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!

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Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Bordallo Pinheiro Garden

April 20, 2018April 20, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

It’s a small garden, or rather a well-hidden oasis in the heart of Lisbon, where the amazing giant porcelain creations of the 19th-century artist Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro bask in the sun. Scattered amongst the trees, bushes and live peacocks, you will be surprised to find the oversized snakes, lizards, bees, frogs, lobsters, mushrooms and cats all over the jardin. Honestly, I was quite shocked that nobody really knows about the existence of this place (I’m more than grateful to this Purple Travel post that I’ve found few weeks ago!). At least, you can walk around the garden all alone, in silence. It was the last point of my spring holidays, but one of the most magical.

Campo Grande 245 / Lisbon

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Alhambra

April 19, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

If you’re staying in Seville for a few days, you can’t miss the opportunity to visit the Alhambra (by car, if possible). The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, one of the biggest cities of the Andalusia region in Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in AD 889 and many years later converted into a royal palace by the Sultan of Granada. Until today, the heritage place delights its visitors with the arabesque-style architecture, filled with meticulously carved ornaments and thousands of tiles. One can’t get enough of the orange tree scent present all over the local gardens and indoor patios. And if you pretend for a moment that you don’t see those crowds of tourists, you might suddenly feel like a majesty yourself…

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All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Seville

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

In case of Seville, you really need a day for the ‘tourist’ part and a day (or two) for absorbing the local spirit. Not that the ‘tourist’ part is somehow tedious or exhausting. Quite opposite – the Seville Cathedral is a jaw-dropper in every aspect, from its monumentality (it’s the biggest gothic cathedral in the world) to opulent ornaments. Meanwhile Real Alcázar, a royal palace that’s a preeminent example of Mudéjar architecture, is renowned as one of the most beautiful spots in the entire city. Those gardens are a dream, I tell you! To capture the essence of these two, be prepared for hours of walking. But the visual treats here are worth it!

In case of a less ‘tourist’ experience in Seville, the city is known for impressive vintage stores (Buhoneras Vintage, Cigarrera, for intance) and tapas. There are, however, two camps with tapas – the first is more traditional, while the other is willing to experiment. Casa Ricardo is a crowdy place, where you will try various Spanish tastes and see how the locals dine – slowly, loudly, with friends, family. Eslava is a more contemporary tapas bar, which is equally busy in the evening (you might even wait in a queue to get a place). Here, you will find small plates with fried sardines, tuna tataki, sea anenomes (!) or classical ham. Whatever you take – it’s going to be delightful.

But most of all, enjoy Seville in a relaxed pace – observe the streets, enter the stores with hats for flamenco dancers, sit in the sun.

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All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Portimão

April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Portimão is perfect in terms of visiting the Portuguese sea-side. Not only the local market is rich in freshly caught fish and fruits coming from the nearest orchards, but the beach here is… a dream. Just as the restaurants, villas and pretty much everything. I can actually see myself living here, picking oranges and shells for days.