Amangiri

LONDON CULTURE NOV 2013 Klee & The Chinese Masters

Qui Ying ,Saying Farewell at Xunyang (Detail) Early 16th Century. The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art Kansas City

Gaze of Silence Paul Klee 1932

Possibly Emperor Huizong, Auspicious Cranes  1112. Liaoning Provincial Museum

Comedy Paul Klee 1921

Attributed to Shi Ke, Two Chan Patriarchs Harmonising their Minds . 13th Century .

Chen Rong Nine Dragons (detail) 1244

Historical Site Paul Klee 1927

Yuan Jiang The Palace of Nine Perfections (detail) 1691

A Young Lady's Adventure Paul Klee 1922

This is my choice of London current important  exhibitions.

Masterpieces of Chinese Paintings from 700-1900 at the V & A. An incredible assimilation of rare art works from collections around the world. Categorized in different eras ans styles.  Objects of Devotion 700-950, The Quest for Reality 950-1250, Embracing Solitude 1250-1400, The pursuit of happiness 1400-1600, Challenging the Past and Looking to The West 1600-1900. The other part is that the exhibition is accompanied by the wonderful lectures and workshops not to be missed, Digital Dragons, Dim Sum Demonstration, Painting of The Mongol Dynasty in China and events for the whole family . Lastly there is a 14 day Imperial Jewels of China Cruise to be won and other prizes.. run to the V&A now. 

Down by the River at The Tate Modern  The Ey Exhibition: Paul Klee Making Visible, The "God" of Bauhaus . Abstract, geometric , organic. A magical man who was at one with cosmos as he was grounded in Life. He influenced so many other artist such as Rothko. 

"He used to gaze for a long time at his prepared canvas before he began the drawing… I have never seen a man who had such creative quiet. It radiated from him as from the sun. His face was that of a man who knows about day and night, sky and sea and air. He did not speak about these things. He had no tongue to tell of them. Our language is too little to say these things… Klee, when beginning a picture, had the excitement of a Columbus moving to the discovery of a new continent. He had a frightened presentiment, just a vague sense of the right course… Klee set out to discover a new land." Jankel Adler on Paul Klee .

One of my favourite artists of all time Swiss Paul Klee's  work is so refreshingly Modern but has the depth of another era that to me has not been seen in our Modern times of today. 

"I cannot be grasped in the here and now  For I live just as well with the dead  As with the unborn  Somewhat closer to the heart  Of creation than usual  But far from close enough."

Paul Klee own words on his tombstone. 

Enjoy. 

Masterpieces of Chinese Paintings At The V&A

26th October 2013 - 9th of January 2014

Corresponding  Workshops & Lectures 

Paul Klee at The Tate Modern

16th of October 2013- 9th of March 2014

Kelly Wearstler's Vision

The lovely , beautiful and talented Kelly Wearstler. What can I say but this woman is a genius! Love her vision, how she mixes all different styles, colours and textures to create these magnificent interiors. Her choices are bold and always elegant, pieces are well curated and thought of. I chose the images of her more subtle palette of colours as she is more known for her bold and vibrant one.  Just want to show how versatile she is.

You will never get bored in any of the rooms Kelly has created, whether its a house on the beach or a mansion in Beverly Hills. Her talents are vast,  including all The Viceroy and Tides Hotels, has collaborated with Schumacher fabrics, Sferra Linens, Pickard, The Rug Company, Lee Jofa and Bergdorf and Goodman where she created the elegant Restaurant. There is also a section in the store where you can buy some of her great homeware.

It doesn't even end there, as a woman of eclectic and chic style herself I always wondered why she never designed her own line of jewellery and clothes, et voila her  first collection of clothes and accessories has been created. Today her online boutique launched, have a look, you can view all her work, shop and also read her blog where she takes you on her sourcing adventures where you really get to see how magical her eye is for great pieces and the way she views colour and details. You can also buy her pieces at Neiman Marcus and Net-a-Porter for accessories.

