DESTIG.COM
ISSUE NO. 4
DESTIG CREATIVES WITHOUT BORDERS
DALLAS ISSUE
Ashima Collective
Michal Ashkenasi
Friedman Benda
Shane BishopÂ
Eve by Borzalino
Svetlana CameronÂ
When Thou Art in Dallas
Didier Faustino
Ferrillo x Moschino
Glib Franko
Joe Gadreau
Clinton Helms
Blue Italia
James Joy
Doroni Lang
Changyeon Lee
Jonas Leriche
Kevin Marty
Philip Noyed
Staj Olson
Motifs All Over
Oliver Perry
Maira Reinbergs
Jenny Richter
Hasti Sardashti
L'Atlas
Samir Mazer
Sam Shepardson
Tejbir Singh
Hanna Supertran
Jennifer Taylor
Inna Timokina
Eric Wiles
Waldfrieden
Art Highlights
Hot Picks
W.F. James
Wooden Story
DESTIG Awards
TEAM Mike Walters - Editor in Chief Yeliz Cilar - Managing Director John West - Head of Sales Mark Del - Corporate Business Development Andrew Stephens - Corporate Account Manager Alice Carreras - Client Manager Mark Billings - Accounts Consultant Marco Ranieri - Financial Control Zayne Walters - Intern Micah Sayed - Intern Ricardo Andrade - Intern
Published by DESTIG UK Limited.
EDITOR'S NOTE Some of the world’s most exciting artists: showcasing their works and sharing their stories, ideas, questions and approaches. Inspired by Dallas: 200 beautiful pages packed with invaluable interviews from London to California to Bahrain to the Ukraine… from Paintings to Digital to Photography to Sculpture… from Classic to Sci-Fi to Concrete to Fabric… simply a ride of joy!
Artists are struggling to CONNECT. Android and iOS tribes are highly-informed authorities with the narrowest of perspectives and interests… anaesthetised by data, trained by algorithms, hooked to the forever flow of square-shaped images… are we having the time of our lives or are we living through time? Great art heals and has the responsibility to rescue. It must reshape the online space to its advantage. DESTIG is committed to using the best tools for the maximal benefit of our artists. Thanks and Enjoy!
MIKE WALTERS (EDITOR)
ASHIMAÂ
SPECIAL FEATURE
Existing at the intersection of art and design, the Ashima Collective is a group of artists, designers and craftsmen who are passionate about creating artifacts born of material and function. Their expression gives rise to exploration of life’s subtler facets, inviting the viewer to join in the journey.
All works of art are sculpted in luxury concrete as thin as 1/8 of an inch. Each piece can then be founded into bronze, stainless steel, crystal or precious metals, allowing for the creation to be given whatever finish or patina was desired, providing each piece with near-immortality. To further increase the experience of the artwork, each piece crafted with luxury concrete can incorporate radiant heat and/or sound.
ASHIMA COLLECTIVEÂ An alchemy of life and inspiration.
MICHAL
ASHKENASI
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
"When I began painting I painted at random whatever my imagination had in stock for me. Now I paint in series around an issue that has my attention."
Tell us about yourself and background.
What makes your work and approach unique?
I was born in the Netherlands 1935,
My work is unique because of my
in 1951 I emigrated to Israel to a
style, the big fields of color and the
kibbutz in the Negev desert.
harmony of the compositions.
I am a widow, mother of 2 sons
An artist from 1987 after 3 years
Why is your work a good investment?
University in Haifa and 7 years
As to investment, I think it is a good
master- classes. I paint,
item for collectors. Â
photograph and do digital art.
For the layman it is a little
and grandmother of 5.
difficult to understand, but for a
Tell us about your work.
collector who can see the deeper
My paintings are abstract –
nuances of the colors it's an open
minimalists where color has a
book. Here in Israel I'm called 'an
dominant part. I paint in big fields
artist for artists '"!
of color with some small object in
without frills and leave it for the
Tell us about some of your achievements.
lookers to" feel" the smallness of us
My biggest achievement is that I
in the universe.
became an artist.
it. my aim is to show the meaning
MICHAL ASHKENASI
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
I came to art late in life. At the age 46 I began to paint and an artist friend who saw my work told me to go and learn because, as he said: 'you have talent!' I did as he said and never looked back.Â
What are your sources of inspiration? My inspirations are Nature, events in the world and my country, dreams and imagination.
What are you passionate about? I am very passionate about justice, about the same value for all human beings, about anti-Semitism and about my country.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. I'm a member of a group of 12 artists here in my town and 7 years ago we decided once a year to work around a topic and make a calendar, to sell this and give the money to the less fortunate people in our town. In order to do this every one of us makes a special work and aside of the Calendar we show the works, which are for sale too in a small gallery here.
Share with us your upcoming projects. Next month I will participate in an exhibition and auction in Montecatini in Italy. At the end of November until the end of December I will participate in a group show in Rome, Italy.
Tell us about where you are based. My home and atelier is in a small town 20km northeast of Tel Aviv. It's a very nice and easy place to live in, much greenery, trees and gardens. All facilities one needs are here, all shops and even 2 big centers for art and artisan items. I live in a residents house in which I have my apartment and my atelier. All facilities included, swimming pool, gym, a park. I'm lucky!!
MICHAL ASHKENASI
WWW.MICHALSART.COM
FRIEDMAN BENDA EXHIBITION
ETTORE SOTTSASS MISHA KAHN JONATHAN TRAYTE For its annual exhibition at The Salon Art + Design,
Like Sottsass, Kahn demonstrates how a functional
Friedman Benda will present, Dialogues, bringing
object can contain personality, energy and spirit.
two emerging voices in context with the
The presentation will include a site-specific floor.
groundbreaking Italian architect and designer,
London-based artist Jonathan Trayte (b. 1980) will
Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007). Focusing on three
present a selection of new works. “I grew up in the
radically different approaches and practices, this
80’s between South Africa and Yorkshire, spending
exhibit will bring focus to the breadth of each
a lot of my childhood in the bush. I had no idea who
designer’s expression, while contextualizing Sottsass’
Sottsass was, but his striking and experimental work
enduring legacy that informs generations of young
permeated through popular culture and influenced
designers and artists from across the globe.
so many. This cross-disciplinary approach to design
Dialogues will debut ambitious new works by Misha
and architecture is an inspiration,” says Trayte.
Kahn (b. 1989), who lists Sottsass’ “willingness to
A floor lamp, Velvet Straight-Neck, and vanity table,
swim upstream against conventional taste,” as a
Pink Mondi with Bomba Lamp, offer a fresh take on
continued major influence.
Sottsass’ eye-catching hues and distilled forms.
SHANE
BISHOP
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Portrait eyes that brim with life. Walls inviting you to live among them. Life caught in that moment of contact. The daily images of our life. Tell us about yourself and background. Growing up in a coal mining town in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, there really wasn’t much use for Art. Yet that is just what filled my 5 year old head as I sat watching pictures of Thumper from the Little Golden Books, emerge from my hand onto the
What makes your work and approach unique?
Why is your work a good investment?
what I saw has remained with me
A willingness to go where the work
It’s an investment in people. Our
to this day.
suggests; no matter how ludicrous -
society. Us. Anthropologists and
Including plenty of finger painting,
Historians have always looked to
and covering myself with paint for
historical contemporary portraits
I would say my work is
the Body Presses. I often work from
for an understanding of society at
predominantly ‘Contemporary
black and white photographs as
the time.
Realism’ with a focus on
this prevents any preconceptions
Technology brought us the camera
Portraiture.
about relevant or appropriate
and the subsequent decline in
Strong composition through
colour, allowing the work to
painted portraiture patronage.
a balance of detail and calm
dictate. I love the way colours sit
A camera sees in stark, naked light
pauses; rich in colour through
beside each other, which led to
and dark, with no room for
judicious complimentary
Caravaggio, Rembrandt, the study
interpretation, but a portrait
underpainting; confident line that
of Chiaroscuro, and the
painting can tell us about
understands its vital relationship
transformative green
ourselves.
with the canvas edge; and
under-painting of Verdaccio.
If a portrait “symbolizes the value
textural vibrations. From a facial
My approach to portraiture is akin
and worth of the individual in
focus to a broader interest in the
to rowing down a river.
society,” then what is that worth
narrative we act out in our daily
The character of the subject flows
when we are inundated with
lives.
in and out, with me gently guiding.
‘selfies?’
paper. The sheer joy of making lines and seeing them turn into
Tell us about your work.
SHANE BISHOP "If a portrait “symbolizes the value and worth of the individual in society,” then what is that worth when we are inundated with ‘selfies?’
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us about some of your achievements. It may be a cliché but to watch my son grow into a healthy, loving and incredibly creative soul is the biggest achievement. Exhibitions? Awards? Recognition? Everything else pales. Aside from that, I would say that continuing to paint portraits in the face of society’s growing disinterest has been the hardest, yet most fulfilling achievement.
What are your sources of inspiration? An incredibly creative mother, two brilliant and open-hearted teachers who recognised and encouraged my passion for Art so very early on. The usual suspects - Matisse, Shiele, Caravaggio, Munch, Dali, Close and Giacometti. I like the idea that art can be mostly self perpetuating, with little need of external inspiration. Though it can sometimes feel like our search for perpetual motion machines. Early 70’s Australia had ‘Jolliffe’s Outback Cartoons’ magazines. Inside were rare gems; charcoal portraits of Australian Aboriginals, which I copied. This may also be where my fascination for portraiture stems from.
What are you passionate about? We seem to have lost the ability to feel true empathy. Is it a lack of curiosity? Perhaps technology has stunted our imaginations as well as attention spans? Has political correctness replaced empathy? Spiralling so far out of hand we have become afraid to feel, say or express anything in case it ‘hurts someone’s feelings’. Yet it is our duty as artists to face this repression/oppression down with truth/confrontation. Recent interest in Astrophysics is perhaps a natural extension from a life questioning just where does inspiration, and indeed the capacity to create come from, and by extension, our place in this universe.
SHANE BISHOP TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. A woman approached me who had just given birth to a still-born child and wanted to commission a drawing. My initial reaction was that it would be too emotionally taxing, uncomfortable; yet as soon as I felt this, I felt how brave it was for this grieving mother who would never get to raise this child to approach me, to ask for something tangible to remind her of this life that almost was. It was one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done, and though I don’t think of it very often I like to think my drawing helps keeps her child alive for her.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I have been working on pen and inks for a few years now; though still fresh and fun, there is a tightness of line and space that has led me to look for a gentle diversion from the intensity of portraiture. This is where my fascination with textures has come to the fore. Combining traditional painting and drawing techniques with Trompe L’oeil effects combine to create these ‘Footpaths’. All those textures, patterns, and natural, random abstractions passed by unnoticed under our feet.
Tell us about where you are based. Australian light has an intensity that brings such richness to colours, particularly here in Victoria, hence why so many films are made in Melbourne. Warrnambool, where I live now, is just down the coast from The 12 Apostles, so being a tourist destination brings an influx of new faces to watch, capture and express. Warrnambool is also a University town; I studied here in the early 80’s, so there is the yearly intake of new students with their attitudes and ideas that spawns all sorts of creativity.
SHANE BISHOP
WWW.SHANEBISHOPART.COM
SPECIAL FEATURE
EVE BY BORZALINO Eve is is a nice and amazing armchair. An object to match with different solutions. The seat, large and very comfortable that grants more comfort thanks to the slight inclination. Romantic and adaptable to all environments, it is an armchair that combines elegance with comfort.
BORZALINO began in 1976 following the great artisan tradition that for centuries made famous the Tuscan craftmanship in production of furnishings and accessories. This immense know-how and the great wealth of knowledge and experience of the founder, Galeazzo Fedi, are today managed by daughter Cristiana and nephew Matteo, second and third generation, respectively. borzalino.com
SVETLANA
CAMERON
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Svetlana Cameron is a classically trained portrait artist dedicated to the revival of Old Masters' painting techniques. She specializes in portraiture in the style of classical realism. She is best known for her commissioned official and ceremonial oil portraits, as well as delicate life-like paintings of children in pastel.
Since 2005 my home has been in Great Britain but I work worldwide: my current schedule includes projects in six different countries.
Tell us about your work. I create realistic portraits in classical style, working primarily by commission. I am best known for ceremonial portraits and paintings of children. I have tried working in different genres and
Tell us about yourself and background.
techniques but my passion for classical
I am usually described as a ‘Russian-born British
portraiture has been so strong that I gave it all my
artist’, which is very true. However, I’ve lived in so
time and energy. I’ve been painting portraits full
many countries I often think of myself as a ‘citizen
time for the last 15 years. I also have a strong
of the world’. I was born to a Russian family in the
interest in painting fabrics and elaborate
former USSR, grew up in Latvia, Czech Republic
embellished garments, which makes me very
and Slovakia, went to high school and university in
suited for ceremonial portraiture and attracts
Russia, received my art training in Malta and Italy.
most fascinating commissions.
SVETLANA CAMERON TOP ARTIST 2018
What makes your work and approach unique?
was last year when I was commissioned to paint a
I practise techniques that are rare today as they
very important military portrait for the permanent
are no longer taught in art schools. My oil painting
collection of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (UK).
method is based on the traditional 17-century Flemish technique. I start with a detailed
What are your sources of inspiration?
monochrome underpainting and develop the
I draw my inspiration primarily from the great
image gradually by applying multiple layers of
figurative artworks of the past.
opaque paint and transparent glazes. This
I love exploring how artists captured their sitters,
technique creates visual effects that are not
what clothes they wore, what settings they chose
possible to achieve with modern direct painting
and why, how they resolved compositions and
methods. My pastel works are inspired by the
orchestrated lights and shadows. I can get
coloured chalk drawing of the Renaissance. I work
inspired by passages of masterful brushwork,
in Conte on toned paper and use a limited palette
graceful lines, subtle colour harmonies and
of only three colours – red, black and white – which
exquisite detail, meaningful props that contain
can produce a surprisingly wide range of subtle
hidden messages.
realistic skin tones.
When I work in my studio I think about what makes me stop in front of certain paintings, and I strive to
Why is your work a good investment?
create works that can potentially trigger similar
I believe that classical portraiture is a unique
emotions in people.
genre that has a timeless value and is above trends and fashion. People are always drawn to
What are you passionate about?
well-painted portraits because they are more than
I am passionate about reviving traditional
paintings: they engage the viewer and provide
aesthetics and standards of quality in art,
psychological insights into the characters of the
particularly in portraiture.
sitter and the artist. I try to create portraits that
Modern art is an interesting area of activity and
speak a universal language and communicate
experimentation, but I find a lot of it gimmicky and
feelings and ideas that will be as relevant in the
too focused on the desire to shock. I doubt many
future as they are today. I care a lot about the
of those works will survive the test of time as they
longevity of my works and use only premium quality
try to fit the trends that are fleeting, and also
archival materials and time-tested techniques.
because they are not made with archival materials. It makes me sad because what we
Tell us about some of your achievements.
create today establishes us in the eye of the
I would like to hope that my major achievements
posterity as a culture. I do not want future
are still ahead, but I’ve had a few moments that
generations to judge us solely by examples of
made me feel proud. One happened in 2016 when
modern art.
I was awarded the status of ‘Living Master’ by the
Fortunately, there are many brilliant figurative
Art Renewal Center in the USA, which included my
artists active in the world today and I am happy to
works in the ARC Museum of realist art and placed
feel a connection with them and to see that
me in the same league as many great artists I had
realism is appreciated again in the 21st century.
admired for years. Another memorable moment
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
Tell us about where you are based.
One of the most fascinating projects of mine was
I live on the south-eastern coast of England in the
a set of ceremonial portraits which I created a few
scenic East Sussex. Set in the private garden of
years ago while living on the Isle of Man.
our family home, my new recently opened studio
It began in 2011 when I was commissioned to paint
provides a very inspiring environment for me to
two Speakers of the local parliament called
work in.
Tynwald. I got an opportunity to meet very
The nearby towns - coastal Hastings and historic
interesting people and learn history of one of the
mediaeval Battle are both full of character and
oldest European parliaments which is more than
popular with visitors all year round. The history of
1000 years old.
this area is amazing and there are many
I loved painting the gold-embroidered ceremonial
picturesque ruins of Norman castles scattered
robes and elaborate props which really challenged
around the county.
my painting skills! Later I continued the theme and
London is only an hour away and I go there
painted several more artworks inspired by the
regularly to attend meetings and exhibitions.
Tynwald traditions, including a panoramic scene of national day celebrations with Manx folk dancers in the foreground. Three of those Isle of Man themed artworks are now on permanent public display and are officially part of the UK national collection of oil paintings.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I have always wanted to work on some interesting projects in Russia, it was my dream, and finally it has come true: I am painting two very famous Russian film and stage actors Sergei Bezrukov and Danila Kozlovsky. They are very different but both incredibly talented and charismatic, and I feel extremely fortunate to have a chance to meet such amazing people and work with them. I am also getting ready to paint Mr. Howard Quayle, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, a distinguished politician with a fine taste in art. My list of private commissions for next year includes a number of portraits I will be creating for clients in England, Scotland, Sweden, Ukraine and Italy.
