As a child/student of fine art and criticising art for majority of my student life, I never aligned classical portraits with characteristics like vanity. Comparing to classical portraits dating back from the late 1400s with today's "selfie" with technology, you can clear see that the denomination of self-control takes place as clearly now as back then !
It's amazing how traditional method's within practicing art is still used in modern society but through different mediums. I did not do any research before entering the exhibition so I was pleased to see a wide range from my traditional favourites like Van Gogh, Cézanne and Frida Kahlo.
I encourage you all to visit (Ending July 23) and experience a rich exploration of the journey of self- portraiture.
Louis Vuitton opened the doors to its series 3 exhibition on Sunday the 20th September. This took place during London fashion week in Strand (London) for the next month. It is named series 3 for a reason, demonstrating it’s third ‘such’ show after Tokyo and Los Angeles as well as displaying in a sense; the past, present and future.
Following on from it’s Series 2 exhibit in Los Angeles the [free] exhibition is a must see, with many rooms displaying a hi-tech side of Louis Vuitton, (sci-fi being something that Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière takes inspiration from) to THE walk-in wardrobe of your dreams as well as a sticker room to pimp up your notebook or wallet case. On Monday, I was able to attend a private viewing in association with POP Magazine (the after party was amazing btw), and got to explore the beautiful exhibition for myself.
My favorite aspect of the exhibition was the point at which you enter the savior-faire room explaining how such beautiful pieces from the collection are made in the Louis Vuitton atelier. An artisan was present showing how to create the micro-trunk handbags that have become such a hit under Ghesquière. This took me back to my final year project at university because I based my 12-month PR campaign around craftsmanship within the leather goods product for Christian Dior, and many of the ideas I had during my campaign were also featured during the Vuitton exhibition ! (scoreee !).
I find that with the majority of brands under the LVMH
umbrella, developing an exhibition that includes an aspect of craftsmanship is
key nowadays because the customer ultimately needs to understand the level of
skill taken into the finished product (the product bought).
Standing as the most valuable luxury brand in the
world (according to Forbes magazine), you can see how the elements of the
exhibition highlight the rich heritage of the brand well with the vision of
Ghesquière in a pleasurable way. With many rooms titled; "Artists' hands"; "A
tale of craftsmanship"; "Anatomy
of le savoir-faire"… you can see the focus on craft, on the process leading
up to rather than the final result, which is glorified – and publicised – by
the polished final vision on the catwalk.
Another room which I know will flood your Snapchat/Instagram
feed over the next month, is where you will meet accessories on floating
mannequins covered in the most superb white ( aka – perfect selfie lighting).
Enjoy my little photo diary and hopefully, I will upload parts of my final project (and link them for you all to see the comparison / what I was talking about earlier)
Let me know what your most loved parts of the
exhibition were! And don’t forget to grab your stickers!
Fun Fact:
When I was younger, I asked my mother about buying me
a coin purse from Louis Vuitton, and she said ‘ Why on earth do you feel like I
should buy you something from Louis Vuitton?’ So my smarty-pants self took the persuasion
real deep and I came back to her with this explanation.
O-L-I-V-I-A = Olivia. In primary school I learnt that
in ancient Egypt, they did not have to include the vowels in a name when
writing soo, O-L-I-V-I-A – O-I-I-A = L-V . :D
Attending
the Tiffany exhibition made me think about why I am a consumer of the brand.
For me, the objective of an exhibition is to educate the consumer about the
artist (/brand) and their art (/brand core value/craft / creativity).I find that thoughts around luxury brands are
similar to visiting the opera for the first time; you either love it or simply appreciate
it (Pretty Woman quote ^_^).So I had to
visit my subconscious self, do I truly love the brand or am I fond of the
brand? Hmmm
To
start off, most of my jewellery is actually from Tiffany&Co, from my first
ever set of earrings as a baby, to a few pendants on special birthday
celebrations and my promise ring which I wear every day (seriously, ask a
friend of mine how different or frantic I act when I don’t have it on/ feel
like I’ve lost it). So I guess a connection with Tiffany&Co is somewhat
dear to my heart because the brand has played importance materially throughout
many milestone moments in my life.
But
when I was just talking to people, of course the movie; Breakfast at Tiffany’s may be the very reason why most women of
today who place the late Audrey Hepburn as their role model identify with the
brand. The associations with the brand from that movie will stick with a viewer
from the very first time they see it until the day they tell their grandchild
the storyline of the movie.
Then
there is the engagement aspect, I remember when I was a little girl, my mother
once showed me the price of a Tiffany engagement ring, and highlighted the
woman’s worth around the topic of engagement rings (Can you believe I was only about 8,
why would my mother be hosting a conversation about this lol).
Also
who remembers My Wife & Kids on Trouble ? Remember when Jay thought that
Michael bought her something special because Junior said he saw a blue box in
his bag? AUTO-MATI-CALLY she thought she knew what it was and creatED a
scenery within her head; a scenery which would have been created, by the visual
content held by the romanticism around the Tiffany brand, from the famous shade
of blue to other aspects of the brand.