Lastly for the piece de resistance, I was recently in LA where I went to a hair appointment which was in the same building as her studio, I was so tempted to ring the door bell and run inside to be surrounded by all her talents.

Oh and her first stand alone store is opening around the Corner on Melrose (see below) Will go back to LA to hopefully see it open and do another post on Kelly as there is so much I could not put on one post.

Enjoy xo

Pictures via the following links ,

www.kellywearstler.com

www.tidesresorts.com

www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

www.net-a-porter.com

Intermission : Alice Temperley for Filofax.

Video Direction & Production by Vanessa Scott

Henri Biva (French, 1848-1928)

Pond in the mist, 1910

Oil on canvas

Guido Mocafico

Lampropeltis getula nigrita

Roses

Boiga dendrophila melanota

Nature Morte aux Huîtres

Vipera Wagneri

Audemars Piguet Tourbillon répétition minutes squelette

Dendroaspis viridis

Salmopoeus irminia

Naja nigricollis

Bouquet de tulipes

Vipera aspis

Smith & Wesson 44 magnum

Vipera Ammodytes

Snakes, Guns, Spiders are not my favourite things in the world. Would not want to be at close range with any of these things. Flowers, food and watches on the other hand  are always part of my life. Guido Mocafico does convert my terrified view into one of beauty and awe, nature dangerous as it may be is designed to perfection just as a gun can be admired of its incredible craftsmanship. Not sure if I would hang some of these images in my bedroom but anywhere else the visual impact they make is mesmerizing.

Hypnotic xo

GUIDO MOCAFICO Italian, born in Switzerland in 1962, lives in Switzerland and works in Paris. Guido Mocafico studied Photography at Vevey school in Switzerland. Specialized in still life photography, his most recent images are published in magazines such as Numéro, Numéro Homme, Paradis, V Mag, Vogue US, Vogue France, Men’s Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Face, Wallpaper He works for major brands such as Gucci, Chanel, Clarins, Shiseido, YSL, Clinique, Dior, Bvlgari, Armani, Hermès. Alongside his commercial and advertising activities, Guido Mocafico has developed a series of long-term personal projects, destined to be published in books and shown as exhibitions.

His work can be found at the following Galleries,

Hamiltons Gallery 13 Carlos place London W1 K 2 EU U.K. T / 020 7499 9493/4 www.hamiltonsgallery.com

BERNHEIMER FINE OLD MASTERS E.K. BU Fine Art Photography Brienner Str. 7 80333 Munich Germany T / +49-89-226672 www.bernheimer.com

All photos sourced via,

www.guidomocafico.com

Chinese Splendor

Raise The Red Lantern via National Ballet of China

Yellow Chinoiserie Wallpaper via NSR Handcrafts Co.

Wedgewood Jasper Conran Chinoiserie Green via Matching China

Raise the Red Lantern Film by Zhang Yimou

Midnight Blue Chinoiserie Wallpaper via Made in China

Mint Green Chinoiserie Wallpaper via de Gournay

House of Flying Daggers Bamboo Forest

Ralph Lauren's seems to have China on his mind, this is my favorite  collection in years.

I see some influence from Bernardo Bertolucci's wonderful 9 Academy Award winning film The Last Emperor which had incredible costumes, music and set design.

Also the colours in this collection made me think of Director Zhang Yimou films, The stunningly visual House of Flying Daggers with its incredible vibrant Jade Green Bamboo scene, the reds and blacks from both Hero and Raise The Red Lantern which was also made into a Ballet by China's National Ballet.

On 8.8.2008 Zhang Yimou directed the unforgettable Beijing Olympics opening Ceremony. So wish I could have been there.