SVETLANA CAMERON
WWW.SVETLANACAMERON.COM
DESTIG TRAVEL
WHEN THOU ART IN DALLAS Dallas delivers invaluable experiences for fans of the Arts thanks to the largest contiguous urban arts district in the USA.
M R O F
M R O F
The Dallas Arts District The Dallas Arts District is the largest arts
The Dallas Arts District has selected global
district in the nation, spanning 68 acres and 19
architecture, planning and design firm NBBJ to
contiguous blocks. The district is comprised of
create a new Master Plan for the dynamic
museums, performance halls, corporate
downtown neighborhood.
offices, residences, restaurants, churches and even a school. It now boasts buildings by four
In the last decade, the Arts District has seen
Pritzker Prize-winning architects within a span
dramatic investment, growth and changes and
of several blocks.
has become a diverse magnet for businesses, development, residents and tourists.
The district's architectural richness extends however, with examples of significant buildings erected as far back as the late 1880's, just 40 years after Dallas' founding.
DESTIG TRAVEL
Dallas Museum of Art:Â Located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the museum has a stunning collection with more than 22,000 pieces, spanning the third millennium BC to present day. Artists on display include O'Keeffe, Pollock, Rothko, Warhol, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet and more.
African American Museum: Housed in four vaulted galleries, this museum explores the African-American experience through exhibits and displays. The African American Museum is the only institution of its kind in the Southwest offering an impressive collection of African and African American art, featuring one of the largest folk art collections in the nation.
Nasher Sculpture Center:Â The Center, which was designed by Prizker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, is located on a 2acre in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. The museum was a long-held dream of the late Raymond and Patsy Nasher, who together formed a comprehensive collection of masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Miro, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, and Serra, among others.
WHEN THOU ART IN DALLAS
The Meadows Museum: The MM features a permanent collection of 15th - 20th-century art from Spain, as well as special exhibitions and a sculpture garden.
Crow Collection of Asian Art: Whether for quiet reflection in a serene atmosphere, marveling at centuries-old artifacts or gazing at unique works of art, the museum is an inspiring experience. Located in the center of the Dallas Arts District, the museum features exhibitions of arts from Asia. The gem of the museum is the breathtaking sculpture garden, home to 15 contemporary and historical pieces.
Frontiers of Flight Museum: From the Kitty Hawk to the Moon Walk, relive the History of Aviation amidst one of the world's finest collections. Over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, including 25 aircraft, 20 interactive displays, educational workshops, and regular presentations from space shuttle astronauts and NASA officials. See the Apollo 7 command module, a moon rock on display, the Bell "Huey" Helicopter or the most extensive collection of ejection seats.
DESTIG TRAVEL
The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection in Dallas was created in 2012 to house the Japanese armor of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller. Their ever-expanding collection is comprised of almost 1,000 objects, many of which are exemplary examples of samurai armor.
Irving Arts Center: The performing and fine arts community in Irving welcomed a new home in 1990 with the completion of the Irving Arts Center. The Arts Center's 10-acre complex, nestled in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth, features two fully-equipped theaters; four galleries; meeting, classroom, reception and rehearsal facilities; and a verdant sculpture garden.
Dallas Holocaust Museum/ Center for Education and Tolerance: Its mission is to teach the history of the Holocaust and advance human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Annually, more than 72,000 visitors tour the Museum and many have written, emailed or posted notes that their lives have been forever transformed by the experience.
DIDIER FAUSTINO - CLOUD SHELTER The humanitarian project Cloud Shelter, by Didier Fiúza Faustino, came into being after the September 2017 earthquakes that severely shook the town of Juchitán in southern Mexico. It is a volunteer project, carried out and financed by the Foundation Alumnos.
“Conceived like the shell of the armadillo, the structure of this architecture is comparable to a protective skin, ensuring the safety of the people in case of a natural disaster. Thanks to its elevated platform, people are protected from possible flooding, whereas the hammocks, which it shelters, provide dry refuge. They are mobile and may slide along the masts to meet the needs of the time. This particularity offers a clear open space when all of the hammocks are raised skywards, allowing the inhabitants to use the area and take up different activities”, describes Didier Fiúza Faustino.
A true gathering space of exchange and conviviality, the structure is able to host approximately 50 people. This bright and open space is thought of as an anchorage point for the community, a symbol of identity. An opportunity to make time and life more pleasant, moments more precious, to eat, to rest, to take refuge, to converse, to resist, to care for one another. A place suspended in time, with ones head in the clouds.
FABIO
FERRILLOÂ
FABIO MEETS MOSCHINO
The exclusive customer experience in the Moschino gallery store transports the visitor into an exciting and engaging dimension that accentuates the aesthetic impact of the collection and simultaneously contextualizes the brand's amazing artistic spirit.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Moschino is opening a new
connected through a two-story
Walls with a refined cement finish
flagship store in the heart of the
space and imposing curved
enclose the Italian terrazzo flooring
French capital on rue
staircase that becomes the focus
and accommodate a complex
Saint-Honoré.
of the architectural perspective.
system of translucent resin panels in delicate shades organized to
Creative Director Jeremy Scott
The street entrance with store
flexibly and dynamically display
wanted to transform the
window immediately projects the
removable satin-finish steel
magnificent late-18th-century
visitor into an emotional
shelves, racks, and storage
building in pierre de Paris into an
experience marked by the natural
elements.
exhibit-like space inspired by
reflections of the surfaces and a
modern art galleries.
double lighting system, composed
Rose granite and Plexiglas
by narrow luminous strips inserted
elements and bronze railings give
The new store concept, which
in the flooring and by a magnetic
the space an extremely
was conceived and curated by
modular LED system.
sophisticated and contemporary
architect Fabio Ferrillo in respect
look. The entirely customized
of the original essence of the
The lighting system was designed
furnishings also include steel
interior, covers 270 square
by the architect and developed
display cabinets, colored resin and
meters divided on two levels
with Flos to provide direct lighting
cement display consoles, and black
between the ground and first
throughout the space but also
matelassé leather modular
floors, which are visually
enhance surfaces directly.
sofas.
FABIO FERRILLO X MOSCHINO In the interior of the Rue Saint-HonorĂŠ store, these unexpected presences are inserted in the space like genuine works of art evoking the imagery and iconography of the fashion house.
INTERIOR DESIGN
From the ground floor, dedicated
impact of the collection and
Fabio Ferrillo developed his unique
to accessories, the presentation of
simultaneously contextualizes the
style in the most relevant interior
the collections continues to the
brand's amazing artistic spirit
design offices at first in Milan and
represented by oversized objects
then in Paris, specialized in the
like the ones seen in the boutiques
design of luxury interiors and
of New York and Milan.
commercial spaces for prestigious
first floor through a spacious display area with ready-to-wear lines.
Italian brands. Next to the balcony over-looking the ground floor is a private lounge with sliding pocket doors and two
In the interior of the Rue SaintHonoré store, these unexpected
After gaining experience in France,
presences are inserted in the
Fabio came back to Milan in 2010
space like genuine works of art
to establish interior and product
evoking the imagery and
design studio OFF Arch, focused on
iconography of the fashion house.
the sectors of luxury fashion retail,
Reproducing the shopping bag or
hospitality, institutional and
pump, this new version
residential interiors.
fitting rooms decorated with luxurious pale blue rugs and adjustable mirrors framed by a narrow strip of light.
The exclusive customer experience in the Moschino gallery store
dematerializes them into
transports the visitor into an
translucent silhouettes redefined
exciting and engaging dimension
by narrow luminous lines.
that accentuates the aesthetic
GLIB
FRANKO
DESTIG AWARD WINNER
Painting is the main genre of Franko’s creativity as it brings him some aesthetic pleasure. His work is fragmentary and experimental giving him the freedom to paint what he wants with no boundaries or limitations. Tell us about yourself and background. I was born to a family of artists, so art was always close. I always had a lot of paper, paint and free time. The first artistic institution was an art school, but as far as I remember I did not like it very much and did not finish it. In 2000 I entered the Department of Monumental Painting at Kosiv Institute of Decorative Arts. The institute is located in a mountainous town and that caused my love for travelling and mountains. In 2005 I entered the Department of Painting Restoration of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, where I got my Master's Degree. In fact, I wanted to get into the Department of Painting, but I did not pass the examination, so I chose the Department of Painting Restoration, which differed a little in its program. In some time, I had an opportunity to transfer to the Department of Painting, but it seemed to me that it was completely inappropriate, in my department I saw some freedom in creative terms not biased by the professor's policy.
GLIB FRANKO AWARD WINNER 2018
Tell us about your work. I work with such rather classical artistic practices as painting and graphics, balancing the boundaries between the abstract and plot lines of contemplation of natural landscapes and everyday situations. As a restorer of paintings, I have a deep understanding of the essence of the material with which I work, and I use it in my works. I strive for the expressiveness and self-sufficiency of form and color, leaving the possibility of the viewer's personal interpretation. I often experiment and observe the process, introducing in my painting elements of the drawing, graphics or even prints. I'm experimenting with the basics and material, combining various techniques, or just spreading the paint.
What makes your work and approach unique. The fact that I do it! )) In art, I always try to follow my own vision, my interests and passion, even if they are temporary. I studied at the academy methods and tools that help in creative expression. And of course, I do not want to limit myself to any one genre / style for the sake of deceptive recognizability. Finding a good approach, or creating a successful piece of work, of course, I want to work on it again, to develop the theme. However, I do not want to dwell on this stage, but I want to go on, experiment, and find new ways of creative expression.
What are your sources of inspiration? The process, the creative process, is the greatest source of inspiration, the driving force for which you wake up in the morning. This is a kind of magic action, a kind of meditation to which you definitely want to come back to again and again. Usually it is in the process of creativity that new ideas and methods of solving certain tasks and ideas come. I cannot help mentioning travelling, trips and walks. Direct communication with nature is precisely the infinite source of energy that does not cease to inspire us, to give new insights, ideas and forms of expression.
DESTIG AWARD WINNER Why is your work a good investment? In my opinion, investing in art is always a good investment. Especially if you invest in art not as a commodity, but as a living thing, in harmony with your inner world. Finally what differs between a work of art and the masterful work? The artist constantly travels along the edge while the master goes on an equal and safe path, I am not afraid of the risk of being unclear, therefore, I always go ahead of my artistic practice.
Tell us about some of your achievements. I do not even know how to answer, there were a lot of achievements, and they were all important to me, because they were a definite summary of the traveled path. These are exhibitions, competitions, honors, grants and sales. For example, the victory in the "New Ukrainian Landscape" contest and selling all six of my works at the competitive exhibition was a huge boost in the beginning of my creative career. Immediately after graduation, I won a competition for the post of a teacher at the Academy of Arts. In 2014, I got to "Gaude Polonia" program of the Polish Minister of Culture, it was a turning point for me, because in addition to art, I was engaged in restoration and teaching activities, which did not correspond to my internal interests. A few works have been purchased by the Polish Museum of the Folk Movement for their collection, and a large number of my works are in private collections in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Vietnam, England and the United States.
What you are passionate about? In fact, I am interested in the world in which we live and how we interact with it, interested in the processes taking place at the level of energy, and the cause of the consequential connection. As I already said, I adore travelling, I like to go to the mountains, especially on my own. Of course travelling with family or friends is exciting, it's always a new bright impression, and in travelling alone there is something special, it's another kind of meditation, a way of knowing yourself.
GLIB FRANKO AWARD WINNER 2018
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
materials for the continuation of the project in
To date, I have implemented a number of projects,
every trip. Each project work is my abstract vision
among which I want to distinguish three of the
of a particular location. I use geographic
largest, which were exhibited in different cities of
coordinates for titles to indicate the places where
Ukraine. Each project includes a series of works,
the work was created or started. I experiment
combined by one theme.
with the material, observe the process, in the
My first big series was the project - "Park
process I can apply several layers of paint, fold,
Fragments" which was devoted to the energy of
unfold or tear. I allow the environment (rain, wind)
space, it was a series of landscapes, where I
to interfere. This is a draft of the balance of
portray not so much visible and really existing
opposites and values, a certain "golden" way.
objects, but the interaction of space with them.
The possibility of posting works from this series in
It was introduced in the OntoArtGallery in Kyiv. The
the public space of a modern hotel in Colorado is
prints from this series, in collaboration with ArtLink,
being considered now.
were used to decorate a cruise ship. Another interesting project for me was a series of
Tell us about where you are based.
works "Blossom" on which I worked for almost three
I live and work in Ukraine in Khmelnytskyi.
years, it was a kind of picturesque study of the
This is quite an interesting city with a large
natural process of blossoming, where the central
number of art objects that have gained world
characters are the blooming plants. The show of
recognition. It's a pity that the city does not notice
this series has already taken place in Khmelnytskyi
them, but it is a reality of Ukrainian attitude to art.
Art Museum.
In the end, it is a young developing city with
I was so enthralled with this topic that I partly
almost 600 years of history, and with incredibly
continued it in the project "Botanicum", which
beautiful surroundings.
focuses on the emotional background more than the plants themselves, it is rather the visualization of the inner world in the form of portrait images of plants. This project was presented in the art gallery "Art na Mur" (Engl. “Art on the Wall”) in Ivano-Frankivsk.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I plan to participate in ArtLink exhibition projects, and shortly there will be an exhibition of my project, which is a kind of self-exploring "Antipodes, balance, walk on the golden line" in the gallery "Promprylad renovation"- "Assortment room". I started the project during one of the trips in the Carpathian mountains (where I really like to go with my wife and daughter), after which, I took the
GLIB FRANKO
WWW.SAATCHIART.COM/GLIBFRANKO
JOE
GADREAU
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
"I was born and raised in Baltimore Md. and have resided in the Laurel area for the last 18 years. At an early age I learned I could draw and was greatly influenced by the legendary comic book artist, Jack Kirby."
Tell us about yourself and background. I was born (12-24-1955) and raised in Baltimore Md. and have resided in the Laurel area for the last 20 years. At an early age I learned I could draw and was greatly influenced by the legendary comic book artist, Jack Kirby. I loved his double page spreads, which you can see in numerous of my fantasy paintings. When I discovered the grandfather of Fantasy art, Frank Frazetta, I had to learn to paint. I studied for 6 months in group sessions under a very talented female artist who taught me the basics of how to paint in oils.
Tell us about your work. My work displays my incredible imagination and many of my fantasy paintings illustrate the manuscripts I have written (5 in all). Along with the fantasy art, last year I decided to start painting landscapes, seascapes and wildlife which enabled me to display my unique color application. I have honed my craft over the years and recently explored new boundaries in painting. I put no limits on myself or my abilities and proud to proclaim myself a true artist!
What makes your work and approach unique? I feel that never having formal art education, it wasn’t drummed into my head this is the way you have to. I approach each painting differently and like to blend colors on the canvas. My colors are like no one elses, colors that no one has seen before. My composition is strong and I create great distance even in a painting as small as 8X10.
JOE GADREAU
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
I do not do any preliminary sketches, I sketch in
What are you passionate about?
paint and have often changed my original concept
I love being outside, I spend as much time at the
for the painting. A painting I did of “Thor” began
swimming pool in the summer as I can.
as 18X24 panel and grew into 6 panels and an
I am passionate about music, wanted to be a
48X54 masterpiece. I have developed some
musician, I play the guitar.
techniques that are unique, like placing a piece of
One of major goals is to share my Young/Adult
Plexiglas in front of a painting, then painting on
books (2 complete novels with 4 others in various
the Plexiglas to create a 3D effect. Also I have
stages) about the adventures of Far-up-Fred in
matted paintings, then used the center piece to
Tear Drop Land with the world.
create doors that when opened reveal the painting within.
Tell us about some projects you have delivered.
Why is your work a good investment?
I designed a CD cover for a local band, “Black
I believe my work is unique and I paint a lot from
Widow U.S.A.” They were my customers at Ledo
my imagination. Along with my manuscripts, 2
Pizza Laurel, It was by chance I found out they
books of poetry and 3 screenplays, it is just a
were in a band and needed cover art.
matter of time before someone realizes how
I wrote a young/adult children’s book, “The
talented I am.
Adventures of Whiney Erin in Tear Drop Land” and also painted the cover. It was published years ago
Tell us about some of your achievements.
by a local company.
I was runner up 2 years in a row in the Science/ Fiction cover art contests. I have been part of
Share with us your upcoming projects.
group shows and have hosted solo shows on my
I continue to display my work at “Olive on Main in
own. I have written 3 screenplays, all have
Laurel Md., “Ledo Pizza Laurel” and “Sullivan’s
received recommends, placed in the quarter and
Steak and Beverage Restaurant.”
semi finals of contests and even had an agent
I will have a solo show in October at “More than
from Lionsgate Films read a horror screenplay and
Java Cafe” and a solo show next June at Ranazul
said it was a well written elaborate script that
Restaurant. I will be part of group shows at the
crossed genres like no one else.
“Columbia Art Center” in October and “The Chesapeake Arts Center in November. All venues
What are your sources of inspiration?
are in Maryland.
