VK | visits on art, design, architecture and literature

October 3, 2014

The art of packaging; beautiful classic Tiffany

In couple of days, october 5th, my lovely young daughter, a true blessing in our lives, becomes 13. From early age I introduced her to many classic films and divas, from Bette Davies, Greta Garbo and more.. she loved Audrey Hepburn, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’ , 1961 and that became her true love. My girl, a true New Yorker, born downtown Manhattan, just 2 weeks after 9/11 has embraced Tiffany and the love for the blue color. So what else would she longed for her birthday? from the Ziegfeld collection a pair of earrings in sterling silver with freshwater cultured pearls.

A visit at the Munich Tiffany, intrigued my curiosity to find about the “box”

When the company introduced its diamond engagement ring in 1886, the effect was complete. The Tiffany Blue Box became every bit as coveted as the ring, or whatever else might be nesting inside. In 1906, the New York Sun reported that Charles Lewis Tiffany “has one thing in stock that you cannot buy of him for as much money as you may offer; he will only give it to you. And that is one of his boxes.”

the color is No. 1837 on the Pantone Matching System chart. It is not commercially available; since a 1998 filing with the federal government, the color is trademarked. The packaging on which the color appears is also trademarked, as is the white satin ribbon tied around.

For the first time ever, Tiffany opened on a Sunday to allow for filming. (Breakfast at Tiffany) It also posted 40 armed guards on the floor to prevent any of its blue boxes from disappearing.

Happy Birthday my lovely Ana Nefeli! be happy and full of pearls in your life!

Tiffany & Co, Ziegfeld collection,earrings in sterling silver with freshwater cultured pearls.

since 1837, New York

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September 26, 2014

Munich; Florine Stettheimer at Lenbachhaus Kunstbau

Sept 27, 2014-January 4, 2015

A beautiful evening at the preview of the exhibition of the artist Florine Stettheimer (1871-1944) at Lenbachhaus Kunstbau.

published photo @ Portrait of Myself, 1923 Art Properties, Avery Architectural & fine Arts Library, Columbia University of the City of New York

A rare and beautiful exhibition indeed of major paintings by Florine Stettheimer; paintings that all belong to public collections in US, mostly in collections of Univirsities; a rare show and first time shown in Europe her work.

The exhibition features a representative selection of major paintings made after 1915 that exemplify her mature signature style. A second focus is on her creations for the stage: numerous drawings, maquettes, and figurines illustrate her vision for the ballet Orphée of the Quatz’z’Arts and the opera Four Saints in Three Acts. The artist Nick Mauss dedicates a space to Stettheimer’s poetry. The artist herself never showed her paintings in a white cube, and the stage designer Kathrin Frosch was brought in to create an exhibition setting inspired by Stettheimer’s art of the theatrical interior. (Lenbachhaus’ press release)

photos@VK

Matthias Mühling, director of Lenbachhaus

She designed her own furniture – a decorative commode, for instance, with a rounded form and fluted edges and a light, prop-like character. The International Style of architecture, which had been feted in architect Philip Johnson’s exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern art in 1932, promoting the uncompromising modernism of European architects such as Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der rome, and Walter Gropius, was antithetical to Stettheimer’s aesthetic. Her romantic, fantastical interior is like a dream space, as far removed from the dark, opulently decorated family home associated with her mother as from the modernists’ Love of clean lines and their aversion to soft furnishings. (from Kirsty Bell’s book “The Artist’s House”

installation view

(Walter Storm, München gallerist & Katja Eichinger, author & filmmaker on foreground, Ferdinand Huwendiek)

(Dr Burcu Dogramaci *professor at LMU and author, Gursoy Dogtas, writer )

(left, Debora Schamoni,München gallerist)

Venetia Kapernekas, photo@Eva Poetters

http://www.lenbachhaus.de/ausstellungen/florine-stettheimer/

*Dr Burcu Dogramaci’s latest book “In der Schlacht” Briefe des jüdischen Künstlers Bruno Jacob aus dem Ersten Weltkrieg, Köln: Böhlau 2014

http://www.amazon.de/In-Schlacht-jüdischen-Künstlers-Weltkrieg/dp/3412224073

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September 24, 2014

Munich_at Kustverein; a vernissage for a window display “Impressions of Youth in an Epoch of Death”…

24 September to 2 November 2014

A small vernissage last night at Kunsteverein (Tuesday 23 September 2014, 7.00pm) in the window display of Kunstverein München

‘Impressions of Youth in an Epoch of Death: The Beginnings and Ends of Vetjylien N’gyrz’

photos@VK

For the inaugural event in Kunstverein München’s new Autumn series k.m codex, artist’s Veit Laurent Kurz and Julien Nguyen have created a special window display dedicated to their fictitious character, the crypto-polymath Vetjylien N’gyrz.

