Madame Grès : Couture as Sculpture

Last weekend The Curious Eye made a little pilgrimage to the wonderful Madame Grès exhibition in Paris. This elegant artful mid century couturier has been overshadowed by many of her contemporaries, but this exhibition has launched her amazing creations back into the fashion headlines. Mounted in the museum which houses the sculptures of Antoine Bourdelle, the choice of venue takes an already stunning collection of dresses to the next dimension .

Hurry if you want to catch this delightful show. It has been extended till the end of August.
Musee Bourdelle

Between Art and Functionality : Corso Como

I was charmed by this collaged wall in the exhibit of Kris Rhus' work at the Galleria Carla Sozzani, situated as part of her famous shop 10 Corso Como. It displays working sketches along with black and white photos of the work in progress.





Galleria Carla Sozzani

Aspesi Window

This cardboard Milanese street scene graced the window of the Aspesi Clothing store in the world famous Via Montenapoleone, It is wonderfully naive and hand made and I wish I had made it myself !

Objets n' Art - Chez Sorrell

Have you ever wondered what would happen if an antiques dealer with artistic leanings married an artist with a penchant for collecting? And they moved to the seaside?

Well, gentle reader, wonder no more.

Regular visitors of this blog will be familiar with the names of Steve and Edele Sorrell as being one of our favorite vendors at Spitalfields Market. Their stall is always guaranteed to be filled with delightful objects, always displayed in a most creative fashion, just waiting to be taken home for a modest fee.

Which is why I was very excited to receive an invitation to visit their home in the charming seaside town of Felpham. To say the least, I was not disappointed.

'Eclectic' is a horribly overused word nowadays, but there really is no other way to describe the Sorrell's taste. Minimalist art sits next to ornate Victoriana, strict Modernist forms live happily next to groovy sixties dolls.

It's a thoroughly personal mix - but one that never looks overwrought or affected.

For me, the star attractions were the two art pieces by Bob and Roberta Smith - a perfect combination of all the things that the Sorrell's love. These pieces take found objects, hand made signs, and a quirky sense of humour and elevate them to a higher level.

With Edele's training as an artist and Steve's love of old things working together, this is as much an artistic installation as a home. It's like a gallery that you can live in - with the art and objects ever changing and evolving. A thoroughly stimulating and inspiring place to visit.

Barbara Hepworth Sudio

In our opinion any trip to Cornwall will be incomplete without a dip in the sea, it was pretty chilly, but thoroughly invigorating. The second must is a visit to Barbera Hepworths' studio in St Ives. This is a magical spot left almost as if Barbara has just popped out for a cream tea. Time has been suspended in an appealingly mid-century modern period with bits and pieces of desirable 50's furniture, and the luscious garden is carefully tended and enshrines many of her favorite sculptures.

Don't bother with the Tate but make a beeline to Barbaras' Studio, before or after the required Pasty on the beach (beware killer seagulls)

The Zuider Zee Museum

Last Monday on my way back from a beautiful wedding in the North of Holland, I visited this charming museum, a whole fishing village has been rebuilt on the banks of Europes' largest lake the Ijsselmeer. The lake was created in 1932 when an inland sea, the Zuiderzee, was closed by a 32 km dam, and the museum was conceived to preserve the culture and traditions of the local inhabitants.

Over the past few years the museum has started to commission contemporary dutch designers and their work is exhibited in selected houses in the village. Making a wonderful surprise when entering some of the houses and discovering a Studio Job stained glass or the retro/modern delft blue and white stencils of Hugo Kaagman (above and below)

Dotted around the village are traditionally dressed 'locals' going about their daily lives, making lunch, repairing fishing nets washing laundry, all adding to the feeling of stepping back in time .

I took these photos on my iphone hipstamatic app, which creates this delightful aged effect.

The Zuider Zee Museum

Blackboard Beasts

Paris always provides lush hunting ground for street art, this weekends visit to Maison et Object was no exception, I spotted these ephemeral chalk creatures in the achingly trendy 'haut marais' habitat of paris' Dalston/Hoxton crowd. The whole quarter has been rapidly overtaken by cool galleries and quirky boutiques. Those of you whose fashion memories go back to the 80's, will spot this shopfront was home to no other that Le Garage shirts whos' bold printed shirts were a must have to any fashion student circa 1988

These intricate fauna are signed Phillipe Baudelocque, and his website provides a more detailed view of his oeuvre. Which we're sure all you Curious Eyes will love !
Phillip Baudelocque

A burning beacon in winters' darkest moment

Another timely post from the Venice Biennale. I thought I would share Marco Lodolas' installation for the Italian pavilion, to brighten up our horrid winter skys.

Lodoland

Giacomo Costa

Today 3 weeks of Indian warmth and sunshine have been replaced by grey, wet and cold Hackney. As I gazed out the kitchen window this morning, onto my mid-winter garden. I was reminded of this work, I saw at the Venice Bienale earlier in the Autumn. Even the in dullness of December the urban garden has a certain beauty. Perhaps Giacomo Costa wanted to portray this in his 'Private Garden' an installation of 24 lightboxes. Placed on 2 rows opposite each other creating an alley with a glowing etherial allure.







Giacomo Costa