Here are some links to view clips of these wonderful movies,

The Last Emperor www.criterion.com/films/254-the-last-emperor

House Of Flying Daggers www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLkedDMb8vI

Raise The Red Lantern www.youtube.com/watch?v=vivaoPZhIH8&feature=related

Hero www.youtube.com/watch?v=srFhXDZhUZI

http://www.ballet.org.cn/en/home.htm

www.ralphlauren.com

Midnight at The Oasis

Sunrise on The Great Sand Sea

Meet the Flintstones 21st Century

Bedroom Adrere Amellal

Siwi Man Photo by C. Stamba-Badial 

Drinks by the Salt lake 

This was were I stayed in Adrere Amellal view of the lake all around

Drinks at the Fire pit 

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Temple Amon

Adrere Amellal Bedroom

Dunes of The Great Sand Sea

Date Palms at Siwa

One of the many lounging nooks in Adrere Amellal

Locally  handmade Kaftans by the Siwi Women

The natural spring pool at Adrere Amellal

Illuminated "Kershef " Wall  a mix of rock salt & mud

Dinning under the palms Adrere Amelall

Sweet water oasis in the middle of the desert

Riding the dunes in the Great Sand Sea

Dinner in the middle of the desert

Dusk at Adrere Amelall

Magic dinning locations dotted around the property

Candle lit bed time

Sun setting over the dunes

“Oh that the desert were my dwelling place,

With only one fair spirit for my minster.

That I might forget the human race,

And hating no one, love her only.”

Lord Byron

In the  magical Great Sand Sea of Egypt's western Sahara on the boarder to Libya lies a diamond named Siwa. An Oasis filled with history and legends,such as the Temple  of the Oracle of Amun~ RA. Were Alexander The Great consulted the oracle in order to seek confirmation that he was the son of Zeus and the rightful ruler of Egypt. Or something like that.

I was invited  about 8 years ago to a wedding in Cairo by dear friends of mine. Included was a trip to Siwa a couple of days  before the wedding, staying at the amazing eco lodge Adrere Amellal. The love project of  visionary Dr Mounir Neamatalla a very elegant egyptian environmentalist. The words eco lodge dont always make me jump with joy, but a trip to the Egyptian desert I could not miss . 

When we arrived we all had a big smile on our faces as we took in the scene before us. The sacred white mountain towers over the property with views on  a vast salt lake , date palms  and in the distance the dunes of the great sand sea. Dotted around this setting are traditional buildings made by combining rock salt and mud called "Kershef", 40 rooms all furnished in locally artisanal furnishing, beds made out of palm with Egyptian cotton sheets and fluffy pillows. Bedouin carpets and beeswax candles everywhere  there is no electricity, no phones, no air conditioning or wifi.

Really a place to give in to the mystical call of the desert, at night they light up all the pathways with candles and dinner is served in the most amazing locations all over the property with the light of the stars as company. Date souffle served on silver plates and wine drank out of crystal glasses, the food was amazing, all the staff are local Siwi whose origins are Berber. On one night they came and played traditional Bedouin music , they danced like mad and so did we! When ready to retire, A member of staff would accompany you with a lantern to your room that glowed with candles, I would slip myself into the soft sheets with the breeze of the desert lulling me to sleep. 

Morning starts with a delicious breakfast over looking the lake and then preparation for a ride on 4 X 4 in to the Sand Sea so called because it was actually a sea, you can see fossils everywhere, as you ride over the dunes driven to mad perfection by the charming and hilarious locals its an exhilarating experience. They would stop and give you a board to surf the dunes if you wished or just sit and take in the unforgettable experience, everyday they planned a new surprise in the desert, which I would not give away as these surprises are truly special.

Once back at the lodge there are many more things to do, you can float on the lake or swim in the natural green pool under the palms, or for some you can go riding in the desert. There was also a trip into town to meet the local women whose embroidery is magnificent all supported by  Mounir Neamatalla and his also very elegant sister Laila, they produce kaftans, home furnishings and jewellery done by the local community. There is also a lot of history in the area and again I will not divulge too much here as to make you want to go and see for yourself but one of things is have swim in Cleopatra's Bath. 

 Thank you Dr Mounir for creating such a wonderful place and thank you my dear friends for letting be part of such an amazing journey. When are we going back?

  Adrere Amellal

Siwa

Photos via above websites & Flickr.

