Loved this huge architectural installation in the courtyard of Chelsea College of Art as part of the London Design Festival in the capital this week. It is The Smile by Alison Brooks Architects. The Smile is made of tulipwood and is 34 metres long, and 3 metres high, and contains two 12 metre cantilevered arms which were engineered by Arup.
It has been likened to Noah's Ark, and it certainly felt like it as we were ushered in two by two.
Inside it felt very spacious, and was well lit with strip lighting running along the floor, and also through these small, oval port-holes. I was surprised how steep the structure was inside at each end due to the cantilevered arms. It took a mild effort to climb the steep arms of the structure to see the views at either end. The Smile is a really successful collaboration for all involved, and possibly the event/installation of the 2016 London Design Festival.
The Alexander McQueen A/W16 collection was showcased at London Fashion Week earlier this year. Butterflies featured heavily in this collection as did mythology, and images from surrealism as Sarah Burton took inspiration from the night, and wanted her models to seem 'as though they were sleepwalking'. As usual there was beautiful craftsmanship and attention to details and the resulting dresses were amazing. The level of ornamentation and decoration on the beaded pieces (at bottom) are truly incredible.
These large, wonderful textile hangings are the work of Malian artist Abdoulaye Konaté. He is a new discovery for me, and I really enjoyed exploring his work at this first UK showing at Blain Southern.
They are exquisitely composed fabric constructions that explore colour relationships and harmonies, and incorporate embroidery and tie-dye techniques, whilst making links between tonal colour gradations and musical tonalities - both elements which are important in Malian culture.
The cotton fabric strips that make up these works are dyed with vibrant, deeply saturated colours, and the strips that are tie-dyed intentionally resemble, and make reference to the naturally occurring veins and streaks found in the rocks and geology of Konaté's homeland.
There is something about these works that also reminds me of stylised Egyptian hieroglyphs and pyramid paintings, especially Goddess figures such as Isis, and also the structures of birds wings and the way their feathers are arranged and hang.
This is another show like Etel Adnan's, where the colours used really energise and uplift you. It really is a symphonie en couleur.
Abdoulaye Konaté: Symphonie en couleur
until 24th September
Blain Southern
4 Hanover Square
London
www.blainsouthern.com