As mentioned earlier I was greatly influenced by Jack Kirby and Frank Fazetta. My writings inspire
Tell us about where you are based.
me, especially my favorite character Far-up-Fred;
I am now based in Laurel Md. A wonderful city
a 3 foot tall lovable fearless bodyguard always
with many privately owned Mom and Pops shops
getting in trouble and in his mind he has never
and business and a Historic Main Street.
known defeat. Also I love music, listen whenever I
I have enjoyed a pleasant living experience and a
paint and now my greatest inspiration comes from
steady job in Laurel for the past 20 years and I am
my biggest fan and the love of my life Lauren. If it
well known throughout the community.
wasn’t for her I might have stopped painting altogether.
JOE GADREAU
WWW.JGADREAU.ARTSPAN.COM
CLINTON
HELMSÂ
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Clinton Helms is an award winning African American fine artist and Illustrator; who specializes in landscape, urban cityscapes, portraits, historical, and aviation art paintings in oils or acrylic. Tell us about yourself and background. I was born in southern Virginia in 1959, the youngest of twelve children. My father now deceased was a farmer, World War II Army Veteran, and Automotive technician. My mother was a house maker and later a factory worker now retired. I started drawing and painting at an early age. After high school I attended Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and left to go into the military. I graduated twenty years later in 1999 with a BFA degree in Illustration. In 2001, I retired from the United States Army Reserves with over twenty years of service to become a full time artist. In 2007, I received my MFA degree in Fine Art from Marywood University.
CLINTON HELMS
Tell us about your work. I create what some people in the
What makes your work and approach unique?
Why is your work a good investment?
art world would call a realistic/
I like to create a scene that draws
I believe that classical
classical representational style of
people in and move them around
representational paintings are a
paintings exploring mostly
making them feel like they are a
unique genre that has a timeless
contemporary themes of today’s
part of the painting. I always start
value and is a recording of history
society, the world, and the events
with a detailed pencil drawing
in our times. People are always
that shape our history.
working from the darkest value
drawn to well-painted landscapes,
My goal as an artist is to create a
tone to the lightest tone. This
urban cityscapes, and portraits
memorable moment in time using
technique allows me to create a
because they are more than
oils or acrylic paint while trying to
visual tonal effect that helps in the
paintings; they are recordings of
master light, and shadows like the
painting process to follow. The
our history that engages the viewer
Old Masters’ and various Artists
drawing is sealed with fixative spay
by providing a psychological insight
from the Golden Age of
and covered with orange acrylic
into the beauty of the world.
Illustration. I am able to achieve
paint. When completely dry, I start
I try to create paintings that speak
this by using the technique
the painting by working from
a universal language and
of starting with a good
background to foreground. I work
communicate feelings and ideals
foundational drawing as the basis
primarily in Oils on gessoed mdf
that will last a life-time. I care a lot
for my paintings.
panels or canvas.
about the longevity of my works
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
and use only premium quality
when five of my paintings were
color harmonies and exquisite
archival materials and time-tested
placed in pertinent collection of the
detail that sometimes contain
techniques.
United States Air Force Art
hidden messages. When I’m in the
Collections.
classroom or working in the studio,
Tell us about some of your achievements.
I talk about what makes me stop to
Like most visual artists, I would like
What are your sources of inspiration?
to hope that my major
I draw inspiration primarily from
capture similar emotions in the
achievements are yet to come, but
some of the great artists and
viewer.
I’ve had a few moments that made
artworks of the past. I am hugely
me and my family proud.
fascinated by the works of Norman
What are you passionate about?
One happened in 2015 when I was
Rockwell, N.C.Wyeth, Edward
I am very passionate about how
awarded 1st Place Winner of the
Hopper, John Singer Sargent,
artists are viewed in today’s
Landscape with Life Category in
Thomas S. Buechner, and Burton
society. When I was a young child
the American Art Awards
Silverman. I love how these artists
my dream was to someday become
Competition in California USA.,
are able to capture the viewers’
an artist. I am fortunate to have
placing my work in the same
attention in a painting by carefully
had very good art teachers and the
league with many great artists
orchestrating lights and shadows in
support from family and friends to
from around the world that I have
their work to tell the story. I am
follow my dreams. I am often told
admired for years. Another
inspired by their masterful
by some of my students that their
memorable moment was in 2012
brushwork, graceful lines, subtle
parents or someone else in the
look at certain paintings, and I try to create works that can potentially
CLINTON HELMS
family did not think they should
following year as one of six east
Colonial Beach, Virginia. I would
choose art as a career because
coast artists to document the British
love to someday do commissioned
most artists never make a decent
Prime Minister; David Cameron visit
paintings, shows, and painting
living and that most will never gain
to Washington DC., to attend a
workshops worldwide.
recognition or fame until after
March Madness college basketball
death.
game with President Barack Obama.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
Tell us about where you are based. I live in the western tip of
One of the most fascinating
Share with us your upcoming projects.
projects came during my senior
I am currently in a group exhibition
Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William
year in college at Virginia
Art Show with the Colonial Beach
Gooch, 1st Baronet of England.
Commonwealth School of the
Artists’ Guild in Virginia, where I
It is stepped in Colonial history and
Arts, when one of my professors
have received an Honorable
nestled between the Blue Ridge
and mentors selected me for a
Mention Art Award for one of two
Mountains, Charlottesville, and
paid commission to paint a large
painting in the show. Four months
Richmond Virginia.
historical painting for pertinent
ago, I had a solo exhibition of
The history of the area is amazing
display in the Army Transportation
twenty-six paintings at the
and a beautiful place to live and
Corps Museum in Hampton,
University of Virginia Hospital in
Plain-Air paint.
Virginia depicting a scene from
Charlottesville, Virginia. I am
I have been a resident of the county
Americas’ First Foreign War.
currently working on paintings for
for the past nine years since my
In 2009 I joined the LA Society of
an upcoming solo exhibition in May
marriage to Ella B. Helms, who was
Illustrators and was selected the
of 2019 at Dockside Reality in
born and grew up in the county.
Goochland County, Virginia which was founded in 1728 and named for
CLINTON HELMS
WWW.CANDEARTSSTUDIOS.COM
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JAMES
R
JOY
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
"My goal is to create a haunting image, that will resonate with the viewer in a deeply emotional and spiritual way. To find some truth in mood and feeling that will link us together."
Tell us about where you are based, I'm based in Chicago, one of the great cities of the world!
What makes your work and approach unique? Tell us about yourself and background.
I never went to art school or took an art class. I'm
My name is James R. Joy. I was born in Chicago in
a self-taught which I believe allows me a great
1966, and have lived in this great city ever since.
deal of freedom in my expression and originality
I'm a self taught artist who began drawing at age
in my technique. I have not been bogged down
ten, and painting with watercolor around age 25.
with art school theories and therefore can focus purely on conveying the mood of the piece.
Tell us about your work. I'm a watercolor painter. I enjoy doing figurative
Why is your work a good investment?
works, landscapes and city scapes. But no matter
My work, although personal to me, is universal in
what the subject is, I always try to create a
it's themes. And therefore everyone can relate,
haunting image that at it's core finds truth in mood
and it's also simply well done art which will stand
and emotion. With the purpose of making a deeply
the test of time and be popular long after I'm
profound connection with the viewer.
gone.
"I BELIEVE ART IN ALL IT'S FORMS IS OUR TRUE SALVATION AS A SPECIES. IT'S THE LIGHT IN A SOMETIMES DARK WORLD."
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us about some of your achievements. I currently have a painting on display at the Kentucky Watercolor Society annual exhibition in Louisville. I've had two successful solo exhibitions at the Saltcreek gallery in Brookfield, Il. I'm a member of The 119TH STREET ARTISTS and display my work in their group shows at Cornerstone Gallery in Whiting, In... And I do commision work.
What are your sources of inspiration? I'm inspired by the every day life that surrounds me, and I find great inspiration in other art forms like music and literature, film and photography.
What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about the healing power of artistic expression and it's important role in society. I believe art in all it's forms is our true salvation as a species. It's the light in a sometimes dark world.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. Just this past August I hosted "Music to My Eyes", a 119TH STREET ARTISTS all music themed art show featuring live performances from several local musicians. It was big success. Last year I was commissioned by musician Phil Angotti to do the art for his solo album, "Such Stories". I was also commissioned by Chicago Jazz Guitarist Tony Richard's to do several watercolors of his favorite jazz musicians. The paintings were very well received.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I have a group show coming up next month with The 119TH STREET ARTISTS, "The Oliver Brown Exhibition", at Cornerstone Gallery. In November, I'll be doing a series of plein air watercolor paintings in Monticello, In. And I'm also currently working on a watercolor graphic novel which I'm also writing.
JAMES R JOY
WWW.JJOY.ARTSPAN.COM
DORONI
LANGÂ
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
A self-taught glass artist living on Vancouver Island. Coming from an urban environment in Montreal, she became totally captivated by the rich, lush island landscape of the west coast.
Tell us about yourself and background. I started my life as a dancer, embracing the joy of movement, flow and energy. Now as an artist I am always trying to translate that into glass. Early on, I was fascinated by the perceived dichotomy between sciences & maths and fine arts. My university studies began in fine arts but I was soon drawn to maths and sciences; attracted by the play of being able to give structure to the world of abstract concepts. While teaching statistics and calculus, I so enjoyed working with students, I found myself drawn to the study of psychology and counselling and spent the majority of my career working withÂ
DORONI LANG
children and families. I realized
trees and florals that can stand
around me. I am drawn to
that as I navigated the years of my
alone or be hung. These works are
challenges and glass is an exciting
life, I kept coming back to art as a
created with thousands of pieces
and at times puzzling medium to
of cut glass which are layered and
work in. In many ways it mirrors
means of grounding me through the joys and challenges of life. Amazing teachers, family and friends along the way inspired me, starting me on this journey. I have worked in many mediums but it is glass that has riveted me.
Tell us about your work. I do large and mid-sized abstract vessels and forms that echo the movement, power and colours of
fused repeatedly to get a textured and dimensional feel. Another area I enjoy is casting glass using a lost wax technique. This method allows me to create solid, three dimensional forms such as a majestic polar bear in crystal
nature; you can only do so much to it, before it simply shatters or collapses due to extremes of heat and pressure. As such, I find it is critical to work with the glass, respecting the limits of its structure but also pushing through perceived boundaries.
glass or a vibrant seahorse in ocean blues.
I blend casting methods with traditional fusing and am constantly trying to invent new ways of seeing
in shades of blues, greens and
What makes your work and approach unique?
violets, reflect the energies of the
I think what makes my work
waters and are made in multiple
different is that I am always trying
threatened creatures in Hawaii, I
firings over many days.
to push boundaries and find new
wanted to capture their magical
I also do rich, textural landscapes,
ways of creating what I see
and enchanting qualities in glass.
the seas and oceans. These pieces
and creating. An example of this is a Seahorse Series. After watching these incredibly beautiful and
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
I found a way of blending glass
It’s very much like life… and for me
and movement into my glass.
with phosphorescent powder so it
personally, it allows both sides of
The lush thickness of the leaves in
would be translucent in the
my personality, creative and
the forest, the smooth and solid
daytime, reflective in the evening
technical, some play time.
rocks, the depths and rush of the
(or in low light) and phosphorescent (glow in the dark) at night.
waters, are all rendered into the
Tell us about where you are based.
medium of glass. Vancouver Island has some of the
I live and work on Vancouver Island
most beautiful gardens anywhere,
What draws you to glass?
in British Columbia, Canada. It is a
so florals are also one of my
Working in glass by its nature is an
place teaming with natural beauty
favourite themes.
incredible blend of both science
in its forests, ocean and mountains.
I want to invoke in the viewer, the
and aesthetics.
Coming from an urban environment
feelings and sensations that I have
With glass, you can have this
in Montreal, this region took my
from these landscapes and
beautiful vision in your mind of
breath away. It also gave me the
seascapes.
what you want to create but the
inspiration and resolve to create
The creatures that reside in these
physical properties of glass as you
pieces that reflect the beauty and
environments are also captivating
heat it to temperatures of over
fragility of the area.
for me…whether it is the power and
1800 degrees Fahrenheit, will
resilience of a polar bear or the
not. As the artist, you have to
What are your sources of inspiration?
navigate between those structural
Most of my pieces evolve from my
limits and your creative desires.
surroundings. I love putting texture
determine whether it is possible or
delicacy and grace of a seahorse, I want to translate those characteristics into glass.
DORONI LANG Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. There have been a number of earthquakes recently that have brought tremendous loss of life, land and property.
I wanted to design a piece that spoke to the power, fragility and essence of the earth we live on. I created the Cracked Earth Series in glass.
These pieces are made of cuts of various sized bronze iridescent glass embedded with amber and gold crystals and fused together to represent the crust of the earth and its core. The Cracked Earth Series have sold world wide, have been featured in a decorator magazine. They hold a special place in my heart.
Why is your work a good investment? Glass is always a good investment. These pieces have a vibrancy and energy and can stand alone or elegantly compliment paintings and sculptures. I am humbled and proud to be in local and international galleries and have my pieces in private and corporate collections worldwide.
DORONI LANG
WWW.DORONILANG.COM
CHANGYEON
LEE
DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018
"I cultivate technology as a solace for human spirituality in a form of new media arts." Tell us about yourself and background. I am an New York City based award-winning artist and director of studio god’s gift. I live and carry out my artistic practices in New York City; Las Vegas; Seoul. I achieved my Master’s degree in New Media Arts (ITP) at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with full years grants, and received National Scholarships from South Korea's Government. As a Data Artist/Net-Artist and Kinetic Media Artist, I cultivate technology as a solace for human spirituality in a form of new media arts.
Tell us about your work. Using mechanical components and flowers permanently preserved by myself, I[studio god’s gift] transplant ‘breathing,’ the most basic phenomenon of life, into physical object in an
What makes your work and approach unique?
Why is your work a good investment?
My artistic practices are directed
"my gift is my breath. take this
towards investigating the potential
breath. to you, my god's gift.” To
of New Media Art as a “metaphor”
your beloving ones, present “A
for the establishment of a belief
Thousand Breaths,” a breathing
system to overcome the basic
object with your unique respiration
fears of humans.
pattern data as a metaphor of
Unlike the concern shown in the
perpetuity of your existence
novel “1984” by George Orwell, I
against the transitory nature of
intend to demonstrate that
life. Present “A Thousand Breaths”
technology is not focused in the
at STUDIOGODSGIFT.COM
confrontational relationship with humans for destroying humanity.
aesthetics of ‘motion amidst rest.’ My works are articulating ‘breathing’ as a metaphor for the perpetuity of existence consoling the transitory nature of life.
Tell us about some of your achievements.
I inquire into the possibility of
In 2018, I won the grand-prix artist
technology as an new spiritual tool
from IYAA, and I am selected as a
for the consolation of humans,
participating artist in the 2018
relieving them of their universal
SCOPE Miami Beach Art Fair in
fears.
the United States.
CHANGYEON LEE AWARD WINNER 2018
Recent displays of my work include exhibitions at
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
the Museum of Moving Image New York;
"Are We Being Fucking Serious?" - Net Art / Data
Interactive Corp(IAC) at Chelsea in New York
Visualization on 183,947 Global Terrorism Data
City; Doosan Gallery at Chelsea in New York
Since 1980 “183,947” is the number of terrorist
City; Schwules Museum Berlin; 150th Memorial
attacks on earth since 1980, the year that John
Day of the Civil War of United States New York;
Lennon was murdered.
Gwanghwamun plaza/square, Seoul Metropolitan Government, among others.
I invite all the dreamers, like me and you, and Mr. & Mrs. Lennon, to this website at
What are your sources of inspiration?
AREWEBEINGFUCKINGSERIOUS.NET
My work, “A Thousand Breaths,” is initiated from a poem written by myself.
I have exhibited film rolls that I took from the 183,947 locations of terrorism attacks, since 1980.
at the end of everything, beginning of everything
As a data artist who wants to ‘imagine’ with other
becomes distinct.
dreamers like Mr. & Mrs. Lennon and you, I intend to maintain this website forever with annual
it was my breath. While i was waiting for the
database updates on yearly occurred terrorism
arrival of my end, this thought occurred to me;
attacks.
I want to hand my breath to my you.
the world being with you was a field all in flowers. Wandering in our field, I have prepared to inbreathe eternal full of life into the scenery of us. It was the only thing I would, should, could do before someday, the end of everything, arrives from somewhere, at sometime, or sadly by some other people, not by ourselves.
even though I have already been aware that this world is not correct, my reason to live, to survive always, it was you.
to my you, I want to present this. the thing that i will keep until the end of my everything.
my gift is my breath. take this breath. you, my god’s gift.
DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018
What are you passionate about? The Letters To A Young Poet from Rainer Maria Rilke arrived to me some time ago.
“confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. must I write? And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must", then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your whole life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse.”
Yes. I must write. I must try to say what I see and feel: Perpetuity against Transitoriness, Imagine against Violence, and The Sun Also Rises against Regret.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I will present my “A Thousand Breaths” kinetic sculpture series at SCOPE Miami Beach Art Fair, one of the biggest contemporary art fair in the world this coming December 2018. Also, I am participating in another International Contemporary Art Fair, called Artrooms, with A Thousand Breaths Series, this October 2018.
