Rick Owens': Primordial Postmodernism

Rick Owens
Evolution

‘Biblical, Brutalist, Bauhaus and Bakersfield…’

In these pieces, Owens’ particular vision of beauty and his idea of an anti-utopian environment become apparent. Owens’ anthropomorphic chairs are at once organic and architectural, forming the basis of his design credo. These pieces combine basic geometric forms – rectangles, squares, and triangles – deconstructed into the abstract essence of form. Like in the work of Le Corbusier, function or at least the appearance of function takes precedence over ornament. These sharp modernist lines and mathematical shapes are juxtaposed with the biomorphic - antlers flow from plywood. This evolution from man-made to organic is a recurring theme in the furniture of Rick Owens and this contrast is echoed by his choice of material. The economy of plywood meets the luxury of fur, marble, and bronze. The work is alive with a conflict that in a single piece of furniture appears to resolve itself. With the work in this exhibition, Owens has given us a glimpse of a world that is somehow part of the past and of the distant future. - Sebastian+Barquet

Born in 1961 Rick Owens founded his own fashion label in 1994 and in 2002 presented his first runway collection at New York Fashion week winning the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis Emerging Talent Award. In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. Rick Owens has emerged as a seminal figure in fashion and has stores in London, Paris, New York, and Tokyo. His furniture was first exhibited in Paris at Jousse Entreprise in the fall of 2007 and has subsequently been shown at art and design fairs including Design Art London, FIAC, Design Miami/Basel, and Design Miami.

If you're going to be in London or NYC, you can check out Owens' collection at Sebastian+Barquet

Rick Owens': Primordial Postmodernism

Rick Owens
Evolution

‘Biblical, Brutalist, Bauhaus and Bakersfield…’

In these pieces, Owens’ particular vision of beauty and his idea of an anti-utopian environment become apparent. Owens’ anthropomorphic chairs are at once organic and architectural, forming the basis of his design credo. These pieces combine basic geometric forms – rectangles, squares, and triangles – deconstructed into the abstract essence of form. Like in the work of Le Corbusier, function or at least the appearance of function takes precedence over ornament. These sharp modernist lines and mathematical shapes are juxtaposed with the biomorphic - antlers flow from plywood. This evolution from man-made to organic is a recurring theme in the furniture of Rick Owens and this contrast is echoed by his choice of material. The economy of plywood meets the luxury of fur, marble, and bronze. The work is alive with a conflict that in a single piece of furniture appears to resolve itself. With the work in this exhibition, Owens has given us a glimpse of a world that is somehow part of the past and of the distant future. - Sebastian+Barquet

Born in 1961 Rick Owens founded his own fashion label in 1994 and in 2002 presented his first runway collection at New York Fashion week winning the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis Emerging Talent Award. In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. Rick Owens has emerged as a seminal figure in fashion and has stores in London, Paris, New York, and Tokyo. His furniture was first exhibited in Paris at Jousse Entreprise in the fall of 2007 and has subsequently been shown at art and design fairs including Design Art London, FIAC, Design Miami/Basel, and Design Miami.

If you're going to be in London or NYC, you can check out Owens' collection at Sebastian+Barquet

Let There Be Light

They say that you can't buy happiness, but I don't buy it. Personally, I'd even settle for putting happiness on layaway!

Let me be so bold as to say that anything created by the hands of Michael Anastassiades will instantly bring joy to your life, and rid you of all pain and negativity.

Michael Anastassiades explores contemporary notions of culture and aesthetics through a combination of product, furniture and environmental design. Positioned between fine art and design, his work aims to provoke dialogue, participation and interaction. He creates objects that are minimal, utilitarian and almost mundane, yet full of a vitality one might not expect.

-S

Let There Be Light

They say that you can't buy happiness, but I don't buy it. Personally, I'd even settle for putting happiness on layaway!

Let me be so bold as to say that anything created by the hands of Michael Anastassiades will instantly bring joy to your life, and rid you of all pain and negativity.

Michael Anastassiades explores contemporary notions of culture and aesthetics through a combination of product, furniture and environmental design. Positioned between fine art and design, his work aims to provoke dialogue, participation and interaction. He creates objects that are minimal, utilitarian and almost mundane, yet full of a vitality one might not expect.

-S

Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo

It's Saturday, the perfect day to unload the essential information I've managed to save in my brain until this very moment. Two things I wanna put on the table: Mark Newson's Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo.

Ok, The limited edition Zenith chair by Mark Newson is an instant favorite! Here's the thing, I love aluminum, and I love limited edition. Limited edition, not in the sense of it being exclusive but in the sense that it's furniture expressed as art...real art.

Most importantly on the hunt for the Zenith Chair was that I stumbled upon Galerie Kreo. What is Galerie Kreo, here goes: Galerie Kreo is dedicated to artistic exploration in design, and has exclusive international rights to remarkable limited edition pieces by such luminaries as Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Pierre Charpin, Hella Jongerius, Jasper Morrison, and Martin Szekely. Galerie Kreo sees itself as a 'research laboratory'. In Paris, of course.

-S

SYI- Initially when I saw the Zenith chair, I thought it was furniture by Jeff Koons. Kinda reminds me of his statues.

Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo

It's Saturday, the perfect day to unload the essential information I've managed to save in my brain until this very moment. Two things I wanna put on the table: Mark Newson's Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo.

Ok, The limited edition Zenith chair by Mark Newson is an instant favorite! Here's the thing, I love aluminum, and I love limited edition. Limited edition, not in the sense of it being exclusive but in the sense that it's furniture expressed as art...real art.

Most importantly on the hunt for the Zenith Chair was that I stumbled upon Galerie Kreo. What is Galerie Kreo, here goes: Galerie Kreo is dedicated to artistic exploration in design, and has exclusive international rights to remarkable limited edition pieces by such luminaries as Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Pierre Charpin, Hella Jongerius, Jasper Morrison, and Martin Szekely. Galerie Kreo sees itself as a 'research laboratory'. In Paris, of course.

-S

SYI- Initially when I saw the Zenith chair, I thought it was furniture by Jeff Koons. Kinda reminds me of his statues.

MAGNI GOES METALLIC

With NYC's Fashion Week now upon us, it felt oh so appropriate to cover James Magni's latest creation: The Carlyle "Sting Ray" armchair.

The MAGNI Home Collection unveils the "Sting Ray” armchair in select designer showrooms this Fall. As you may know, James Magni's home pieces are inspired by fashion, and he often uses details such as "cufflinks" on armchairs or "stilettos" on legs to communicate this. The "Sting-Ray" armchair is keeping with the metallic trend we saw at NY's fashion week for fall/winter 09/10. From classic Carolina Herrera to Phillip Lim, Michael Kors, and Erin Fetherston, fashion's finest paraded metallic’s down the runway, lending a shiny luster to the year ahead. I thought you might enjoy seeing a comparison between the “Sting-Ray” armchair and the show stopping Carolina Herrera metallic gown (fall/winter 09/10 ready-to wear.)

-S