ELSEWARE

Go Elseware – Simon Brown

Simon Brown, leading Interiors and Still Life Artist, will be showcasing his new collection called ‘Standing in the Corner’, at the Richard Young Gallery in Notting Hill until 29th June.

The intriguing exhibition showcases hauntingly beautiful interiors from handpicked locations in England, Ireland and France. The limited edition prints are rich in colour, texture and space that charts architectural decay and convey the grandeur of centuries past. Inspired by these locations, Simon then shot a series of images in his West London studio, which included everyday objects such as cabbages, raspberries through to hand whisks and kitchen spoons.

We Are Elseware, caught up with Simon this week to find out more about his new exhibition.

‘Standing in the Corner’, is inspired by romanticism, beauty and sensuality, there is a security in this, a safety, an escape from everyday life – capturing a moment that’s beautiful and sensual. It has been lovely working with Susan Young and Richard Young. The pictures look great but the best thing is people liking them too. My next project is called ‘The Golden Road to Samarkand’ and follows a historical trade route through the Middle East, encompassing the art and architecture and somewhat flawed at this time by the war in Syria however!’.

Simon Brown’s collection is visually stunning, filled with beautiful imagery that is rich in both colour and texture and beams you back to another era. For more information go to www.richardyounggallery.co.uk – Richard Young Gallery, 4 Holland Street, London W8 4LT

Posted by Joanne King

Go Elseware: United Micro Kingdoms – A Design Fiction

Here in the UK we have some wonderous architectural and transport inventions that have helped to shape the way we live and work for hundreds of years, but have you ever wondered how England would look, and work, if it were designed differently? We Are Elseware love events like this that challenge perception. Not only is it inspirational, it lends itself well to the inception and potential creation of brilliant new designs of the future….

Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby use elements of industrial design, architecture, politics, science and sociology to provoke debate around the power and potential of design. Presenting multiple perspectives on a fictional future in a new exhibition at The Design Museum, England is devolved into four self-contained counties, each free to experiment with governance, economy and lifestyle. These ‘live laboratories’ interrogate the cultural and ethical impact of existing and new technologies and how they alter the way we live.

UmK: A Design Fiction runs from May 01-August 26 with late night opening Friday May 17, 7-10.30pm. For more information visit www.designmuseum.org and www.dunneandraby.co.uk.

Posted by Dee Laffan. Images courtesy of the Design Museum.

Solomon and Wu: Redesigning the traditional moulding

It’s not the first thing you think about when designing or updating an interior, and thats probably because there aren’t many companies out there offering such a service, but Solomon and Wu do. Coming together “with the vision of bringing the best elements of contemporary design to a tradition of mouldings that has seen no development in 100 years”, they take recognisible detailing such as skirting, cornice, wall panels, ceiling roses, corbels and architraves, and offer a fresh, contemporary take on the traditional designs that isn’t like anything that come before it. With over 40 years experience in fine art and decorative plaster moulding they are perfectly placed to offer bespoke design services for individual projects. And its not just about interiors either, they can also produce exterior moulding elements too. Visit www.solomonandwu.com for more information.

Posted by Alice Carlisle. Images from Solomon and Wu.

Jean Louis Deniot: Furniture Collections

Back in 2011 we featured a post on Jean Louis Deniot. We constantly re-visit our featured artists and designers to see what’s new and we love their current furniture collections so much we though you’d like to see our pick of them too. www.deniot.com

Posted by Alice Carlisle.

Tuell and Reynolds

Tuell and Reynolds is a small studio in Cloverdale, California who make beautiful furnishings from bronze, brass and iron – all are designed, hand-made and hand-finished in their workshop. Randy Tuell and Victoria Reynolds have worked together for 18 years, both previously having experience in the architecture industry but both gravitated to the niche industry of hand-crafting and sculpture producing many unique pieces for the discerning furnishings market for over 18 years.

Post by Alice Carlisle, Images and information from tuellreynolds.com

Zaha Hadid: The Limited Edition ‘Z Boat’

Zaha Hadid has been commissioned by london-based art dealer and writer Kenny Schachter to design a limited edition speedboat. The 8-meter-long ‘Z boat’ will be manufactured by french manufacturer Shoreteam, who will produce just 12 of them to go on sale in early 2013: Zaha Hadid Architects say ‘the asymmetrical design is sculptural in appearance while practically affording more seating accommodations. In a sense, the bespoke boat is as much a work of art as a cisitalia sports car in the permanent collection of the museum of modern art in new york. The idea is to think of vessels and vehicles as highly individualistic expressions of art, architecture and design reflecting the edge of what is possible using the most advanced means, including materials, software systems and methods of fabrication.’