Tell us about where you are based. I reside and create in New York City, Las Vegas, and Seoul. I also exist in cyber space wandering for my Data-Art / Net-Art creations.
Visit and wander with me at: STUDIOGODSGIFT.COM
CHANGYEON LEE
WWW.STUDIOGODSGIFT.COM
JONAS
LERICHEÂ
INVITATION TO ANÂ INWARD JOURNEY
Larger than life The scenarios I create go far beyond the individual or the anecdotal. My aim is not merely to create an aesthetically appealing photo, but to create something larger than life. That is why I transform individual models into dramatic, iconic figures that tap into a deeper level of experience, melancholy and mortality. The real quest, however, is to discover true inner beauty, mysterious beauty for the viewer to gradually unravel.
JONAS LERICHE
Authenticity and artificiality
Photography is just a medium
Invitation to an inward journey
Even at a young age I was
Transforming emotions, intentional
After years as a fashion
fascinated by the beauty of
or unconscious ideas into gripping
photographer, I felt an emptiness,
nature, and it has exerted an
images: this is what matters to me.
and something calling me. It was
elemental pull on me ever since.
Constructing my photographs layer
time to take the journey inward, to
This authentic experience stands
by layer, with meticulous attention
transform. Photography was the
in shrill contrast with the world in
to detail, I compose my vision of
only way for me to make this
which I have lived and worked for
beauty. Taking the actual photo is
journey. Delving into the rich layers
the last decade, a world
but the final stage of a long,
in my photographs enables me to
dominated by mere appearance,
deliberate process, punctuated by
connect with deeper layers in
social media posturing and
flashes of inspiration. This is why I
myself. My authentic self. It is a
superficiality. The driving force
consider myself an art director first,
dramatic, ongoing and even vital
behind my work is the desire to
and then a photographer.
process. My ultimate wish is that
inject the rawness of nature into
my Art works will also awaken my
the seamless, controlled
viewers to a process of
perfection of my photographs in
reconnection with the essential.
order to undermine the facile gaze of viewers unaccustomed to scratching any deeper than the surface.
leriche.be
KEVIN
MARTY
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us about yourself and background.
For my most recent work I create very large
I am from Seattle, WA, and currently live in
(Giclee) prints- some 15-20 feet wide- using a 36
Southern California with my wife and 3-year-old
megapixel Nikon D810 to create panoramas with
son. I finished my MFA in Photography through the
excellent detail, and stitch them together with
Savannah College of Art and Design during 2017.
Photoshop. The dominant subject of these prints
I also earned my M.S. in Geology during 1994 at
is landscapes/seascapes.
the University of New Orleans, and B.S. in Geology
Prior to my MFA work, I created many images
during 1991 at Central Washington University (in
while working as a photojournalist. I used a
Washington State).
mixture of film and digital cameras, traditional
For the past 14 years I have worked as a geology
darkroom and Photoshop methods, to complete
professor at a community college in Southern
my assignments. In general, my work is about
California. Prior to that I worked federal
investigating the natural world for its beauty and
government jobs and as a photojournalist in
meaning in our lives.
Southern California.
*The Salton Sea is a mistake, formed when a levy burst along the Colorado River over 100 years ago
Tell us about your work. For my MFA thesis work, I created images using two of the oldest photographic printing methods: salt prints and cyanotypes. I aimed to show the intersection of science and art; the balance of chemicals, water and light that are central to both photography and the sustenance of life. The subject for my thesis work is the Salton Sea, California’s largest lake that is degrading and evaporating away from drought, water transfers and neglect. I strive to capture the beauty and complexity of this place- its fleeting moments and the traces of accelerated entropy- to show what is lost to time. The salt prints reference preservation, and the process itself is a literal nod to the chemical composition of the sea and signifies its remains or trace as evaporation lowers sea level and exposes crystalline shorelines. Unpredictable spotting signifies deterioration from the human touch* and links the sea to the lab and art to science. The cyanotype photograms (showing, for example, bones and feathers of dead birds and fish that litter the shoreline) document trace “fossils” and reveal blueprints that function as visual remainders.
"THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE AND ART; THE BALANCE OF CHEMICALS, WATER AND LIGHT THAT ARE CENTRAL TO BOTH PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE."Â
KEVIN MARTY TOP ARTIST 2018 What makes your work and approach unique? For my MFA work, it’s an approach used by the first photographers who found a way to fix an image on paper and create the first negatives; it is uncommon for photographers to use these methods today. In a world saturated with images from a wide variety of devices, I take a few steps back to the darkroom, and to camera-less prints when I make photograms. There is satisfaction in being involved in every step of the process to create a very unique print. While I do create digital negatives, there is technique involved in creating the optimum contrast/density of these negatives for the “printing-out” process. I brush the chemicals such as salt solution and silver nitrate on watercolour paper and together with the digital negative, expose it to sunlight and burn in the image that is then developed and fixed in the darkroom for a print. Also for my MFA work and current work I create very large (Giclee) prints as described above. My approach is one of investigation and inquiry; passion and inspiration; science and art: I observe and sometimes intervene with natural processes and features, and nature will reveal itself and do everything but push the shutter of my next photograph.
Why is your work a good investment? The process to create salt prints and cyanotypes produce nice archival quality prints that create a historical or nostalgic quality whether the print is made today or is a couple centuries old (I can apply these methods to a client’s digital images if requested although the quality would depend on the original image and file size). The large Giclee prints, including panoramas, are very detailed and excellent archival quality. While the Giclee/digital and film prints are relatively easy to reproduce (but can be limited to a series), the salt prints/cyanotypes are one of a kind.
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us about some of your achievements. Completed my MFA in Photography, 2017 (Savannah College of Art and Design); thesis show at a gallery (Tiendique) in El Centro, Ca (2017); exhibition during 2018 at the Juanita Salazar Lowe Art Gallery, Imperial Valley College, Imperial CA; Showed work during 2016 at the Maryland
My cyanotype work is inspired by
Federation of Art Circle Gallery.
the work of Botanist Anna Atkins.
What are you passionate about?
For my work as a photojournalist,
I am also inspired by the work of
I am passionate about hiking,
several images were published in
Susan Derges who creates
backpacking, and the light of
magazines and major newspapers
photograms of river water (by
storms; the struggle at the Salton
(such as Popular Science;
submerging the printing paper).
Sea, hidden lakes of the Sierra
Christian Science Monitor and Los
The natural world is my overall
Nevada Mountains, the desolation
Angeles Times). Many images
inspiration.
of Death Valley and tectonics of
picked up on the Associated Press
Geology and art inspire me to
the Pacific Northwest. I like the
wire and used by media.
experiment and produce work
view from the trail and backroads.
emphasizing the art in science (or
I am not an environmentalist per
the science in art). Landscapes/
se, but believe in many
seascapes have their natural
environmental causes and
The landscape photography of
beauty from the interactions of
preservation of national parks.
Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell
solids, liquids and gases through
I also believe in altering the land-
were my early inspiration. Later,
forces of continual change.
scape through the Earth work
and through my MFA work, I
The consequences of these forces,
interventions of artists such as
became inspired by the Earth Art
such as mountains and weather,
Smithson, Heizer and Goldsworthy;
Movement and conceptual
are captured at various moments
and through the science of mining
photography of the 60s and 70s.
of construction and destruction; of
to extract energy and mineral
The Earth art, for example, of
renewal and entropy.
resources while exposing episodes
Robert Smithson, Michael Heizer
I am inspired to investigate this
of the Earth’s history. I am also
and Andy Goldsworthy- I love their
with my camera and inquire into
passionate about social programs
style of intervening with nature, or
the meaning of these moments for
in place to help people; that
recreating it for their idea of how
a better understanding of our
everyone is equal and should be
is should or could be.
world.
treated that way.
What are your sources of inspiration?
KEVIN MARTY TOP ARTIST 2018
Share with us your upcoming projects. I am continuing my work on creating very large prints using panoramic techniques on a variety of themes, mostly related to nature.
Tell us about where you are based. I am currently based in Imperial Valley, CA, about 100 miles east of San Diego, Ca., and in the rain shadow of the Peninsular Ranges. The latitude and mountains create a harsh desert environment where temperatures are over 100 degrees for several months of the year.
Features here include California’s largest lake (the Salton Sea); the Imperial Sand Dunes (the location of much filming); numerous desert ranges; a large gold mine and geothermal plants.
Southern California’s light can be amazing!
KEVIN MARTY
WWW.KEVINMARTYPHOTOGRAPHY.ARTSPAN.COM
PHILIP
NOYED
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
"I utilize digital design and contemporary printing technology to create color and light art using abstract photographs mounted on acrylic, fused on glass, or acrylic tubes to create LED light installations."
Tell us about your work. My art is on the edge of technological advancements spanning printing, lighting, photography, video, mirrors, 3D glasses viewing paintings and virtual reality. I create art experiences that place the viewer in the art.
Tell us about yourself and background.
I want the art to have a sense of awe and
I am the consummate explorer. I am from
inspiration that both challenge viewers to see
Minnesota, majored in Asian Studies at Hamline
anew while creating a sense of surprise and
University. I lived in Japan for three years learning
delight while in the experience. I use colors
ceramics, calligraphy and Noh theatre. I also
knowing that they have a psychological and
studied photography and film making and created
physiological effect on people.
experimental films. I have been on the cutting edge of digital design as a Creative Director. My art
What makes your work and approach unique?
career spans ceramics, geometric abstraction oil
We are immersed in an ocean of images. I reject
paintings, blur motion photography to create
the world where the rectangular image is a
geometric images lit by lights, projections of
representational gateway into a “reality.” I create
moving images and light installations.
art experiences focused on perception – 2D, 3D,
PHILIP NOYED TOP ARTIST 2018
light, color – as colourful geometric photographic
power of color and where viewers are central to
shapes on the wall, as mobiles lit by natural light,
the experience. I want to create art experiences
as photographic sculptures, as large-scale light
that surprise, delight and bring a sense of awe to
experiential forms, as experimental light videos/
all people.
projections and as virtual reality experiences where viewers enter an art universe. It’s about
What are you passionate about?
interacting directly with the art as a
I am passionate about … the ways art heals
transformational experience.
people in many ways. Creating art to find a visual way to express
Why is your work a good investment?
feelings. Using art to shine a light on experiences
We live at a point in time. My art is on the cutting
that help illuminate a cause. Experiencing art in a
edge of 21st century art technology focused on
way that brings a sense of awe and wonder and
human experience and perception. The multi-
enlightenment through exposure.
media art I create awakens curiosity and
Public art providing broad communities with
challenges perception – 3D paintings, geometric
something more inspirational than functional
photo sculptures, dancing light projections, light
architecture. Art in hospitals reducing stress and
sculptures, translucent mobiles – all expanding
providing meditative areas for both patients and
what art can be. As I have seen already, all will
medical staff. Art heals.
increase in value as they are more widely known.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. Tell us about some of your achievements.
I created installations at the Minneapolis – St. Paul
Major achievements include being commissioned
Airport. The 50’ long “Leap of Joy” was meant to
to create two large-scale art installations at the
convey the sense of joy and magic of travel and
Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport, create
moving forward with life. “The Aurora Borealis”
the Rainbow Pyramid Light Experience for the
brings the colors of the Northern Lights to life in
Northern Spark Festival and being a featured light
the airport. “L’Etoile du Nord” or “Star of the North”
artist at Art Miami. I won the Exposure Award in
is meant as a beacon to say that anybody of any
the Ultra Color Collection and my image was
race, religion, sexual persuasion or nationality is
presented at the Muse du Louvre. I have been
welcome in Minnesota.
featured in TV shows, radio shows, magazine and newspaper articles and art websites … and, of
Share with us your upcoming projects.
course, the DESTIG Top 20 Artists of 2018 award.
I’m planning to build the Rainbow Pyramid for the Bahrain Light Festival in 2019.
What are your sources of inspiration?
I’m also working many new exciting projects. A
Art and technology are rapidly changing. I am
large-scale light installation called The Rainbow
inspired by new ways to create light and color
Sonata. New 3D paintings and geometric
experiences and love being on the leading edge of
illumination photographic sculptures and mobiles.
exploration and creation. I love color theory and
A new video based on light dancing on water that
the fact that color affects people psychologically
I’m editing now. And, I’m working on a new Virtual
and physically. As an artist, I create knowing the
Reality installation.
Tell us about where you are based. I’m based in the bold north: Minneapolis, Minnesota. The unique aspect of Minnesota is that we enjoy a vibrant art, music, theater, film and digital design scene. We have world class printing technology, lighting technology and acrylic and metal fabrication capabilities. We have great museums and galleries showcasing contemporary art and fascinating historical art. The community supports the arts vigorously creating many opportunities for artists.
PHILIP NOYED
WWW.PHILIPNOYED.COM
STAJ
OLSON-IGNEOUS
DESTIG AWARD WINNER
"Igneous is the pursuit of leading creative design in heated luxury concrete freestanding soaking tubs. Our fiery passion and rock solid techniques create the highest quality pieces for a luxurious relaxation experience. We hand-sculpt functional art pieces in a world of monotony." Tell us about yourself and background. I need something worth doing, because I find not doing things right to be intolerable. Â So, if my plan is to do it right, it must be worth pouring myself into. It cannot be a mundane reproduction or regurgitation, simple and easy might kill me. Simple and easy would probably be the hardest thing I ever tried to make myself do since it would be so insincere. If other people can do it better, why dedicate my time to it? I applaud them for their gifts, while searching for my own challenges and relevancy. Â
STAJ OLSON AWARD WINNER 2018
Tell us about your work.
I have come to a happy truce. Everything left is
Once I have a worthy target, design (a sexy word
what was always meant to be. A wonderful
for my concrete engineering) begins. These are the
collaboration between medium and artist, it will
greatest days for me, challenging my own straw
become anything I ask of it but concrete will
men, fleshing away anything that isn’t nailed down
always have terms and conditions, it leads me to
or doesn’t fight back. It’s a joy ride to chase the
the correct conclusions I just have to be willing to
dragon, holding onto its tail and not giving up until
finish strong and stick with it to that very last
it is tired. In each functional art piece I create, my
moment. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
private satisfaction is to argue with the concrete about what will remain.
Why is your work a good investment? I have invested my life in learning the best industry
What makes your work and approach unique?
practices known. I have applied years to R&D in
Concrete is amazing. It holds onto its true nature
this field to discern the limitations and potential.
and will not allow its character to be erased, only
I approach every task as a fiduciary for the end
enhanced. Stubbornly I erase every mark or flaw
user. Finishing strong is an obsession, a key
that looks man made to me. This wonderful fight
component of who I am. Everything I make is not
brings out the best qualities of the concrete. When
finished until it is heirloom or legacy quality that
changes can no longer be made, the concrete and
can affect the lives of my patrons for generations.
DESTIG AWARD WINNER Tell us about some of your achievements. I have discovered methods and means that allowed me to create “luxury concrete”. Luxury concrete, while living and embracing life is extremely resilient and difficult to damage. It is able to be maintained as is for generations. It can be as thin as 1/8 of an inch and I am pleased to have been able to innovatively incorporate many new advanced technologies. I have been blessed to be supported, welcomed and appreciated by those far above my starting point.
What are your sources of inspiration?
provide a path for myself and
The result is magnetic, when visitors
The concrete inspires me, the way
others to be genuine and
glimpse this private space from the
Bruce Lee advocates “be water my
considerate. I desire to create a
entryway they cease speaking and
friend” and lists the qualities of
corporate culture that encourages
just walk towards it and start
water I bleed grey. No matter how
those around me to be themselves
touching it. To have created
much time I spend with concrete it’s
and provide their unique skills to
something that calls so strongly to
potential still exceeds me, it
improving others lives.
people is the highest compliment of
encourages me to dream more, imagine more and attempt more. I deeply enjoy manipulating human
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
my efforts.
Share with us your upcoming projects.
interaction with light, water and
The first free standing shower I
sound.
created was an act of faith by my
I debuted my newly incorporated
patrons over 6 years ago. Their faith
Bluetooth sound systems at
What are you passionate about?
in me was transformative. They
WestEdge Design Fair in Santa
I am passionate about people,
shared a desire for me to recreate
Monica California. My displays
finding places I can make
a slot canyon where they had fallen
allowed visitors to see, feel and
improvements to their lives. I believe
in love when they were children.
hear these innovations personally.
we all exist with unique skill sets
From the stereo typical napkin
Everything about my craft beyond
meant to better the lives around us.
sketch to the final unveiling the
the aesthetics is challenging to
I am hurt by the concept of
masterpiece was exactly what they
convey when not in person. I deeply
“sheeple” telling everyone to
wanted because they were allowed
enjoy introducing everyone to
conform and be the same, deny
to walk the course with me for 28
unimagined improvements, and
their true gifts. I deeply desire to
days from tear out to first shower.
nearly unlimited potential.
Tell us about where you are based. My private studio is at my home in a high mountain valley near Bozeman Montana . . .it is transcendent. A wooded hillside, babbling stream with multiple waterfalls providing the music of life and an expansive grassy meadow. Day or night just stepping outside is a salve to whatever I am facing. Having the opportunity to be present in my family’s daily life, picnics or hikes at lunch with them is unashamedly the number one “why� for what I do now.