An aged rock wall is installed as the backdrop for materials relating to the character’s early life as a botanist on the cusp of a formative moment that leads him to perverse thought and experimentation. Fashioned in the style of a grotto or early Christian catacomb, the display is infused with rusty tech, scepters and a veneration icon of a young N’gyrz.

and of course I walked away with a small present by Kunstverein

a beautiful and warm evening

more here http://www.kunstverein-muenchen.de/de/vetjylienngyrz

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September 18, 2014

Munich; Freunde Preview at Haus der Kunst; Georg Baselitz “Back then, in between, and today”

exhibition 19.09.14-01.02.15

A preview of the exhibition of Georg Baselitz at Haus der Kunst opened last night, sept 17th at 7 pm

The survey exhibition offers works that span fifty years. The focus lies on the recurring themes of figure and eagle. The new series of the “Black Paintings” form the contentual center of the conception; together with the monumental bronze sculptures, that were produced during the same time, they supply the iconographic focus of the exhibition.

Curator: Ulrich Wilmes

Opening talk
Georg Baselitz and Ulrich Wilmes, Chief Curator Haus der Kunst; Thursday, sept 18, 6.30 pm

The exhibition spreads in 12 rooms at the first level of the Hdk.

http://www.hausderkunst.de/en/

In his essay, curator Ulrich Wilmes analyzes Georg Baselitz’ artistic practice of a critical reflection of his own work against a new temporal background.

more here http://www.hausderkunst.de/en/agenda/detail/ulrich-wilmes-deep-dark-time/

a nice dinner in honor of Georg Baselitz followed at HdK

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September 17, 2014

Munich; Espace Louis Vuitton;private dinner IN-SITU-1 exhibition; artist Simryn Gill,

A beautiful dinner at Louis Vuitton Espace was given last night (thank you Anja Keahny, director Espace Louis Vuitton München) to welcome the Malaysian artist Simryn Gill, who during the next 2 months, will take over both the upper and lower levels of the gallery to pursue new content, culminating in an IN SITU-1 exhibition.

On the upper level floor, a beautiful architectural table installation was created for this occassion/dinner by Robbrecht en Daem arhitecten to host this intimate dinner for 25 people. A beautiful group of art people were here, Matthias Mühling, Bart van der Heide, Roger Diederen, Toni Schmidt, Christine Vendredi-Auzanneau (head of Art & Culture of Louis Vuitton/Paris), , Tracy Williams, (Simryn Gills’ New York gallerist), Phillip Keir (Board of directors of Biennane of Sydney) Tracy Williams, (Simryn Gills’ New York gallerist), architect Hilde Daem, Gürsoy Dogtas and few more of wonderful people. Great evening!

Simryn Gill and Tracy Williams

photo 1 copy 2

For the duration of this project, from September to November, the gallery space act as sites of creative production and presentation, offering visitors the unique opportunity to witness both the process and the outcome of artistic expression. IN SITU-1 completes the circle of creativity by inviting the viewer to take an active role.

In Duchamp’s own words: “The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contract with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.”

more here at Espace Culturel about the IN-SITU-1

http://www.louisvuitton-espaceculturel.com/index_GB.html

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September 5, 2014

Munich; Regina Schmeken at Villa Stuck “Unter Spielern – Die Nationalmannschaft “

Munich; Villa Stuck ; 15 June-14 September 2014

On Sunday, sept 14th, at 3.30 pm a walk thru with Regina Schmeken /Villa Stuck.

For Regina Schmeken is the representation of movement an essential part of her work. Her serial photographs focus on the crucial moment between standstill and action in football.