Limited edition of 12 boats
LOA: 7.47 m
LW: 6.60 m
WOA: 2.46 m
Material: Fibre Glass (body structure)
Power: 1 x220 HP Mercruiser
Passengers: 8
Full hull design, all accessories embedded.

‘Z boat’ by zaha hadid for kenny schachter, built by Shoreteam, post by Alice Carlisle

Matadero: Madrid

The people behind the cultural complex Matadero in Madrid celebrate the world of non-fiction cinema by dedicating a beautiful new space to it. Aspiring to become the mecca of the documentary genre in Madrid and created with film makers of all ages in mind (especially the young and aspiring with low budgets) this new, beautifully designed space includes a massive film library, film set, and two movie theatres. Designed by Spanish architects ch+qs, architect Cayetana de la Quadra-Salcedo explains that they wanted to “dress the building without altering the volume of the original building, but adapting to its new use; a canvas where you can recreate the cinematic effect.” The film library is outfitted with black washed wood planks on the floors, walls, and ceilings, and has an elongated staircase that shoots through the center of the floors. The vertical railings of the stairs are horizontally intertwined with clear plastic tubing with warm lighting weaved between; an effect which causes a luminous glow lighting up the entire library. One floor of the library doubles as a learning center for visitors who want to better acquaint themselves with “Cinematheque”, while the other floors provide dark display shelving for the 1,000 plus films and books about the subject. Finally, the 244 square metre film set is an open space, designed to be versatile for many uses. Once the films are made, makers can showcase their work in one of two new 239-seat theatres. For more information visit www.mataderomadrid.org/cineteca.html

Source: http://knstrct.com/tag/chqs-theater/

Wuhan Pixel Box Cinema, China

Cinema lover? If you want a different film experience we suggest you head to China and try out the new Wuhan Cinema. Designed by Hong Kong based firm One Plus Partnership Limited, have designed a cinema based on the idea of pixels and movement. Over 6,000 connecting Stainless steel pixel panels in varying sizes creates a spectacularly dark and silver entrance reflecting visitors as they wander past. Beyond the grand hall, Square blocks become seats and tables and in the concession area these are kitted out with LCD screens under glass so you can watch the latest trailers. The walls in the hallways are fitted with undulating rectangular forms that extend from the wall complimented buy a custom pixeled carpet. And they haven’t forgotten the restrooms – each are individually lit cubes which glow green, like Kryptonite. Not a place for Superman then.

Go Elseware: Andrea Branzi “Trees” (Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Paris)

Architect Andrea Branzi is passionate about the morphology of urban space; he breaks down the accepted codes and vigorously shakes the foundations of the ever-present conventions. Today more than ever, this insatiable troublemaker continues to disrupt the status quo and places humans and nature at the centre of his thinking: “When birch tree forests are pruned or agricultural cultivations of fruit trees are picked, they are dispersed or burned. I have always been fascinated by these parts of nature, that continue to give off a grand expressive force, more powerful when they are combined with modern, perfect and industrial materials. They become mysterious, always diverse, unique, unrepeatable and somewhat sacred presences. Trees, trunks and branches are part of our ancient culture but also of actual culture, because in the age of globalization, design searches to trace recognizable ‘anthropologoical’ platforms. The collection, ‘Trees’ consists to place simple, everyday objects, books, and images next to the strange presence of branches and trunks, like in the reality of the world.” 10th March – 16th May 2012 visit carpentersworkshopgallery.com for more information.

Text and images from Gallery website.

Acne Studios – Flagship store in Paris

We love the flagship store of Acne Studios, located at 3 Rue Froissart 75003 Paris. Built in an old garage found by Acne creative director Jonny Johansson. Its as much a gallery as a clothes store. “Let’s just say it’s not French” Says Jonny, “I absolutely love Paris, but I had to do something Swedish. Especially the colour, it’s very non-Parisian. It used to be a garage (hopefully you won’t recognize it) and when I passed this garage I was really excited about this sexy sweat shop, but I couldn’t help myself – I had to make it Swedish.” The store combines the raw industrial walls of the former garage to form the backdrop to a new, clean and contemporary space. Natural coloured carpets contrast rough concrete walls. Set-like partitions are made from aluminum, hard on the outside but soft on the inside. The ceilings are dark blood red, punctuated by LED lighting. The walls morph into long benches, becoming display areas as well as seating. Shoppers are greeted at the entrance by golden yellow glass and the silhouette of a marble sculpture by English artist Daniel Silver. Text and images from Acne www.shop.acnestudios.com and the fantastic Tangent mag www.tangentmag.com