Arts + travel

Design Museum, London

6th December 2012 As a fan of Mary Katrantzou’s fashion creations, I love this idea. The designer has come up with a Christmas Tree for the Design Museum in London, incorporating patterns from her Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection. Featured on the outer wall of the museum, the 2d design highlights the elegant embroideries created by Katrantzou in a collaboration with Swarovski and Lesage.

Mary Katrantzou: “The print was inspired by formal gardens and artful box parterres; these were layered and overlaid to create an intricate maze-like print reminiscent of a hand-embroidered lace motif.”

www.designmuseum.org CN

Image credits: Catwalk Photographer, First View

 

Legendary Fashion Designer Retrospective

1st December 2012 The splendid neo-classical building Somerset House is the spectacular setting for the glamorous exhibition Valentino: Master of Couture. During Valentino’s fifty years as a celebrated couturier, he has crafted breathtakingly beautiful designs, worn by icons ranging from Grace Kelly to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and Sophia Loren to Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. Valentino is often associated with his signature colour “Valentino Red”, and many of these creations are included in the exhibition. Photo above: Valentino with models c.2007 Lorenzo Agius

In addition to the exquisite fashions on display,(the dress above is black velvet with white ribbons) including many which have never been seen outside the Valentino atelier, there is also a glimpse into his private life, with personal photographs, and images of his life at work and play from his archive in France. Valentino: Master of Couture is a fascinating opportunity to view the behind-the-scenes world of the designer, and to experience close up, the magnificence of his amazing couture craftsmanship. Exhibition continues through 3 March 2013. www.somersethouse.org.uk JG

Major Exhibition at Foundation Beyeler Basel

1st November 2012 From a very young age, I had the good fortune to be introduced to painting by Edgar Degas. My aunt was enchanted with Impressionist paintings, and Degas was her idol – as he is among many art connoisseurs. His influence in the art world continues to this day, and now for the first time ever, there is an exhibition in Switzerland devoted to the latter part of the French painter’s life. Above: Trois Danseuses jupes violettes, pastel on joined paper c. 1895-1898 Photo: Maurice Aeschimann, Onex/Geneva

Foundation Beyeler in Basel, has assembled 150 works by Degas – rich and various artistic expressions – that include paintings, pastels, drawings, sculptures and photography. It is a rare opportunity to see important works by a 19th century master, as many pieces are from private collections, and rarely on view. Edgar Degas continues until 27th January 2013. www.foundationbeyeler.ch  JG

Photo of Jockey Blessé Kunstmuseum Basel/Martin P. Bühler 

Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK

27th October 2012 On a first very windy trip to the Turner Contemporary at Margate’s seafront, we visited the Alex Katz exhibition, running until January 2013. This is an exciting space to visit – especially as we were able to enjoy the views of the stormy sea from inside –  and downstairs the children spent time exploring Maria Nepomuceno’s installation, “Tempo para Respirar” (Breathing Time); they said it was a really nice feeling walking on tiny coloured marbles which massaged their feet and they went back in for another go before we left. Upstairs we visited the exhibition, Alex Katz: ‘Give me Tomorrow’, which brings together paintings – large and small, oil studies and collages, as well as some unusual cutouts of people canoeing (painted on both sides); the works on display span the American artist’s whole career – he is now 85 – and their diversity provided lots of talking points for youngsters. If you admire Katz’s work you will love this and the gallery is an atmospheric place to see his work. ‘Black Hat’ (above) features the artist’s wife Ada who appears in a number of the works of art.

Painting above: Alex Katz, Black Hat (Bettina), 2010, Oil on linen, 152.4 x 213.4 cm Private Collection, London © Alex Katz/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Image courtesy Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris – Salzburg.

6th October 2012 – 13th January 2013, Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK. www.turnercontemporary.org www.alexkatz.com CN