, Leonhard Hurzlmeier. In the nearby Blain|Southern gallery, which is located in a former warehouse, a private view of Frank Thiel’s Quinceañeras (that examines the tradition of the often lavish coming-of-age celebrations around a young woman’s fifteenth birthday in Cuba) and Liliane Tomasko’s A Dream Of (paintings that expressively describe the emotions triggered by the artist’s dreams) took place as well. But note: Gallery Weekend spreads across entire Berlin, and I’ve had a chance to see just a bit of it this year. Hope that my next April will be much less hectic and I will be there for all of it!

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Sterling Ruby’s Calvin Klein

August 1, 2017 | Design & Culture by Ed

Collages by Edward Kanarecki (the above featuring elements from Sterling Ruby’s art).

Raf Simons‘ take on Calvin Klein is the biggest momentum going on in New York’s fashion, whether we’re speaking of his brilliant autumn-winter 2017 show or the visionary advertising strategy. As if that wasn’t enough to make a dusty brand take-off right away, there’s also the Madison Avenue flagship re-designed by Ruby Sterling, which reopened last Saturday.

Raf and Ruby are long-time friends and have collaborated on many projects – from a capsule collection of parkas and sweatshirts at Simons’ eponymous menswear line to fabrics for Dior’s haute couture show in 2012 (the Belgian designer designed womenswear at the French house for three years). Simons and Sterling’s paths cross again, but this time in form of a three-floor store covered in glowing yellow paint and the artist’s custom-made installations. As Ruby described his work in the past issue of 032c, his art is something cartoonish and illustrative, yet contains dark gothic humor of it. Knowing Simons’ signature style, that’s quite a match. Also, the artist often uses motifs connected to Americana – a theme Raf frequently relates to while working at Calvin Klein, the all-American fashion powerhouse. It’s worth adding that aong the clothes and accessories with CK tag, you are able to buy vibrant Italian glassware, Homer Laughlin coffee mugs and Rose Cabat’s ceramics in Raf and Ruby’s brand new empire.

Calvin Klein; Location: New York NY;

CALVINKLEIN_MadisonAveReopening_exterior_hero

But if you’re not planning New York in near future and have no chance to get hold of Simons’ Calvin Klein garments, better get hold of those yellow sleeves, this jacquard blouse or that very in-demand turtleneck. Just saying.

Calvin Klein

Céline & Yves Klein

November 16, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

Céline SS17

Phoebe Philo has never kept herself away from art references since she became the creative director at Céline. Rather than placing artworks as prints on basic t-shirts and easy-to-sell totes, Philo takes her time to discover the artist of her latest obsession. For spring-summer 2017, the designer took Yves Klein’s compelling legacy for a spin, and the effect is redefines the term ‘stunning’.

During the last fashion week in Paris, the guests at Céline witnessed Phoebe’s feminine flowy tunics and dresses as canvas for Klein’s most vibrant work from his Anthropometry period, which sparked controversy in the 60s art world. Yves’ shocking performances involved women, who painted their naked bodies before an audience to the tune his self-composed music. His famous use of ‘human paintbrushes’ paved the way for a new kind of performance art, while it also became a new technique of expression through painting. Yves always used to say that his art is filled with “poetic energy”: the dynamism rooted in his work is truly powerful, and it electrifies the viewer up to today.

Anthropométrie de l’Époque bleue March 9, 1960

Untitled Anthropometry, 1960

All that blue.

Anthropométrie de l’époque bleue, 1960

Anthropométrie de l’Époque bleue March 9, 1960

Untitled Anthropometry, 1960

Anthropométrie de l’Époque bleue March 9, 1960

In her latest collection for Céline, Philo celebrates every type of women – from mothers who come to school to pick up their kids to passionate lovers, spring-summer 2017 strikes with variety of characters. The pieces featuring Klein’s work aren’t just nods to Phoebe’s favorite artist. It’s about temperament; constant movement. The women who participated in Klein’s performance weren’t scared of the wave of criticism which primarily hit them for taking part in those “vulgar events”. Together with the artist, they expressed themselves through the medium of their bodies, and paint. The collection is as multi-faceted as women are, and Philo gets that better than any other designer today by playing with unobvious inspirations.

No21 Pre-Fall’16 Collages

July 28, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

Autumn is just a step away (read: September is coming, people!), and pre-fall 2016 is gradually arriving at Concept 21 Store! Specifically, I’m talking about No21 and its eclectic wardrobe of semi-denim trousers, striped, rib-knits, over-sized dresses in military hues, and soft, lace shirts designed by Alessandro Dell’AcQua. For this occasion, I’ve prepared a set of collages which reflect the mood of the collection – romantic, feminine, with an evening, soigné manner. Every collage is a separate story, matching the attitude of a given outfit. Wolfgang Tillmans photo of a rusty winow is the background for a badass, shearling biker jacket and an embroidered, blue shirt. Voluminous, beige coat instantly associates with Charlotte Gainsbourg’s elusive, French personality. This season’s woman presented by No21 is like a cat – she walks her own path, just like the black-and-white kitty on pre-fall sweater.

www.concept21store.com