Going
to the exhibition, I honestly thought this is what I would see. I didn’t read
much into the coverage around the launch and I briefly passed the new
concession to clean my pieces and that was that.What I loved foremost about the
exhibition was it’s inconspicuous location. Though clearly signed, you wouldn't have noticed unless you were truly looking for it. Upon
arrival, you meet a mock up of the metro exit that most people would take when
getting to 5th Ave in New York. I chuckled initially simply because
it was the 5 and R train that ran to 5th Ave, closest to Tiffany
& Co. on 57th Street, but when I was working in New York last
year, in order for me to get to 5th Ave, I always ended up taking a 2
train and then picking up a 4. *Just a little reminiscing point lol *
Afterwards
I headed straight to sit down and view a little screening about Tiffany&Co.
and the New York minute. A phrase that I quickly adopted whilst out in NYC, and
fully understand the hood meaning by ‘I haven’t seen you in a minute’.New Yorkers really measure time by moments
taken, instead of the usual British literally counting 60 seconds.
There
were in total, 6 sections of the exhibition;
The
Love Bench
The
New York minute
Pretzel
and Coffee
Fifth
& 57th
Tiffany&
Co. / Master Engraver
Charlie’s
Bar
These
segments really do make up the beauty of the brand, I was glad to not have seen
Audrey Hepburn to be very honest, though she is a beautiful figure within
history, her legacy should not only be restricted to her affiliation with
Breakfast at Tiffany, as well as the brand.
It’s
all about NEW YORK, a place surrounded but beautiful past experiences and
celebrated within the new, jazzas
an eternal genre, the idea of craftsmanship by hand as well as machine, the
Pretzel and Coffee Carts that will refuse to offer payments by card just so you
don’t forget what a 5$ bill looks or feels like and appreciates more than any
gourmet Starbucks.
Maybe
what pushed me to go to this exhibition was the fact that Tiffany &Co is a
brand (like many others) that has travelled with me throughout my life thus far.
What made me love the exhibition were its bold visuals highlighting the
connection with New York City, which I dearly miss.
It was so funny actually, I remember taking this picture after heading out of Niketown and turning on the corner where Tiffany is last year during my placement.
To read my experience at the Tiffany exhibition, click here #selfridgesXtiffany
Chanel will
open the doors of their new exhibition, 'Mademoiselle Privé' at the Saatchi
Gallery from October 13th 2015 until November. According to buro247.com, the exhibit will highlight the iconic
French fashion house's Haute Couture expertise, the re-issued 1932 'Bijoux de
Diamants' high jewelry collection and also highlight Chanel No. 5.
Note: Tiffany
highlighting its connection between the luxury brand and the New York City aesthetic
through their watch range. Chanel putting on an exhibit where they are focusing
on their high jewelry pieces; something important to the brand because the fine
jewelry was created by its namesake founder – Coco Chanel, a fact that the
brand would pride itself on.
Chanel is no stranger to
exhibition displays in the Saatchi gallery; I can’t wait until it arrives! See
you October 13!
On Saturday 11th July, I went along to the exhibition FIFTH & 57TH at Selfridges. It was all about Tiffany & Co. bringing 5th Ave to London. Now initially when I had heard about this exhibition, I truly did not know what to expect. I have been paying a slight attention to the brand ever since the arrival of its new design director Francesca Amfitheatrof as well as other changes throughout the company within the past three years or so.
I remember reading an interview on the NY Times site in NYC last year, Amfitheatrof’s vision for the brand was discussed as well as sharing her view about the consumers attitudes towards the brand based on its energetic and romantic history. I remember reading on the train in NYC, how interesting it was to see somebody comment on a brand like Tiffany. Amfitheatrof talked about the brand in a new way; what really grabbed me was a possibility of patterns overriding the infamous tiffany blue, also demonstrated in Tiffany T collection.
This got me thinking, if you were to take a position like Amfitheatrof as design director of a brand like Tiffany, what is there to do with it? Continue? If so, are you truly a design director or a replica director? What would you really expect to change around a brand like Tiffany? (That is a question for you and I by the way ^_^)
What I have notice about Tiffany really is the way the brand really connects it’s relevance to New York City. How powerful is that? With the launch of the Tiffany T collection, Amfitheatrof really showed the measure of the city in regards to the energy, daring personality and its power qualities in a graphic way.
“I wanted to create a symbol for modern life and its relentless energy that flows through New York and drives art and culture around the world,” she says. “This is just the beginning of what I hope to accomplish.”
Also in October 2014, their interaction with consumers over social media turned up one notch; Google+ hang out session with Amfitheatrof, model Coco Rocha, Aimee Song of Song and Style and Elle fashion news director Anne Slowey. These high-profile women took the pulse of the moment, sharing their expertise in media, fashion and design and reflecting on the wider world of art, style and culture.
I remember asking a few people I met out in NYC about the new appointments vision, and many said, if she doesn’t focus on what Tiffany is already striving in within the market, consumers wont react well, but will react quickly. Regarding my final project at university on Dior and Raf Simons; my research showed that consumers didn’t feel too pleased with the appointment of Raf because of his ‘minimalistic’ characteristics; however, his modernistic vision in the Dior woman of today continues to express the beauty of the female silhouette just like Mr Dior himself.
It’s all about modernity but clear references to the brands key values, and in Tiffany a rich heritage spanning over 175 years touching many pieces from home ware to engagement rings.