The toned body of players win by the black and white shots a sculptural quality, which is enhanced by an unusual composition and lighting. The artist here focuses entirely on the actors/players and her decisive moments draw graphically clear the complexity of the action sequences. She focuses on the protagonist and especially on the, often determining, apparent stillness, isolated from the complex sequence of movements.

The photographer accompanied the team to a total of 16 international matches from March 2011 until the end of the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

more here at Villa Stuck exhibition

http://www.villastuck.de/ausstellungen/2014/schmeken/index.htm

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September 4, 2014

Munich: Deborah Schamoni gallery; “Passing Place” by Gerry Bibby

06.07. – 13.09.2014

An afternoon spent at my favorite Munich gallery,at Deborah Schamoni for “Passing Place” by Australian artist Gerry Bibby. A beautiful and elegant sculpture exhibition with a touch of poetry.

photo credit@Deborah Schamoni gallery

photos by permission of the gallery@VK

“….Our little walk on this Sunny day revealed to my nephew and I, a sign on a post painted slick black. The sign was square-ish and its rounded corners softened the strangeness of its proposition. In black letters, Capitalised but also with rounded sharp corners, it said PASSING PLACE. I was immediately floored, so to speak. I had the distinct feeling, after reading these letters that I was about to pass in to some other zone, another mind—without place.” (Gerry Bibby on the gallery press release)

more here http://deborahschamoni.com/exhibitions/gerry-bibby

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August 28, 2014

Zürich; fall opening art scene; Bolte Lang gallery;Kunsthalle Zürich and Löwenbrau Art Complex bldg galleries; Eva Presenhuber ; Bob van Orsouw;Grieder Contemporary

A 24 hour trip to Zürich with my wonderful friend, art advisor /Munich, Martina Tauber to attend the fall opening art scene.

We started with a wonderful exhibition at Bolte Lang gallery with the exhibition “like a virgin” by Athene Galiciadis. A wonderful walk thru with Anna Bolte and Chaja Lang.

photos@VK

…..The title, resulting from the works as “écriture automatique”, not only describes the working process, but more concretely conveys the subject matter of Galiciadis’ empty, untainted vases, with their form, colour and haptic reminding the viewer of the young, female shape……
Like a virgin
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
When your heart beats next to mine

more here http://www.boltelang.com/exhibitions/current/

a stop at Grieder Contemporary for Ross Chisholm “The Cratylists”. A wonderful walk thru the exhibition with Melanie Dankbar/director of the gallery

photo credit@Grieder Contemporary

The Cratylists (an allusion to Plato’s famous Cratylus dialogue)

“…The points of orientation for this new body of work have been the 18th century society portraits by Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney and most of all by Joshua Reynolds. The latter developed in his famous “Discourses on Art” an influential art theory based on classical and contemporary philosophical and art theoretical writings…” (gallery press release)

more here at gallery http://www.grieder-contemporary.com

next , to Eva Presenhuber’s gallery at MAAG Areal. Sam Falls, Los Angeles based artist (exhibition sold out before the opening)

Sam Falls at Presenhuber, photo by permission@Martina Tauber

“….I took plants as the common subject matter for this body of work not only for their legacy in art history, but their reference to place. The works here were made from west to east, from the palm fronds in my backyard in Venice, California, to the abounding ferns bordering my mom’s hayfield where I grew up in Vermont, to the trees around the grounds of a recent residency in Sarvisalo, Finland. Beyond the native vegetation delineating geography, these “paintings” represent duration and environment, visible in the scattered heavy rains of Southern California, to the light spring mist in Vermont, to the consistent light drizzle of the Scandinavian archipelago…” (Sam Falls on the gallery press release )

photo credit @published at Presenhuber gallery

more here http://www.presenhuber.com/en/exhibitions/2014/Sam-Falls.html

then to the Löwenbrau Art Complex:

at Bob van Orsouw’s gallery for Nedko Solakov (Mixed Media-in at least four directions and one center)

Nedko Solakov, The Has-Beens Creator, 2014, oil on canvas

“…Nedko Solakov is a highly gifted storyteller. His drawings talk about everyday occurrences, but also turn out to be caustic commentaries on human existence, while, at the same time, shedding light on its absurdity…”(gallery press release)

and enjoying as always Bob van Orsouw’s lovely office with great pieces, this was my favorite above his desk

photo by permission @Vk

more here van Orsouw gallery http://www.bobvanorsouw.ch/artists/nedko-solakov

at Eva Presenhuber‘s for Wyatt Kahn (New York based artist)

…..Kahn presents a new body of work which focuses on a concept of representation of an object through all its aspects: visual, sensational and conceptual. For these works, the shaped stretchers come together to create the shape of the actual object, the motifs used to cover the first layer of the stretchers are the epitome of the representation of that object, drawn by hand in an almost automatic way…..