STAJ OLSON - IGNEOUS
WWW.IGNEOUSBATH.COM
MOTIFS ALL OVER @ GALERIE VIA PARIS
In French, the motif is «that which sets in motion» lines and thoughts. The word itself evokes both a reason for action as well as the subject of pictorial work, the graphic ornament decorating a frieze or material. The motif is the offspring of creation »
EXHIBITION SPOTLIGHT
From the 20th of September to
The VIA and Nelly Rodi’s
Carré, Moustache, Ambiance
the 4th of December 2018 the
exploration of motifs is delivered
Dressing, Koché, Tarek Benaoum…
VIA will present a commission of
under 5 themes: Frenetic Florals,
Nelly Rodi with original
Typo Manifesto, Stunning Sketch,
In French, the motif is
scenography by Döppel Studio
Chromatic Luminescence and
sets in motion
showcasing a 360° view of motifs
Expressive Geometries. 5 creative
The word itself evokes both a
and furniture. An exhibition
universes each illustrated with a
reason for action as well as the
aimed at decrypting the
selection of pieces from the best
subject of pictorial work, the
resurgence of patterns, the
French contemporary creative
graphic ornament decorating a
invasion of floral or geometric
studios and editors. Notably, you
frieze or material. The motif is the
forms from clothes to wallpaper,
will find the Ronin Chair edited by
offspring of creation
as well as the unavoidable
La Chance, the interactive
the Parisian prospective agency.
presence of drawing, from
installation Aura Inside garment by
It is a cross-disciplinary lifestyle
materials to the structure of the
Clara Daguin, the Mursi coffee
subject illustrating the break down
furniture itself.
table by Piergil Fourquié for the
of borders between the furniture,
Gosserez Gallery, the Copies
interior architecture and fashion
The exhibition presents the motif
Originales from studio 5.5 or the
sectors, thanks to French
as an alphabet with which space
Cinetism Shelf by Charles
savoir-faire and the creativity of
is built, with which a message is
Kalpakian for the BSL Gallery as
designers.
conveyed.
well as others such as Cuir au
«that which
» lines and thoughts.
» summarizes
MOTIFS ALL OVER The exhibition presents the motif as an alphabet with which space is built, with which a message is conveyed.
OLIVER
PERRY
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
The English artist Oliver Perry proposes a language composed of outbursts of extreme creativity which permit him to produce works of intense figurative richness.
Tell us about yourself and background. I started painting and sculpting quite young, being imprisoned in a cold draughty English boarding school, my one means of escape was to spend my evenings in the art block, I was quite prolific, doing everything; photography, ceramics, painting, sculpture. Anything to avoid the tyranny of the boarding house. I used to spend hours there. My father worked in the oil industry so I was fortunate to travel the world as a kid, so I got to experience all sorts of different cultures, and at that age you just soak up information. After school I managed to argue my way out of a place at The Slade, but didn’t let that stop me. I’ve been working on my painting ever since.
Tell us about your work. My work is in two and a half distinct styles. A figurative approach, an abstract line and I’m now embarking on a 3D painting escapade that is in its infancy, but
having shown it to a few people in
Golden Section/Ratio while
the know, the response has been
elements of the Laws of Vibration
favourable. The different styles
make up the remaining philosophy.
feed of each other, and you can
They are two elements that the
see the lineage through all the
brain resonate with. Colour is also
work. There’s a constant fight
massively important and colour
between geometric structure and
theory was fundamental in my art
free flowing organic application of
education. It is key to making a
paint. It has elements of cubism,
body of work harmonise, let alone
an underlying hint of abstract
individual paintings. Once you
expressionism all held together
have the basis of the painting
with a dash surrealism.
down, that’s when you can start to break the rules, working into the
What makes your work and approach unique?
painting over and over, letting it evolve naturally. It becomes an
There is an element of science to
interesting juxtaposition between
my work, the base structure
the control of the geometric
adheres to the principals of the
shapes and the evolution of ideas.
OLIVER PERRY TOP ARTIST 2018
Why is your work a good investment.
What are you passionate about?
Over the last few years I’ve won the American art
Away from painting I also have a love of
Awards on a number of occasions, it’s voted for by
photography, but again keeping it as abstract as
the top 25 U.S. galleries, so they must see
possible, it’s amazing the shapes and textures
something in my work. I’m represented by a gallery
that are all around us, it’s just a different way of
in New York of the back of it. I also represented
seeing them. Next to that the state of the planet
Britain at the Florence Biennale, and have shown in
is a great concern to me, as with so many of us.
Florence after that. I’ve also shown at a number of
I avoid anything with palm oil in it in respect to
other galleries in Europe. Hopefully I’m building a
the plight of the orangutans, I love the majesty of
decent following. With the new 3D pieces I’m
elephants, and fear for their survival, in both
making I think I’m on to something really original,
cases here, you look into their eyes and see such
and a number of art professionals I’ve shown the
amazing beauty and understanding. I can't
prototypes to have agreed. And finding something
believe people can go about killing them for
truly original is a rarity in the art world. I just need
pleasure. But then again we’re happy to kill each
to produce more now.
other on a whim so it’s hardly surprising. I also avoid plastic wherever possible, people say, oh its
Tell us about some of your achievements. Having exhibited across Europe and the US, I’m happy to announce that I have some very well-travelled paintings, I just wish that I could have followed them around myself. Being shown by the Opera Gallery in two different countries was amazing, representing Britain at the Florence Biennale and meeting and discussing my work with Tim Marlow was a revelation, but just being in the position to sell my work to people and receiving their feedback, and how my painting effects them emotionally is unbelievable. You never quite believe it’s happening. It’s all rather humbling.
What are your sources of inspiration? Inspiration comes from everywhere, as an artist you study everything, be it how other artist apply paint to the way shadows work in the trees or how the sun works on the clouds. But there are obvious references to cubism in my work. As a kid I also spent a long time looking at sculpture, and I think this can be seen in all my work, even the more abstract stuff, I think it’s important that you can imagine yourself walking through the canvases.
only one straw or one bottle, but when it’s eight
"ONCE YOU HAVE THE BASIS OF THE PAINTING DOWN, THAT’S WHEN YOU CAN START TO BREAK THE RULES, WORKING INTO THE PAINTING OVER AND OVER, LETTING IT EVOLVE NATURALLY."
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
billion people saying that, its quite a lot of crap thrown out. If we all make little changes, big things can happen. Other than that, good food, fine wine and great company are essential elements to surviving the quite solitary life of a painter.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. Over the last 5-10 years, it has all been one project, just different elements to it. Thoughts and ideas bleed into one, it becomes a natural progression. I never go about planning for one distinct goal, it’s all evolutionary, and I’ve been lucky that along this journey I’ve been selected to show my work at home and abroad.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I’m currently going off on a slight tangent to the abstract work I’ve been doing, the painting will consist of an underlying photorealistic image, but then a frenetic abstract outburst will dominate the canvas. In the preliminary paintings they almost look vandalised. It’s an interesting way to continue the theme of control and disorder found in my other work. With more space and time, the continuing development of the 3D paintings is revealing some exciting results, new materials and experimentation driving the process forward.
Tell us about where you are based. I live and work on the banks of the mighty Thames. Far enough away from London to allow me to concentrate, while being near enough to enjoy all the fruits the Big Smoke can provide when it takes my fancy. We have a lovely, eclectic bunch of neighbours here, rubbing shoulders with the Clooneys, Jimmy Page and Uri Geller there must be something creative in the water round here. Our local exhibitions often see them paying a visit, and my last show in the village gave me the opportunity to chat with PM Theresa May and her husband about the merits of abstract art.
OLIVER PERRY
WWW.OLLIEPERRY.COM
MAIRA
REINBERGS
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018 Tell us about yourself and background.
Tell us about your work.
I was born in Riga, Latvia. As a small girl I loved to
My paintings are explorations of colour and line.
dance (I still do) and did piles and piles of drawings.
I strive to capture their illusiveness, subtleties and
Summers I spent in the country at my grandfather’s.
mysteries. Often music influences my work; lines and
There I was given total freedom to roam the
colour variations express movement, continuity.
beautiful meadows, fields of rye, the apple orchard,
My life had had its share of turbulence and sadness
the river bank. Maybe that is why I became an artist
– maybe that is why I want my paintings to express
– being so much by myself, immersed in the beauty
harmony, beauty, serenity.
of nature. During WWII my family had to flee and we left our homeland and the people we loved. We
What makes your work and approach unique?
sought refuge in Germany – there we lived in 8
I do not follow trends in art, but stay with my own
different camps for “Displaced Persons”. In 1951 we
soothing vision. The art critic for the Lake Placid
emigrated to the United States and settled in
News put it very succinctly: “If there is purpose to
Boston. After receiving a BFA from Massachusetts
her work, it is to wash away with a stroke of her
College and I began working as commercial artist,
brush all that is ugly, cacophonic and strident, and
did freelance illustrations and painted as much as I
all that would anger the soul. She succeeds
could. Due to my husband’s job, we relocated four
admirably”
times: from sunny California, (where our daughter
In the past I worked with oils, watercolours, fabric
was born) to a rural area of Massachusetts, to wintry
dyes, hot paraffin. In 2005 I developed my present
Lake Placid, NY. Since 1980 we live in Attleboro, MA.
technique, which I think is quite unique. I handprint
MAIRA REINBERGS
or paint on muslin. Then I cut out the interesting pieces, arrange them in a way that pleases me and adhere them to canvas or panel. This technique allows me to create effects that I could not achieve otherwise, and it also introduces a chance element. It is a time consuming process, but I love it.
Why is your work a good investment? The purchase of one of my paintings is an investment in beauty and serenity. Many of my collectors have told me that they look at my paintings frequently,
I just have to paint. I love living
nature, and I get to experience all
with my works, and the people
the seasons through my windows.
who own my paintings also love
I do not paint nature directly, I
them.
observe and then paint the
sometimes even daily, and every time it lifts their spirits. Years ago I took part in a National Exhibition called “Images that Heal”. Indeed, beauty heals.
Tell us about some of your achievements. My creative process happens slowly and deliberately. Therefore each completed painting is an achievement and pleasure. Also, I have juggled my artistic career with family responsibilities and other very long interruptions. Nevertheless I always come back.
essence, sometimes much later.
What are your sources of inspiration?
What are you passionate about?
Colour, lines, music.
The sea - after a trip to the Greek
I notice lines everywhere on
islands, which to me were
sidewalks, streets, tree branches,
spectacular, I did some sketches of
reeds in ponds etc.
the sea. I still think of them as my
Music - medieval religious music,
“little masterpieces”.
baroque composers, ethnic music,
Dancing - Greek dancing, belly
opera, Latvian folk songs. The right
dancing and many others.
music puts me in another world.
music. Music is in all my paintings.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
Colour, mostly from nature - I
I used to create stage sets for
absorb colour with my whole
plays and Latvian events, such as
being. My studio is surrounded by
poetry readings etc. The stage
I simply cannot paint without
"I DO NOT PAINT NATURE DIRECTLY, I OBSERVE AND THEN PAINT THE ESSENCE, SOMETIMES MUCH LATER."
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
sets allowed me to explore large formats. Sometimes I would incorporate my large paintings into them, or my small ones were projected onto the screen.
I avoid shows with themes. The one exception is a painting I did for an exhibit with a theme “Possessions, Prized and Otherwise”. I decided to paint my grandfather of whom I have very beautiful and painful memories. Painful because he chose to stay behind when we left Latvia. I incorporated a photograph of him in the painting, surrounded by sunlit meadows, waterlilies in the river, basically my childhood. It was a very difficult and cathartic process for me. This painting won a significant prize.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I will be exhibiting three paintings at the Baltic Centennial Celebrations in Boston. Besides that I will be continuing my autumn series with “Ode to Autumn #5” and many more. I feel that my best work is still to come.
Tell us about where you are based. I live in Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is partway between two vibrant arts communities: Providence, Rhode Island, 30 minutes away and Boston, Massachusetts, which takes an hour to reach. Attleboro itself is a quiet residential town, a very convenient place to live, safe place to ride my bicycle. I do this summer evenings to enjoy the sunset - the many coloured clouds. We will probably stay here because my daughter, son in law and granddaughter live only an hour away and because here is my studio which my husband built for me.
MAIRA REINBERGS
WWW.MAIRA-ART.COM
JENNY
RICHTER
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
"I am not here to participate but to transcript. Therefor my most familiar state of being is solitude. To feel secluded is my most cherished and painful frequency."
Over the years I branched out and acquired many trades- a sculptor of wood, glass and elements (snow and sand) which gave me a solid understanding of proportions space and the geometry of beauty, a contractor specialized in
Tell us about yourself and background.
decorative plasters and ornamental façade
I was born in East Germany and while I belong to
restorations which taught me to be of service
the last generation that has an active memory of
with humility and discipline as well as a highly
growing up in Communist Germany, I am glad it
trained hypnotherapist which gives me the ability
only lasted through my early childhood until it got
to disable the perception filter of my mind and
broken down by The People. I value freedom and
connect to my subconscious as well as our
independence over everything. It is an interesting
collective consciousness.
experience to see a system that crept into every aspect of daily life fall apart.
This rather unusual multilayered set of skills now serves as my foundation to create art pieces that
I spent my wild years in post-unification Berlin when the city was an adventure playground for the Creatives, the Misfits and the Idealists. We had everything except for money. While Berlin marked the only time and place in my life where and when I felt truly at home I disconnected when I moved to a valley in the Dolomite Mountains/ Northern Italy to study wood carving. I now follow my former teachers on social platforms as they exhibit their amazing work worldwide. They are the best.
I briefly studied with Odd Nerdrum who at the time I considered the last master and only person worth learning from. My time with him was short but I learned so much. I met my Philly husband in Berlin when he hired me to recreate art deco- ornaments for a façade renovation he oversaw. We have that project documented on our website: oldeworldcraft.com
So I came over to the States and moved in with my #1 man in Philadelphia in Germantown- of all places. I was born a painter as creating paintings is my true expression.
go further than being a visual product.
JENNY RICHTER TOP ARTIST 2018 Tell us about your work. My work simultaneously seeks and provides understanding. My pieces are little messages from our collective to ourselves created through me. I tap into my personal core to deliver images that tell a universal story. I hope for people who see my images to recognize something familiar, a fraction of their memory of their deeper nature to be triggered.
What makes your work and approach unique? I have arrived at a point in my life where I no longer am consumed by pointless beliefs, patterns or desires that still seem attractive in our society. I understand that I solely exist to observe, create and ultimately remember. This gives me and my work value and meaning.
Why is your work a good investment? In these times where we experience an overwhelming flood of noise and imagery it is important to emphasize and value content. Â We all seek value and we feel the need to proof our own. It can be seductive to do so through external accessories. Instead we need to value our humanness over everything. We are vulnerable creatures of infinite potential. My work is a contribution and an element of our Zeitgeist. It plugs into the current segment of our timeline but exists beyond it. When you invest in a piece of art it is important to evaluate the piece beyond its current time, it has to be strong enough to stand beside pieces of the past and the future.
Tell us about some of your achievements. My website www.jennyrichter.com is a sufficient reference for my creations and projects. What I really feel is an accomplishment though is the clarity and independence I have gained through years of solitude. I could not have shared my work at an earlier point as I would have gotten attached to the need of being validated by others. I am also proud that my husbandÂ
"WE NEED TO VALUE OUR HUMANNESS OVER EVERYTHING. WE ARE VULNERABLE CREATURES OF INFINITE POTENTIAL."
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
and I have created a solid life foundation for our best creation2 little Padawans- while we both came from broken families and started with nothing. Raising kids means your focus shifts from being the center of your own universe to constantly prioritizing another being. So instead of living in the creative flow I have to micro-organize and live with a tight schedule. As someone who highly values independence, alone time and pondering about the bigger things this is hard and I am proud I am doing it.
What are your sources of inspiration? My ideas spawn inside my head and then take on a life of their own. I got this line of images in my head that are waiting for their turn. Because I have a very finite amount of time available raising 2 young kids I constantly need to prioritize. Some images have been waiting for years, others squeeze in and give me this urge so they get bumped up and turned into an art piece right away. It can be a teensy moment or feeling that triggers an entire image creation and I often have to catch up on fully grasping its meaning myself.
What are you passionate about?
why we are afraid of our own sovereignty.
I see our civilization standing at a
Why do we prefer to outsource our
decisive dividing point of power
personal power by handing over
distribution. The proclivity how we
our responsibilities? Why authorize
transfer power within the macro
our religious leaders to hold power
structures of our society lies within
over our own spiritual journey or
the micro tendency to transfer our
commission doctors to be in full
personal power. Politically we are
charge of our healing journey?
witnessing a tuck a war between
Why do we determine our worth by
corporate capability to claim and
our material amassment or our
distribute resources while creating
lovability by how much we (or our
dependency versus a movement of
social media avatars) are being
social activism working towards a
validated by others?
humane and fair distribution of
The biggest power we possess is
resources creating an upgraded
our attention. What we pay
society of unbound individuals.
attention to we validate.