110 Years of Cadillac

1937 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Phaeton

Briggs Cunnigham 1961 Cadillac Coupe at Le Mans

Cadillac Design Studio by Eero Saarinen & Gm Design Chief Harley Earl

1934 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Roadster

1959 Eldorado

Hand sculpting full size clay auto models.

‘59 Le Mans Cadillac

Chrome covered 1965 DeVille reflecting the pink ground.

1956 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

A Pair of Cadillac Fletwood V-16’s

1959 Pink Cadillac Eldorado

Cadillac Founder Henry M. Leland with his 1905 Osceola first closed body car.

Earl’s Rocket Inspired Cyclone Concept Car that never went into production.

Al Capone’s Armoured 1928 Cadillac

1950’s Ghia Cadillac owned by Rita Hayworth

1957 Eldorado Brougham fins

1902 Cadillac’s first prototype, Cadillac was founded on August 27th 1902.

Assouline’s Book Celebrating its 110 years of Cadillac.

This is a fantastic book to buy the men in your life for Christmas. 110 years of Cadillac, I would so love the 59’ Le Mans Cadillac under my Christmas Tree!

Hello Santa? xo

Sources Via, Auto Blog, RM Auctions, Autotrend, Assouline

I Loewe You

Clockwise: Founder, Enrique Loewe Roessberg (1844-1929); Enrique Loewe Hilton (1879-1934), charmed high society to Loewe; Enrique Loewe Knappe (1912) pioneered international expansion; Enrique Loewe Lynch (1941) launched ready-to- wear in the 60’s, and created the Loewe Foundation, 1988.

Most people when they see the name Espagana , they think of Flamenco, bullfights, passion, paella, sangria, tortilla and Ibiza.

Let us not forget the incredible history of this country that brought these worldwide famous painters like Velazquez, Picasso, Goya and Dali and the legendary story of Don Quixote de la Mancha written by Miguel de Cervantes to name a few of the top of my head. The other well known Spanish expertise comes from craftsmanship and leather.

This is where the House of Loewe (lo-ay-ve) comes in, in 1846 a leather goods workshop was created  by  a group pf craftsmen on the year of two royal marriages, that of Her Majesty Isabel II of Bourbon to the Duke of Cadiz and that of Princess Maria Luisa Fernanda to the Duke of Montpensier. In 1872 Enrique Loewe Roessberg, a German craftsman specializing in leather working arrived in Madrid and decided to join forces with the these craftsmen and established the Loewe brand. With the precision and technique of Enrique Loewe and the creativity, leather and sensuality of Spain the house of Loewe rose in popularity becoming the Official Supplier to the Spanish Royal Crown in 1905. Famous stars such as Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Maria Callas and Ernest Hemingway would all purchase from the Gran Via store in Madrid.

Loewe started expanding all over Spain and in 1963 opened its first boutique in London's New Bond Street. Loewe then branched out into the Fashion Industry, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani and Laura Biagiotti were behind the first Women's Ready to Wear Collections. From there they created perfumes, Men's ready to wear and opened shops all over the world, in 1988 the Loewe Foundation was created including the Annual International Poetry Prize . In 1996 on the 150th Anniversary of the House of Loewe  LVMH took over the ownership of the brand, now with by Stuart Vevers as the Artistic Director of the brand.

What wonderful history this brand has, and if you ever get a chance to pass by their store go and view their collection "Clothing as Light as Air, as Soft as Silk", the leather is so so soft you can't believe it , the quality is just perfection.

Ole! xo

All photos via,

www.loewe.com

Research via,

www.wikipedia.org

Farewell Oscar Niemeyer

"When you have a large space to conquer, the curve is the natural solution, I once wrote a poem about the curve. The curve I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuousness of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean and on the body of the beloved woman."

Farewell to the legendary Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer, "The Concrete Poet " what a poet he was. Thank you for bringing our world such unforgettable monuments.

Sources via Flickr, Pinterest & Tumblr