Martina Tauber at the Wyatt Kahn show, photo@VK

more here www.presenhuber.com/en/exhibitions/2014/Wyatt-Kahn.html

and Steven Shearer (Canadian artist) also at Eva Presenhuber gallery

Steven Shearer’s practice encompasses many different medias, from found photography, drawing, and painting to collage and focuses on a melancholic vision of youth, tinted by strong references to the iconography of extreme metal cuture. His world is one of alienation and repulsion towards the everyday, a world whose heroes are death-metal rockers, 1970s prefab boy bands and teen stars, amature glam-rockers and guitar-wielding teenaged suburban dreamers

and Kunsthalle Zurich

Kunsthalle Zürich opened an extensive solo exhibition of the artist group Slavs and Tatars. Focusing on the “area east of the former Berlin Wall and west of the Great Wall of China”, the artistic and discursive work of Slavs and Tatars engages transcultural as well as transdisciplinary questions of history, politics, religion, and language.

Slavs and Tatars «Mirrors for Princes» (30.08. – 09.11.14)

more here http://kunsthallezurich.ch/index.php?id=5&L=1

a wonderful dinner followed at Times restaurant, invited by Eva Presenhuber gallery

http://times-zurich.com/restaurant/aktuell/

Followed by Löwenbräukunst summer party at the courtyard with music by Nifty’s, Aliev Bleh-Orkestar und Goran Potkonjak.

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August 25, 2014

Munich; an afternoon visit at “Amai” fabulous praline place

After a lovely lunch with my dear friend Villy Giovaniti at Becco Fino, we discovered a new place for sweet tooth, in the heart of Lengdorf in Munich, the “Amai” (in japanese means sweet) run by Cornelia, a praline chef, at Auserbittlbach 20, 2nd floor

Here you may have a relaxing time over tea or cappuccino and you may have tastes of pralines, such as” blue curaçao”, cassis, champagne, kokos, mango, ginger, mocca, cherry, grande marnier and more.. is an oasis of taste. Also macarroons and the florentines are delicious.

A lovely and not usual decor embraces the Amai decor with a young collection for small people by young designer from Mauritius.

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August 24, 2014

Munich ;Lenbachhaus “Human, All Too Human”

A quick Sunday afternoon visit at Lenbachhaus to see “Human, All Too Human” which opened on July 22, 2014 (duration July 22-December 31, 2015)

“In 1911, the young Otto Dix read Nietzsche’s Human, All Too Human, a book for “free spirits” from which our exhibition takes its title. The engagement with Nietzsche’s philosophy informs Dix’s entire oeuvre, which takes an unflinching look at humankind.

Rudolf Schlichter:Bertold Brecht, ca. 1926, oil on canvas (Staedtische Galerie im Lenbacchaus und Kunstbau, Munich)

“….The experiences of the Great War radically changed how people saw the world and their fellow men. Profoundly shaken, many artists of the Weimar Republic focused on a starkly realistic rendition of reality. Their works illustrate the critical gaze with which they observed the world in the period leading up to the outbreak of World War II, a time rich in contrasts and disruptions.
At the heart of new presentation at the Lenbachhaus will be the ‘human condition,’ the vision of the human being

Georg Grosz:Man and Woman, 1926, oil on canvas, private collection, Estate of George Grosz, Princeton, NJ

Works that have become iconic such as Christian Schad’s Surgery, Rudolf Schlichter’s Portrait of Bertolt Brecht, and Josef Scharl’s Fallen Soldier will once again be on display, together with art by Georg Schrimpf, Wilhelm Heise, Heinrich Maria Davringhausen, and Franz Radziwill. The presentation will be rounded out by pictures by Erna Dinklage, Herbert Ploberger, and Helmut Kolle that have not been on public display in a long time. (museum press release)

more here,

http://www.lenbachhaus.de/exhibitions/human-all-too-human/?L=1

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