Personally I am convinced that our
That is why I hope my artwork
monopolized power hierarchies
contributes a little part to bringing
will eventually fail because they
more attention to the vast nature
aren’t viable and therefor will no
of our being, to trigger self-
longer serve us. However an
reflection and focus onto the
upgrade to a society of sovereign
magic of our reality.
individuals starts with questioning
Thank you for Your attention
�
JENNY RICHTER
WWW.JENNYRICHTER.COM
HASTI
SARDASHTI
DESTIG AWARD WINNER
Making art is for her an attempt to stay in the here and now - a vital practice to maintain stability, calm and fluidity. Making art is having a home, where she can connect to the most genuine of her existence. Tell us about yourself and background. I was born in Tehran (Iran) during the 1960s. I was 14 when the Iranian revolution started and like many young people in my generation I was also an active part of it. I believe this event had a very crucial
ect of the rest of my life. After so many years, there is still a strong feeling there like being ready to
e
pack and run at any time as things can change rapidly from one day to other. I feel like I have only my toes on the ground rather having both my feet on the ground!Â
HASTI SARDASHTI
I left my country in 1984, forced by the situation and on my parents wish ending up in Germany.
I found me there with a high amount of depression and guilt towards the country and people I left behind who stayed and had to
ght for their lives
there. The ‘Migration, Survival & Guilt” series can be seen as an attempt to express my feelings of survivor guilt which has been hunting me all through my adult life.
rst ‘approved’
Tell us about your work.
I would turn the image in my head
From the time the
Describing my art is for me like
from 2D to 3D, observing it from
image arrives on the canvas till the
describing a part of my body that I
di
end, this process of changing and
cannot see! like my nose for
searching for a meaning for it or
developing will continue.
example, I know it is there and it is a
something could
part of me, I see a shade of it when I
outside world.
fferent angels, while I keep t the image in
Somehow I see myself as a kind of tree maybe a fruit tree and see the process of my image making as the
look inward but I actually cannot see it as I can see the other side of my
I would search online for symbolic
process of the organic develop
body like my hands for example!
meanings of things I see in my
-ment of a fruit: from the time the
head, or searching pictures online
tree blossoms over to the time the
t the part of the
My work starts with a strong image in
which would
unripe fruit gradually rips up until
my head. Me or parts of me seem to
image etc. I then might print and
the fruit is ready to be separated
be always somehow the centre of
look at these pictures and involve
from the tree. However for me
the image either as itself or as an
these in my original image.
unlike with the ripe fruit, the process of development and growth are
observer. In this process I will keep re -
never ending with my images.
This initial image will develop over a
arranging the image in my head till
period of time which might take from
I feel the time is ripe to bring it on
For me once my image is presented
a week, to a month or even to over a
the canvas. I will then do some
to the audience it will start a never
year. During this time the image
simple sketches or doing some
ending process of becoming more
continues to grow and develop in my
measurements in traditional ways
alive, more interactive, or maybe
head.
in order to organise the process.
more interesting and mysterious.
DESTIG AWARD WINNER
What makes your work and approach unique? I don't believe in uniqueness as such. I rather believe that the humans and their cultures are very much connected to one other. I believe there are more things which are unknown to us than known. Maybe when the audience
of my work see a re ection of these unknown in themselves it will appear to them as unique which might not be unique at all. Having said that, maybe me not following any particular genre or method and just doing what comes in my mind, might make the uniqueness.
Why is your work a good investment? That is the question I need to ask
What are your sources of inspiration?
Tell us about where you are based.
You!
It is all me! me and my inner world
I am based in London/UK the
and how I feel and see things
city I could call ‘Home’ after leaving
around me!
my country in 1984.
Tell us about some of your achievements.
rst
Despite all the political and social
I never thought that I can be there
What are you passionate about?
changes the country has been
where I am now considering the
I am passionate about humanity,
through in the last few years which
long and unusual way I went so far
justice, nature and all the beauty
has been also a
in my life. I never thought that my
which is surrounding us.
can not imagine at the moment to
art works are going to be seen or
ffecting my city, I
live anywhere else.
ever I have achieved so far like any
Share with us your upcoming projects.
acceptance for an art fair or
I was asked by a gallery to join their
environment like London where I
publication or this award, means to
Art Basel room at Aqua art Miami
can be invisible and do what I am
me as a huge achievement, I am
during the upcoming Art Basel
best at which is 'observing’!
very thankful to.
Miami this December.
liked by professionals. Hence what
I need to have a vibrant, lively, imperfectly odd or strange big city
HASTI SARDASHTI
WWW.HASTISARDASHTI.COM
COLLABORATION
L’ATLAS X SECRET D’ATELIER Street artist l’Atlas imagines a graphic collection for
The distinctive and innovative perception of this
Secret d’Atelier (the first French luxury floor design
artist’s typography inspired Secret d’Atelier to
house).
associate with him for the design of this brand new parquet collection.
This unconventional designer very keen on writing and calligraphy mirrors this particular interest into
Genuinely smart and offbeat, la collection L’Atlas
his work by his own typography, the final goal being
will
to frame a universal language by merging geometric
touch but also in more traditional interiors to which
shapes with abstract art.
it will add a scent of originality.
Works as graffiti and painted facades made him
The exquisite combination of classic parquet with
widely known; moreover Jules Dedet Granel gets
modern art makes it possible for Secret d’Atelier to
invited by famous brands and houses such as Perrier,
create an exotic and bold collection, in perfect
Agnès B. or Maison Guerlain to bring an alternative
harmony with the current trend.
touch to their collections or stores.
t perfectly in an urban interior bringing an arty
SAMIR MAZER - MOROCCAN CLAY TILES To draw a shape with repetition as its purpose. Samir Mazer is an artist who has chosen Moroccan clay tiles, their irregular and sensual surfaces, to create rhythmic patterns. “The repetition of shape and color upon a zellige tile is a musical exercise. It is like drawing a pixel, creating a module and then sampling it to make a track”. An exercise that remains all too difficult and too discrete to be saved from frequent copies by big brands and creators lacking the foresight and mental skill to plan out the sequence of shapes in space.
Made in Fez ever since the 12th century for the quality of its clay and the ease with which it may be carved, the zellige compositions imagined by Samir Mazer and produced by Ateliers Zelij offer formats and pictorial compositions which break with the millenary codes of arabo-andalusian art. Unless they are in fact a return to their very origin, to the essence of sacred geometry so valued by this culture?
“Preservation is insufficient for a culture to stay alive, it must also be reinvented. Samir is first and foremost an artist who wields the palette of enamels. Paul Klee made compositions with light forms. Samir Mazer makes zellige-paintings. Kinetic or contemplative mural frescos” explains Salima Naji, architect and anthropologist.
SAM
SHEPARDSON
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
"I am constantly inspired to create pieces that reflect my interests in music, nature, and pop culture."
Tell us about yourself and background. My name is Samantha Shepardson and I am 22 years old. I recently graduated from Colorado State University in May 2018 with a degree in graphic design. I grew up in Tustin, California and moved out to Colorado for school. I loved the
essence of their music into how I see them.
state so much that I decided to live here after college. Art has always been a huge part of my life- from the day I could hold a pencil I was drawing. I specialize in digital painting and illustration.
Tell us about your work. I find the connection between the audio and visual interesting. I started to make portraits of my favorite artists as a way to express how I felt after listening to a song/album by them. I believe that when you create something it comes directly from your soul. So after listening to their work, I reinterpret the
Why is your work a good investment? As I said before, I believe art
What makes your work and approach unique?
comes directly from the soul. When I create something, I put all
My work is a direct reflection of
of my heart into it. Each one of my
what I feel. Creating helps me
pieces reveals something about
process my emotions. When I
myself in some way. When I create
create things, it is produced
art for other people, I take into
directly from my soul. Certain
account what message/feeling
colors invoke certain moods, and I
they are trying to convey and work
work directly with that. Especially
directly with that.
when I work while listening to
into the visual with the certain
Tell us about some of your achievements.
colors and compositions. When
My major art related
you look at my art you are looking
accomplishment would be
at how my brain processes things,
graduating with a degree in
and I think it’s pretty amazing that
Graphic Design from Colorado
I can show people that.
State University.
music, I can translate the audio
"CREATING ART HELPS CLEAR MY HEAD AND LETS ME PROCESS EMOTIONS THAT I CAN’T EXPRESS IN ANY OTHER WAY."
SAM SHEPARDSON TOP ARTIST 2018
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to gain a degree in the thing I am most passionate about in my life, and I am looking forward to utilizing the skills I learned there for the rest of my life.
What are your sources of inspiration? The main source of inspiration behind my work are the musical artists themselves. When a song or an album speaks to me, I use my art as a vessel for how the music reaches me. In a way, creating portraits of music artists helps me connect to them beyond just listening to their work.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about hip-hop, design, and mental health. I find it interesting how much mental health affects the creative process, and how creativity can help process emotions. I always encourage the creative process in all forms, as I believe it’s healthy to produce art. Creating art helps clear my head and lets me process emotions that I can’t express in any other way.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. Around a year ago when I made one of my pieces, “Yeezy’s Last Supper”, I posted a sketch to a Facebook fan group I’m in that is dedicated to Kanye, called Kanye Kanyeposting™. I asked the group to help me choose Kanye’s disciples. It was a really cool way to get me involved in the music community on Facebook and get a lot of people to work on the same project. I gained a lot of connections this way and it was super fun to interact with so many people to create a piece like this.
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Share with us your upcoming projects. I’m starting a series where I reinterpret the covers of my favorite albums based on my reactions to them and how I relate to them. Along with making an alternative album cover, I would write a little review to accompany the piece that explains how I felt about the music, the artist, and why I made the cover. I am hoping this series will help me learn how to be more intent and articulate with my ideas.
Tell us about where you are based. I am based in Fort Collins, Colorado. I moved out here to attend college, and I fell in love with the town and continued to live here. This town is special to me because even though it’s fairly large, it feels like a small town because of how friendly people are to each other here. This town thrives off of the community, and as such embraces the arts. The downtown area is covered in murals and installations from local artists. Live music is a huge part of the Fort Collins culture, and as such local bands are given room to grow with opportunity. Living here has made me come out of my shell and become a much more confident and independent person, and as such has made me more bold and confident in my art.
SAM SHEPARDSON
WWW.SSHEPARDSON.ARTSPAN.COM
TEJBIR
SINGH
DESTIG AWARD WINNER Urban landscapes, landscapes using markers & sketch pens with watercolours, oils on canvas & soft pastels with occasional portraits & abstracts.
TEJBIR SINGH AWARD WINNER 2018
Tell us about yourself and background.
treatment. My works are realistic in nature with a
I am an architect by profession and have been
touch of surrealism.
based in Bahrain since 1998. My father was a
I generally like detailing my subjects minutely with
pioneer of Distance Education while my mother
markers and sketch pens.
was a teacher/vocalist. My wife is in the field of
I use mixed media like soft pastels, water colours
training and we have a daughter and a son.
and oils.
By nature I am an easy going, god fearing person, strong, a believer in traditional values and love my
What makes your work and approach unique?
family. I am very fond of music, sports and
I love to capture the beauty that surrounds us
travelling.
everywhere so almost everyone can relate to them and that’s how I want it to be.
Tell us about your work.
What makes my approach unique is the attention
My works draw upon inspiration from my
I pay to detailing, I like mixing mediums like water
surroundings and feature subjects like landscapes,
colours, soft pastels and oils with usage of
still-life, urban landscapes and occasionally
markers and sketch pens. I also tend to pick
abstracts. The architect and artist in me generally
unique subjects like imprints in the sand or views
overlap in the choice of subjects as well as their
from the window of a plane etc.
DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018
Why is your work a good investment? My works are a celebration of the beauty that surround us all wherever we go and would be equally at home in an office or a residential environment. People of all generations/ regions/ professions can relate to them. I feel they would never be out-dated. I have an eye for detailing which features prominently in my works and this appeals to most people. While the Urban Landscapes would appeal to the common man as well as lovers of architecture and heritage; night scapes, sand prints, abstracts etc would appeal to people who might prefer different and unique subjects.
Tell us about some of your achievements. My most major achievement has been that despite not being a full time artist, I have been given this award. In March 2018: my painting Rest @ Piccadilly was chosen as one of the 10 finalists for the ART BOX annual exhibition in New York. I held my first solo exhibition in London in August this year. A few years back, prints of my paintings were selected by the Minister of Culture for sale at Bahrain National Museum Gift Shop.
What are your sources of inspiration? My surroundings inspire me. They could be in the form of the play of light and shadows, night scapes, prints in the sand, views from the window of an aeroplane, sunsets, still objects and quite prominently views of streets, plazas and buildings that I walk and drive past every day as well as places I travel to. Architectural Heritage and Urban Landscapes are also a major source of Inspiration. Basically I see beauty around me and want to capture it.
DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018
What are you passionate about?
Tell us about where you are based.
I am passionate about Heritage and feel strongly
I have been based in a beautiful small island-
about its preservation which in Europe is given so
country called Bahrain in the Middle East,
much importance. I wish the same could happen in
neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
India.
Bahrain is a liberal, tolerant Muslim country with
I am also passionate about the environment and
friendly people and an easy paced lifestyle.
would love to design buildings that optimize
It has people from all over the world working
energy usage, utilize solar energy, promote
there. It has a highly developed culture and
recycling and are adaptive to the climate.
tradition. It is famous for its Natural Pearls.
I am also a passionate sports lover and particularly
The Art scene is very exciting and promises a lot
so about Manchester United Football Club!
for the future. It was also the first country in the Middle East to host a Formula 1 race.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. While designing an Italian restaurant in a resort in Bahrain, I proposed to the client to draw a mural with markers on a blank wall 8.5 m long. After several discussions and due to practical reasons I ended up painting the mural in water colours then had a high resolution picture taken of it which was blown up and printed in Germany. It now adorns the wall of the restaurant. It looks stunning. I was also commissioned to do sports related artworks for a sports rehab clinic and art gallery two years ago.
Share with us your upcoming projects. A few years back, a prominent out gallery in Manhattan, New York called Artifact Art Gallery saw my works on my website and approached me to exhibit at their premises. As a result of that, my first solo Exhibition in the U.S.A will be held there from March 6th to 24th 2019. I am really excited about that and I am looking forward to it. They have already exhibited some of my works at several Art fairs.
TEJBIR SINGH
WWW.TEJBIR.ARTSPAN.COM
HANNA
SUPETRAN
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Hanna is an Intuitive Artist. She paints with a sense and joy of freedom, freedom to express, freedom to explore, freedom to be and freedom to play.
Why is your work a good investment? My artworks have been receiving consistent recognitions and awards for artistic excellence from different established art organizations and jurors from USA, Europe and Asia.
Tell us about yourself and background.
It validates the consistency of the quality of art I
I was a corporate executive turned full-time artist.
make, that each piece I create passed the
My childhood passion in art was ignited through a
international curators and jurors trained eyes and
series of fortunate events.
standards and were included in international/
A needed break from my decade long jet-setting
online exhibitions and shows.
corporate life gave me the time to slow down and
It also speaks of its global footprint/reach in
found myself painting again.
terms of marketability and appeal.
This was followed by commissioned works, an invitation to join a group exhibit as the new artist in one of the most reputable art galleries in the Philippines, where I was born and raised. Passion ignited, I left the corporate world, flew to Florence, Italy and took an Intensive Visual Art course, which included Photography, Fresco, Contemporary Art Technique & Figure Drawing at the Accademia D’Arte Firenze, I came back to the Philippines and have been a full-time artist since.
Tell us about your work. I paint intuitively and create expressive paintings using oil and acrylic in abstract form to celebrate life with all its twist and turns and love in all its shapes and forms. My paintings are unapologetic, colourful and bold, thought-provoking, emotionally evocative and soothing to the soul. My paintings’ impressions know no boundaries, an endless expedition in the vastness of space, fearlessly exploring the unknown, trusting and allowing each stroke to take its form and allowing each colour to speak to each other. Each painting is a soul expedition, an expression of an intimate inward journey. A journey my artworks invite people to embark on.
HANNA SUPETRAN TOP ARTIST 2018 Tell us about some of your achievements. I received several international awards and recognitions from reputable and established art organizations and galleries, curators and jurors from USA, Europe and Asia.
In addition, I am a recipient of an International Prize Caravaggio – Great Master of Art Award, which will be held on Dec. 7, 2018 in Milan, Italy.
Here are the details of the awards and recognitions:
• Gallery Choice Award, 2018 ALL Colour International Art Competition - Contemporary Art Gallery Online, (USA) • Special Recognition Award, 2018 Patterns Art International Art Competition - Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Special Recognition Award, 8th Annual Open International Art Competition 2018 - Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Top Artists to Watch 2018, Collectors’ Edition ArtTour International Magazine, Summer 2018 • Special Recognition Award, 3rd Annual Abstract International Art Contest 2018 – Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • One of the 100 featured artists selected by a jury and featured her artworks called Beauty in Diversity and Strength in Diversity in Q2 2018 Edition of 1340 Art Magazine, an international art publication based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. • Special Merit Category (Seasons of Love), All Women’s Annual International Art Contest 2018 – Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Special Recognition Category (Strength in Diversity), All Women’s Annual International Art Contest 2018 – Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Top 5 Artists 2017 – Artist.Singapore.com
"MY PAINTINGS ARE UNAPOLOGETIC, COLOURFUL AND BOLD, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, EMOTIONALLY EVOCATIVE AND SOOTHING TO THE SOUL."
