Library Brass: Smith Vol. 2

Library Brass has officially launched its new jewellery collection Smith Vol.2. Last month I was asked by the Taiwanese brand's designer Chiayi Chuang to art direct the new collection's campaign in London (Backstage At Library Brass, October 2011) and it's great to see all the shots together in series - a balance of high concept and contemporary styling that express the brand's narrative for its third collection of 'aristocratic excess' and 'noble conquests' in gold plated brass, silk velvets and multi-coloured crystals. 

The full campaign can be viewed at Library Brass and visit the brand's blog site here for all the latest news and information on events and stockists in Asia and beyond... 

Omedetou!

OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU @mtomato & @Y_WOODY !!! 

A beautiful day for a beautiful couple...

Sign Of The Times

The breaks are slowly being applied on China’s enthusiasm for art and with greater global economic uncertainty, the official opening of Frieze Art Fair today will test the strength of the art market as collectors and investors descend onto London this week. 

It’s perhaps no surprise that the artist who holds the world record for sales by a living artist at auction in 2008 has decided to freeze time before the situation gets any worse. In collaboration with Italian luxury watchmakers Panerai, Damien Hirst unveils two new paintings in the exhibition, O’Clock. Time Design, Design Time held at Milan’s centre for contemporary Italian industrial design, La Triennale di Milano. 

Beautiful Sunflower and Beautiful Fractional Sunflower take the form of Hirst’s now-iconic spin paintings with the addition of Panerai watch faces, sans hands, that are scattered across the canvas. While this latest Hirst collaboration lacks the aesthetic quality of previous partnerships – I would have liked to see the black watch faces covered in paint – the in motion versus timeless concept creates a sense of not knowing whether we’re coming or going, a vortex of uncertainty: a sign of the times. 

O’Clock. Time Design, Design Time runs at La Triennale di Milano until January 8th 2012.

Triennale di Milano

6 Viale Alemagna

20121

Milan, Italy

Backstage At Library Brass

Aristocratic excess and noble conquests were on the cards at last week's photo shoot in East London for the new jewellery collection by Library Brass, designed by Chiayi Chuang. Before the studio lights were even turned on, it was to be a summer renaissance at the creative hub of Enterprise House E9 - the talented team consisted of Sandra Made, photographer, hair and makeup artist, Inga Pivena, model Gerda K and myself as art director for the brand's third collection of contemporary statement pieces.

Here is a taste of what we got up to... 

 

Creature Comforts

Final curtain call at Dovecot Studios

The curtains closed last weekend on Scotland's largest outdoor public art event, Jungle City. What a summer it has been - after months of preparation, one hundred and thirty national and international artists, designers and celebrities took to their paints on one hundred and thirty crocodiles, orangutans, hornbills, tigers and elephants to produce magical creations that travelled from all corners of the United Kingdom to the majestic and tropical surroundings of the Royal Botanic Gardens (In The Wild: Jungle City, August 2011) and then onto the lively and historic streets of Edinburgh city (Safari Streets, September 2011). 

I am honoured to have been involved with Elephant Family's mission to raise £1million for the conservation and protection of Asian elephants and endangered species, with my own tiger design Tribal Tigris. The auction closed on Sunday evening and for one last time all the animals gathered at the beautiful venue of Dovecot Studios, home to the world's leading contemporary tapestry centre, surrounded by colourful threads and looms, and took their final curtain call to say goodbye to Edinburgh.

I have the pleasure of officially announcing Tribal Tigris raised £3900.00 for Elephant Family and while I do not have any details yet about it's new home, I am thrilled that is was so well received by the public in its Grassmarket location in the Old Town of the city. As Tribal Tigris and the rest of the jungle animals head to private and public collections, galleries and institutions, the money raised by this year's Jungle City project will be directed to the real homes of these endangered species: jungles are the most vital habitats on the planet and global awareness is paramount in order for these species to survive in the comfort of their natural surroundings. This is therefore only the beginning of a cause that must never have an end, a concern that we must always support and communicate to future generations. 

I have had a wonderful time meeting all the contributing artists and working on such an exciting and creative project - you can now chart my Jungle City experience from artist studio to the wild streets of Edinburgh here. Thank you to everyone for all your support - visit Elephant Family for more details about this year's fundraising events and dedicated conservation work around the world.
Images courtesy of Murray Horne