What are your sources of inspiration? A painting has the power to shift a feeling immediately as art speaks to the heart, it speaks straight to the soul. Knowing this, I am always inspired to create pieces, which revolve around the theme of light and love, of beauty and hope, of joy and bliss, of unity and peace. It is inspiring enough to know that through my artworks, I could assist to shift a disempowering emotion to an empowering feeling. Like what I always tell my friends that I will paint the world with love, one painting at a time.
Tell us about where you are based. I am based in the Philippines. It is a stunningly beautiful country with amazing people.
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects. I was sharing with one of my clients and collectors that the reason why I left the corporate world and became a full-time artist is the feeling of exhilaration I experience every time I paint. He told me that the feeling of exhilaration is exactly what he feels every time he drives his sports car once a week and wishes he could do that every day but he has a demanding corporate day job. He had this brilliant idea and asked me to paint and capture the “exhilarating speed” every time he drives his sports car in an abstract form. The painting is proudly displayed in his executive office. Just a glance at the painting takes him back to that feeling of exhilaration without leaving his office.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I am currently preparing for my participation in a Digital Exhibit in New York come 2019 and my participation in the International Prize Caravaggio – Great Master of Art in Milan, Italy.
HANNA SUPETRAN
WWW.HANNASUPETRAN.ARTSPAN.COM
JENNIFER
TAYLOR
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
Known for her diversity to paint any subject, Jennifer is a prolific artist and teacher. She calls herself a visionary impressionist, mainly because of her desire to add the 'feeling' of energy from life to her works. Tell us about yourself and background. Talking about myself is a constantly evolving matter. I am a poet, a writer, a teacher, an interpreter, but mostly a student of everything I see. My background begins at a small farm in a moderately sized town in North Alabama, US, where, as the youngest of three siblings, with a large gap in age, I was alone most of the time and had to find ways to entertain myself. I had a propensity towards drawing and sketching from imagination, as well as every horse I could find. I spent most of my days outside, riding horses, drawing, living in a make believe world. An art degree wasn’t supported, so I chose a
JENNIFER TAYLOR TOP ARTIST 2018
Business degree from the local university, but could not stop being an artist. After several years in the corporate world, I turned to painting. I have mentored under some great teachers - some well-known- some not so well known. But each one, opened a new door and the evolution began. Many would say I am self-taught, I do not believe in this term, someone is teaching us, even if I am only reading a book or studying a Sargent painting. My Recent mentors were Scott Christensen, Quang Ho and Dennis Perrin.
Tell us about your work. I believe I am a story-teller who uses a combination of energetic brush strokes and palette knife to reveal a plot. My work is fearless with loose intentional strokes and layers of thick paint. I love realism and impressionism and the concentrated effort to combine these in an energetic abstract approach is my goal. I paint mainly from life, either in my studio or on location. I do not limit myself to one subject. But for the first 30 years of my life, I think I only drew and painted horses. I am a prolific and fast painter because life changes at a monumental speed and to “capture” the moment is a like riding a bull for 8 seconds.
What makes your work and approach unique? My art is unique, because I am constantly experimenting and pushing the extremes of realism and impressionism, by painting the changing lights, or dying flowers, exagerating colors that may only exist as a breathe in the corner of a vase. Someone asked me once, when I was painting an alleyway (in pinkish colors) “Do you really see that color”, I replied, “ Yes, Don’t you?” I also push for accuracy, with quick purposeful shape making. It is almost like sculpting, but on a 2 D surface. I use Michael Harding paints, with intense color and the right amount of “sticky” to it. It took me several years
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
going through many brands of paint to find the perfect paint for me. I did this with all my supplies until the quality is where it is now.
Why is your work a good investment? The price of my work has gone up 20% a year since 2010. I have been winning awards since I went public in 2001. My art was featured on the front cover of the nationally acclaimed magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur by the editor’s pick in March/April, 2018. In 2017 I was chosen one of 11 Women to Watch in Southwest Art Magazine. I continue to grow and have national and international recognition.
Tell us about some of your achievements. The front cover of the Fine Art Connoisseur would be a great achievement, it is like getting a top hit song on the radio for an artist. I was nationwide known over night. It also helped that I painted a chateau in France, the Chateau Orquevaux, where the owner, Ziggy Attias, has residencies for artists. It has opened gallery doors for me and I am busier now than I have ever been in my career so far.
What are your sources of inspiration?
been criticized for, because “Who will collect that?” I told you I lived
Horses, Flowers, anything of beauty
in a story of make-believe growing
or energy. I want to hang a
up, I sometimes remember Alice in
beautiful piece of artwork in my
Wonderland, when painting my
home, and that is what I sell. If I do
recent tablescapes. Giving names
not find beauty in my own art, I
and character to teapots and
sand it down and repaint it. And If
spoons.
a piece doesnt sell, I try to improve
sander. I also love painting items
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
or themes of antiquity. Combining
I am just now arriving in a position
past and present.
of higher demand for my art for
it, if I can’t, it goes under the
shows and galleries. I have a solo
What are you passionate about?
show at a Botanical Garden in
Making things seem timeless.
Huntsville, Alabama where they are
I paint a lot of china, which I have
sporting 30 of my pieces of
JENNIFER TAYLOR TOP ARTIST 2018
artwork. This is my first year with galleries and I am prepping for 3 galleries this fall and winter. I probably have over 120 framed pieces of art, ready for purchase.
Share with us your upcoming projects. I am on a “tablescape” kick right now, producing the things you might see on a table after a wedding, or after a visit with a friend. I buy flowers every week and put fresh flowers on my table, which I use in my “tablescape”, I go to antique shops and sales to get the right trinkets and items that you could find on sophistiacted tables. I am not one to paint only one series though. I am also working a steeplechase series, based on the Iroquois races in Nashville, Tennessee. I get back passes to take my big camera and get some intense shots of horses jumping and running, and jockeys flying. It is going to be fantastic.
Tell us about where you are based. I am based in Taft, Tennessee a small town of maybe 200 people. It is out in the countryside, no light pollution and I hear coyotes howling every night. I have horses, dogs, and cats (and a most supportive husband). Our children have lives of their own, we have three. My studio is at the loft on the upper floor of our home. I can look down at the farm and the valley. It is a beautiful, quiet place to explore my crazy ideas for painting.
JENNIFER TAYLOR
WWW.JENNIFERSTOTTLETAYLOR.COM
INNA
TIMOKHINA
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018 An artist-scientist with Siberian roots, who spent her formative years in New York City. Painting has been her passion since childhood in Siberia where she received formal education in visual arts at the Novosibirsk Center for the Arts.
INNA TIMOKHINA TOP ARTIST 2018
Tell us about yourself and background.
objects, with particular focus on amplifying
I am an artist, scientist and inventor with a Ph.D. in
positive energies. I usually start with a small
Molecular Biology from Cornell University.
sketch, where a portrait, landscape or
Prior to my studies in Biology, I received a formal
abstraction has a unique “energy signature”.
education in visual arts with an emphasis on
Energy can manifest itself, for example, as a
transparent watercolor techniques. After spending
wave pattern, glowing light or accelerating
more than a decade as a biomedical scientist, I
particles, and my “energy signatures” usually
realized that the corporate environment was not a
contain these elements. After the initial “energy
good match for my creative personality and that
signature” is captured, I begin the innovative
the most exciting aspect of science was
process of “energy amplification”, described
inventorship. I also started to develop my “energy
separately. The resulting artwork has a modern,
capture” technique in art, and quickly became an
cheerful and glassy look, with vibrant colors,
internationally exhibiting artist, thanks to the
areas of transparency and self-glow effects.
generous support of my family and my art patrons.
What makes your work and approach unique. Tell us about your work.
I developed an innovative approach of “positive
My art is a quest of identifying and visualizing
energy amplification”, using mixed media,
hidden energies behind familiar processes or
including fine silks, rare inks, resin and plexiglass.
DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018
The “energy signatures” are transferred onto silks and I work out details with inks and create future areas of transparency by using a scalpel as a drawing tool. Next, I create 3D elements, where silks are embedded into the resin and plexiglass and I continue with details on both sides of the plexiglass, using translucent colors, aluminum and glitter. The artworks become semi-translucent and resemble sparkling surface of water. This is inspired in part by the incredible beauty of Lake Zurich.
Why is your work a good investment? Because of the nature of translucent, multilayered technique, my artworks can look somewhat different, depending on the light conditions and environments. Under bright light, they can look more like sparkling surfaces of water, while under lower light, they have a stronger self-glow effect. Stained glass projections onto the wall can be enhanced, depending on the angle of light. Sometimes I can create 2-3 variations of the same energy signature, but of different sizes (and hence energy impacts) and color variations, which can be ideal for commission work. Plexiglass and resin make the works durable, easy maintenance and relatively light weight.
Tell us about some of your achievements. I feel that my technique of “positive energy amplification” reached the next level this year, due to significantly enhanced transparency and vibrancy of colors. This is reflected in many joyful comments, received from clients and art lovers about my artworks this year, such as: “It makes my heart sing!”; “I love the way it glows!”; “I am so in love with what I saw today, and this is heaven!”; “Your artwork is so radiant, I feel charged with a positive mood!” and many other wonderful comments like this. And that’s how I know that the positive energy sharing is working!
INNA TIMOKHINA TOP ARTIST 2018
What are your sources of inspiration?
StArt Fair. Wally Gilbert is a recipient of the Nobel
I feel inspired to create artworks with calming,
Prize in Chemistry in 1980 for solving the mystery
harmonizing and uplifting effects on people.
of DNA sequencing, which drove the development
One special aspect is the therapeutic effect of
of biology as a gene-based science, culminating
light. According to MAYO Clinic’s website, light
in the Human Genome Project. My interpretation
therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked
of Wally’s abstract and vibrant digital art is that
to mood and sleep, easing seasonal affective
he uncovers hidden inner structures of objects
disorder (SAD) symptoms, and that using a light
through his creative artistic process. I believe that
therapy may also help with other types of
our Collaborative offers a very interesting
depression. Another inspiration is the harmonizing
perspective of art as a discovery process.
power of nature and it’s empowering and meditative influence on people.
Share with us your upcoming projects.
I hope that my art can help viewers to take a
One ongoing project is an exhibition with the
breather from everyday stresses, and have a
theme “Macro-cosmos meets Micro-cosmos” in
moment of inner harmony.
Zurich. The idea is to do this as a collaboration with Wally Gilbert, who never exhibited in Zurich
What are you passionate about?
and is interested in doing so.
I am passionate about the sustainability of our
Another upcoming project is “minimalist”
planet. It’s really alarming, how irresponsible we, as
collection of artworks of predominantly single
citizens of our planet, continue to behave towards
colors for an exhibition in Los Angeles, which is a
the environment, despite clear warning signs of
fun challenge.
climate destabilization and global pollution. I am a
Another exciting project is the creation of a
passionate opponent of war and believe that
“Happiness Bubble” in the format of small Curio
chronic warfare creates colossal, long lasting
booths – cabinets of curiosity at Design Miami,
damage not only on people and civilizations, but
which consists of sparkling plexiglass panels and
also by terrible poisoning of our environment, which
table tops, silk fabrics, printed mesh screens,
in my opinion is far greater than from civilian or
lamps and vases.
industrial causes. I cannot help but see the analogy between the detrimental effects of chronic disease
Tell us about where you are based.
on human health, and the chronic destruction and
I feel privileged to live in a small village, Zollikon,
poisoning of our planet and its inhabitants by wars.
located on the sunny side of lake Zurich, right
I hope that my message of positive energy sharing
next to the city. I can take advantage of the very
via my art can help reduce negative divisive
rich cultural life of Zurich and also enjoy the quiet
energies in the world and be a positive force for
village, where I can be creative. This is an
the noble cause of sustainability of our planet.
environment of majestic beauty, where one can see amazing effects of sunlight over the lake and
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
take many unique photographs. I am currently
One of the exciting recent projects was the
collecting material for a series of digital works
exhibition at gorgeous Saatchi Gallery space last
“100 Views of Lake Zurich” (inspired by “100 Views
year as “Wally Gilbert and Inka Collaborative” at
of Mount Fuji” by Hokusai).
INNA TIMOKHINA
WWW.INKAGALLERY.COM
ERIC
WILES
DESTIG AWARD WINNER
"As a world traveller at an early age the appreciation of natural beauty and the allure of man made objects sparked my creative. Photography allows me the opportunity to capture these moments in time and share this beauty through Still-Life and Fine-Art imaging."Â
ERIC WILES AWARD WINNER 2018
Tell us about yourself and background.
What makes your work and approach unique?
A self-taught contemporary photographic artist
As a photographer perception of the eye is what
from Chicago now residing in California, with a
makes my work unique and my approach to
background in Photo-Lithography. Starting in 2007
capturing what I think is a great photograph.
I began to construct my knowledge of photography
Whether discovering new exciting places or re-
and started Eric Wiles Photography in 2008.
imagining the familiar, each capture is different and motivates me to focus the subject’s beauty in
Tell us about your work.
my work.
A contemporary photographer and a landscape enthusiast is how I would describe my work, as it
Why is your work a good investment?
reflects the beautiful places and things we have on
My work is constantly evolving and the investment
our great planet. The creative process for me is
in a great piece of art work never diminishes.
one that is both automatic and emotional, creating
Since it will have an emotional and possible
my art is like being on a roller coaster with twists
sentimental value, an original piece of my work I
and turns. Photography, like life, is constant
feel will only increase in attachment.Â
movement, constant change, a visual documentary re-released.
DESTIG AWARD WINNER
Tell us about some of your achievements. My inclusion and selection in a group exhibition at Musee de Louvre in 2009, DESTIG Artist of the year 2018, Top 20 Photographer 2015 and Top 60 Artists for multiple years by an award-winning art magazine. Also having my work displayed in major commercial magazines and starting a photography business has been my most major achievements.
What are your sources of inspiration? My main sources of inspiration are nature and very well designed man-made objects, as nature to me is unparalleled in beauty, diversity and design. I am
Tell us about where you are based.
What are you passionate about? My passion lives with the environment and how so many different places can be so breathtakingly beautiful and need to be protected.
environmental impact and
I am based in Santa Clara Ca. in
awareness I also have worked
the heart of Silicon Valley where
with Vida on an art clothing and
the weather is great along with
accessory line made from
natural and human diversity.
sustainable all-natural materials.
This unique area is the world
Pacific Ocean and luscious forest
Share with us your upcoming projects.
and great minds.
Normally I’m invited and always
technology hub surrounded by the
also inspired by other artists and life itself
These projects focused on
participate in the major Art Fairs
Tell us about some projects you have delivered.
around the world including RED DOT, Art Expo NY. However, I am
My projects included a
taking time to travel and find new
collaboration with Art Arena NY
inspiration to introduce new work
digital exhibition, Art Tour
to my portfolio. Other scheduled
Magazines Artist for a Green
exhibitions are in Paris, Austria in
Planet exhibition, special Summer
Vienna, Cannes, Basel and
edition and Aesthetica Art
Montreux in 2019.
Magazine artist showcase.
ERIC WILES
WWW.EW-PHOTO.COM
SCULPTURE PARK WALDFRIEDEN
In Germany's Sculpture Park Waldfrieden, the perception of art is bound up with, and inseparable from, an experience of nature. The Sculpture Park Waldfrieden lies above the Wupper valley in the Christbusch woodland between the town centers of Elberfeld and Barmen. It rises steadily over an area of twelve hectares (ca. 30 acres) up to one of the many wooded hills that surround the city of Wuppertal. Old leafy trees line the long serpentine road that leads to the park. Already here individual sculptures by Tony Cragg can be seen along the path’s embankments. The café comes into view at the last sharp bend in the road, located on the ground floor of a house built in rough masonry in 1914.
DESTIG TRAVEL FEATURE
An encounter with three dozen sculptures in nature stimulates our perceptions. The tour of the grounds brings together very different and quite complex forms of sculptural praxis. The sculptures by Anthony Cragg, Richard Deacon, Thomas Schßtte, Wilhelm Mundt, Norbert Kricke and others show a whole range of major positions on modernism and the present-day.
Different from a closed exhibition room, the Park confronts the work and the viewer with the fleeting phenomena of the day and the season. The mighty leafy umbrella of old trees combines with the park setting to a living, breathing terrain, which allows warmth and cold, wet and dry, leaf coloring and light reflections of the seasonal position of the sun to interact with the sculptures and impact their formal appearance.
SCULPTURE PARK WALDFRIEDEN
It was thanks to the private
structures and material substance
Foundation is also dedicated to
initiative of Tony Cragg, a British
were preserved to the greatest
research on, and the publication of,
sculptor living in Wuppertal, that
extent possible, thus keeping its
the subject of the fine arts.
the Sculpture Park was founded
historical dimension intact despite
In the Park, the perception of art is
and established. Thirty years after
the conversion of the park and
bound up with, and inseparable
Cragg took up his exhibition
buildings to accommodate their
from, an experience of nature.
activity, he began looking for a
new use. In 2008, the Sculpture
The special character of the
permanent site for presenting
Park was opened under the
Waldfrieden estate is marked by its
sculpture outdoors and discovered
auspices of the Cragg family’s
situation on a slope. The steep
the abandoned Waldfrieden
nonprofit foundation.
ascent above the narrow V-shaped
property, which he bought in 2006.
Wupper valley and a stony ground It houses a steadily growing
that discourages residential housing
collection of sculpture, including
resulted in the preservation of much
That very same year he began
examples from Tony Cragg’s own
inner-city forest. One step at a time,
redesigning the park grounds and
large oeuvre. All is accompanied by
the Cragg Foundation is expanding
the buildings that, after long years
changing exhibitions of
its collection of notable sculpture.
of vacancy, needed to be
internationally known artists,
The focus is on the modern and the
thoroughly renovated and
lectures on culture and the
contemporary; however the
modernized. In appreciation of
humanities, as well as concerts.
collection means to evolve beyond
the historical estate, its former
Beyond this, the Cragg
this.
DESTIG TRAVEL FEATURE Different from a closed exhibition room, the Park confronts the work and the viewer with the fleeting phenomena of the day and the season.
SPECIAL FEATURE
HIGHLIGHTS 1. Kent Stetson - The Art of Handbags. kentstetson.com
2. Hope and Hazard - A Comedy of Eros, Curated by Eric Fischl. hallartfoundation.org
3. Mohau Modisakeng - The body is indifferent to social changes, so it remembers. mohaumodisakengstudio.com
SPECIAL FEATUREÂ
HIGHLIGHTS 1. Nari Ward - Revealing the numerous emotions inherent within found everyday objects. nariwardstudio.com
2. Alex Da Corte - A rising star on the international art scene. alexdacorte.com
3. Edu Danesi - A cocktail, full of colour, sensuality, poetry, provocation and positivity. edudanesi.com
SPECIAL FEATURE
HIGHLIGHTS 1. Ed Templeton - "Anything" that illustrates the human existence. ed-templeton.com
2. Todd Klassy - Uniquely capturing the beauty of the American heartland. toddklassy.com
3. Reza - An Artist's Report of Peace and War. reza.photo
M R O F
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HOT PICK 1: Shadow Mirror by Aleksej Iskos for Handvark With Shadow, Aleksej Iskos enhances the
Aesthetic sustainability is key to all Handvark
wonderful mirror effect for Handvark.
products since 2016.
“What makes a mirror a mirror is not the
“In an effort to create furniture that will last
glass or the frame. It’s the very thin layer of
a lifetime, we have taken no shortcuts. We
amalgam behind the glass. Shadow Mirror
work with genuine marble, brass and aniline
reveals the true nature of the mirror. It’s a
leather – materials that will only become
magic object floating in space, making you
more beautiful over time. These materials
wonder like a child how it is possible that
are worked with care and dedication to
the whole world can be inside of it”.
embody the simplicity and applicability of our design. Design that above all stays true
– Aleksej Iskos
to the Nordic DNA that imbues HANDVÄRK.” synthetizes Emil Thorup, Handvark Founder & Designer.
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HOT PICK 2: Jia Collection by Atelier de Troupe JIA, is a collection of lounge chairs, sofas
Based in Los Angeles, Atelier de Troupe is a
and tables for the modern home.
creative studio founded by former film-set designer Gabriel Abraham. Since 2011, he
Minimalist and yet opulent, the JIA are
has summarized the imaginary dĂŠcor of the
made of massive oak and fumed oak wood
20th century, creating lamps and furniture
and soft fabrics, as well as the use of
with an immediately evocative power.
travertine and oak for its coffee and side tables.
Atelier de Troupe conceives modern antiques with timeless charm, diving into the grammar of Bauhaus, of 60s Italian cinema or of French decorative spirit.
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HOT PICK 3: AND by Fabio Novembre for Vondom AND is a spatial concept, a volume that
"Since 1966, I’ve responded to those who
cuts through the air, creating emotional
call me Fabio Novembre. Since 1992, I’ve
turbulence for those who get swept up in it.
responded to those who also call me
AND is the result of two people looking at
“architect”. I cut out spaces in the vacuum
each other out of the corner of their eye, a
by blowing air bubbles, and I make gifts of
multiplication into the infinite that includes
sharpened pins so as to ensure I never put
anyone who simply wants to be there.
on airs. My lungs are imbued with the scent of places that I’ve breathed, and when I
AND is the reflection of the DNA of a
hyperventilate it’s only so I can remain in
generation that has embraced co-existence
apnea for a while. As though I were pollen, I
while denying tyranny.
let myself go with the wind, convinced I’m able to seduce everything that surrounds
AND: it’s time for conjunction.
me. I want to breathe till I choke. I want to love till I die." - Fabio Novembre
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HOT PICK 4: GRACE by Bertocci Design Division THE COLLECTION INSPIRED BY THE 1940s
Grace is the dynamic and adaptable line that can be highly personalized both from a
A retro reinterpretation of bathroom
formal and functional point of view thanks
accessories looking back to the 40s but in a
to its numerous additional elements and
new and glamorous way.
accessories. The collection is further enriched and
A collection of bathroom accessories
integrated by new irregular mirrors and wall
inspired by vintage lines but developed with
lights. An important, visible and significant
the nowadays technology and
wall attachment defines and characterizes
characterized by elegant and balanced
the entire line.
shapes.
All the accessories stand out for their squared shape, a remarkable feature that marks out the entire collection with lightness and versatility. Chrome or golden finish.
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HOT PICK 5: Nordic Edition of Sela by PP Møbler PP Møbler is launching the three legged
The cross continental collaboration is based
saddle stool Sela designed by Brazilian
on the idea of supporting sustainably
woodworking artist Ricardo Graham
managed forests by utilising the natural
Ferreira. Awarded for its use of alternative
diversity they have to offer. The sculpted
wood types from Brazil in 2015, until now
shape of the seat permits the presence of
Sela has been hand-carved by Ricardo in
knots and imperfections in the wood adding
his studio workshop close to Rio de Janeiro
character to each piece.
using tropical hardwood. “It’s a real joy for us to emphasise the The new partnership with PP Møbler of
unique character and beauty of each piece
Denmark, makers of the iconic fine craft´s
of wood. With this stool we’ll enhance the
collection by Hans J. Wegner, allows Sela to
natural variations and imperfections and
reach a new audience, made in variations
make them become valuable”, explains
of woods native to the Nordic forests.
Kasper Pedersen, of PP Møbler.
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HOT PICK 6: ORNAMENTAL Wallpaper by Mosaico+ A challenge beyond time:
shapes of the plant world and combines
Beyond pure and simple geometric motifs,
them with geometric and symbolic elements
inspired by the pleasing curved lines,
and references, for truly astonishing
colours, play on light and shapes of Nature,
decorative effects. Â
mosaic chips translate simple strokes into dynamic, undulating lines that expand their
Sinuous lines inspired by nature:Â
own repertoire and come to life, evolving
Onamental decorative modules stand out
naturally into original, flowing symmetrical
not only for their sinuous, natural lines
shapes that combine and simplify every
inspired by nature, with a predilection for
detail of plants and flowers.
plants and flowers, but also for their use of contrasting colours and surfaces, as they
Nature as a source of inspiration
juxtapose glossy and matt mosaics with
A new expressive language is created that
different levels of shine and colour.
exalts the curves inspired by the sinuous
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HOT PICK 7: Platform by Neri&Hu for De La Espada Inspired by Opium beds which have been in
De La Espada is industrial design with a
China since the Tang Dynasty, Platform is
warm heart, where luxury is expressed
perfect for lazy Sunday mornings with its
through tactile materials and obsessive
generous solid wood frame offering space
detailing.
for cups of tea and books.Â
"We focus on the key pieces of furniture for
Storage compartments include a solid brass
the home: a place to eat, a place to rest, a
drawer and a timber compartment beneath
place to sleep, and a place to work. Our
a fold out mirror.
dedicated factory in Northern Portugal
Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, is an
specialises in intelligent solid wood furniture
inter-disciplinary award-winning
craft steeped in tradition and innovation.
architectural design practice based in
Close partnerships with designers result in
Shanghai, China. Founded by Lyndon Neri
diverse yet aligned product families that are
and Rossana Hu, Neri&Hu works globally.
the building blocks for authentic interiors."
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HOT PICK 8: MOLLE Collection by OfficinaCiani & Studio 63 Essential and elegant, the new outdoor
in the production and sale of lighting and
furniture collection MOLLE captures the
furniture in wrought iron, which has its
attention and fascinates through its clean
beginning in the historic company Emporio
and refined lines characterized by a
San Firenze, founded by Bruno Ciani in 1939.
decorative structure in iron, bent by hand, galvanized and powder-coated.Â
"Through our expertise and passion for manufacturing and processing wrought iron
Designed in different types of objects, the
and metals, our mission is to cultivate a
collection offers the pleasure of living
bond between the traditional Florentine
outdoor spaces with aesthetic sense and
craftsmanship and the search for a
personality.
contemporary design in order to develop unique and top-quality creations – all made
OFFICINACIANI is the recent evolution of the historical experience of the Ciani family
in Italy."
M R O F
M R O F
HOT PICK 9: MODULO Sideboard by Studio Marfa MODULO opens up the possibility for the
Studio Marfa
user to select the desired cabinet elements.
"Our understanding of design is based on a
You can choose from modular elements and
conceptual approach. This means that we
configure the Sideboard to requirements.
provide a fundament for our designs to show
In this way the system can be determined in
their character through their formal
width, equipped with drawers, various
aesthetics and materials. By this, we want to
compartments, sliding and hinged doors,
inspire people to build a relationship to their
while the elements are colored in a
objects.
personal color scheme. The aluminium frames form the vertical
We are - Florestan Schuberth and Janis
supports of the sideboard. They arrange the
Fromm - two design students from Hamburg,
elements irrespective of whether they are -
Germany. We founded Studio Marfa in 2015
open units or units closed by doors, drawers
as a platform to present our ideas and
or covers.
prototypes to the public."
M R O F
M R O F
HOT PICK 10: BAT Coquille d'oeuf by bibol bibol: a cooperative, fair and ecological.
During our traveling in Vietnam, our desire was essential a way to develop a fair trade
"At the end of the 70's, I, Little Moon, was 13
system: to present the know how of the
years old. A peasant girl, I left Vietnam
ancestral Vietnamese craftsmen in France.
alone for France. I studied and learnt
To combine tradition and durable
French. After 20 years of a professional
development, fair trade and economic
career in France, I decided to return to visit
growth for the Crafts people.
my home land, with my husband. Together we discovered the Vietnam countryside,
So we created bibol. bibol conceives and
from which I only had known my small
underlines the ecological & artisanal
village.
products in bamboo."
W.F.
JAMESÂ
IN THE HANDSTEPS OF MONET Many years ago, when I started out as a fine artist, I wanted to paint with pastel differently from all the traditionalist artists I've seen before. I always admired the oil paintings of Claude Monet... the way he painted in a loose fashion with colors that seemed to be brighter that the rest of his contemporaries. I decided to take that premise and create a pastel technique using radiant colors in a separated color technique but, with a little more concentration on drawing. It took me years to develop but I came up with a style and technique that was brighter and a little more refined... somewhere between Norman Rockwell and Claude Monet! Â
Years later, while reading a book about Monet, there were several paragraphs in it that described his technique... the way he applied color to a canvas and why he did it that way. To my complete shock and surprise, without knowing it, I was painting using the same color theories and way of applying paint to a surface as he did all those years ago. Discovering that I actually was thinking like Monet, my mentor, was the best and single most exciting thing that has ever happened to me as an artist; and that included winning the Silver Metal Award from both the American Watercolor Society and the Pastel Society of America! Knowing that I was painting exactly like the painter I truly admired meant a lot to me as an artist. After learning this, I suddenly realized that I was justified in painting the way I did all those years and I was indeed viable in the art community! There was no denying this!
W.F. JAMES
The painting above is a great example of my painting technique. It is the best designed pastel painting I've ever created. Usually, I have to move elements around or introduce others to create a painting that's pleasing to the eye and to create a nice design. This scene was perfect! I didn't change a thing. It was simply a matter of choosing just the right location to photograph this beautiful colonial house. Because of the use of repetitive directions of elements in this painting, the viewer's eye travels around the surface of the painting, which it should always subconsciously do. The pine tree, which is parallel to the right side of painting surface, leads your eye into the ground, which is parallel to the rain gutter. The ground leads to the blue shadow on the house, which is parallel to the shadow on the garage. Finally, the house shadow of trees finally leads your eye to the rain gutter and forms a complete circle on the painting surface! If you enlarge this image, you will notice that the strokes of color are loose and vibrant but define each element exactly.
IN THE HANDSTEPS OF MONET
This is an exercise in movement and complementary colors. I went to a popular water park in our area and noticed kids standing under a waterfall with all the beautiful patterns that were created as the water ran over them. I started taking photos. Back in my studio, I decided to tell a story by using three different shots of kids under the falls. Because of the girl holding up her arm and her eyes looking to her right at the boy, I made it appear as if she was flirting with him, as all thirteen year old kids do! To make the scene even more interesting, I used a complementary color scheme of blues and yellow with orange. This in turn, makes all the patterns created by the falling water come alive. By placing made shapes in the background consisting of bands of color, it resembles an abstract piece of work...only with realistic elements.
W.F. JAMES
For many years I traveled up to the state of Virginia to visit with my wife's parents and to roam through the country-side looking for references to photograph for paintings. This was one of my favorite scenes to photograph. I was amazed by the positioning of the shack, house and large tree in the foreground. I couldn't have arranged them any better. I've painted this location many times before using different media (pastel, oil and watercolor). This time, I wanted to try something different and unique. I decided to make all the colors in the painting light and muted. By having all the color the same value, something very interesting happens. Along with all that, to make it even more interesting, I used the complementary colors of blue and yellow. The yellow and green color of the tree makes it come forward and the blue of the mountain pushes the scene back and introduces depth. I consider this pastel a great success!
www.wfjamesstudio.artspan.com
WOODEN STORY Even our Grandfather, Grandfather Borowy knew
We created Wooden Story - land of toys.
the forest gives you joy. Our family business is three-generation old and no one really remembers
We say that the toys came to us from the forest, they
when exactly the first cordwoods were planned. But
smell of wood and you can stiII hear in them the
everybody remembers the year 1969, the year when
sound of wind. Grandpa Borowy, as our surname is
the first wooden toys were crafted... Grandpa loved
Borowy, was right saying that "creating for children
to create new things which were giving happiness.
brings happiness to adults".
Times have changed. And with them, expectations.
We know this feeling very well. We created Wooden
We had to forget about the toys and concentrate on
Story from love of nature, for happiness of children.
making details for creating furniture. Beautiful details. One thing remained the same - wood.
Inspired by nature, created by us... We create in
Wood has always been a part of our family.
beautiful, natural surroundings - the Beskidy
The talent of our Grandpa and his successors
Mountains. Our toys came to us from the forest...
allowed us successfully to attain foreign markets.
While playing with them, children become a
As time time passed by, our longing grew ... longing
significant part of this world in a very natural way.
for wooden toys. Yet again times have changed and
Ideas like recycling, environmental protection, the
wooden toys appeared in our manufacture -
beauty of trees and colours will be with them
happily welcomed by us and the kids.
throughout their entire life.
DESIGN FEATURE
Our toys improve senses, they are soft to the touch, they catch your eye with natural colours and they smell of wood.
With wooden blocks you can conjure the most amazing buildings. A walk with our wooden pram can turn into a beautiful story made up by your kid. Time spent with the Peace & Love Blocks® wooden blocks is a simple way to inspire a child with values like love, friendship, consciousness, joy... Freedom in creation stimulates inventiveness,
Joy and happiness of kids - it's so easy, so important. To make this joy and happiness complete, our toys are made of wood that comes from FSC certified suppliers. They are made of the best, carefully selected wood and they are not poisoned with toxic paints or varnish. We use natural eco-certified paints to colour them.
That gives us the certainty, that your child will play with toys free of any harmful substances. Beeswax and botanical oils give them a soft polished finish. Wooden Story eco-friendly canvas bags and boxes are designed to be reused or easily recycle.
There is one more thing that makes our toys so special - they can be passed from generation to generation. We hope, that your grandchildren will discover their own Wooden Story in the toys of your children. If so, forest, water, air and our whole planet will benefit from this. >> woodenstory.pl
CREATIVES WITHOUT BORDERS
DESTIG AWARDS 2018 The DESTIG Annual Awards have been created to shine the spotlight on deserving creatives that have contributed exceptional works to the fields of Art and Creative Culture. All winners will be promoted to the DESTIG audience through all it's channels and also to external audiences through promotion on social media, search engines and press releases. To make a nomination or submission: DESTIG.COM