"Tachiagari" at Dover Street Market for S/S'11

Paco Rabanne window of  iconic "le 69" bag re-launch

7thMan Magazine was invited yesterday to Rei Kawakubo's Dover street market,  for their annual "Tachiagari". There is always a calm and peaceful aura in Dover street Market, a respectful silence almost ,  that pays respect to all the exceptional designers that are featured in-house including Givenchy, Lanvin, Celine, Comme des Garcons, Maison Martin Margiela and many more.

Tachiagari means beginning in Japanese and Comme des Garcons creative director Kawakubo, strongly supports the idea of new beginnings almost every season. The store's visual representation and space conceptual realisations has been pivotal for Dover street market's success and inadvertently the  magical alterations is what keeps the unique fashion destination different and exciting.

The bi-annual Tachiagari allows for redeveloped installations,fresh structures and furnishings to be installed, rejuvenates the store with innovative projects, new collections and curated spaces designed personally by the maestros of fashion themselves including Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Phoebe Philo and Hussein Chalayan.

For Spring/Summer 2011, the makeover includes the re-launch of the iconic "le69" aluminium bag of extraordinary designer Paco Rabanne brought to life in 3 editions by none other than Rei Kawakubo, an exhibition space dedicated to the artwork of the late Tokyo based British fashion designer Christopher Nemeth & Hussein Chalayan Chinese puppetrie installation.

After the jump we take a closer look at most of the amazing installations, products and clothes that are on offer for this seaon at Dover Street Market!

Have a look!

Candid Candies

Pop-Up stores, temporary retail outlets that open in random locations, are not new. Pop-Up galleries, however, are. The latest to open is the Flash Projects inaugural space that opens on Thursday (25th November) exhibiting Canned Candies: The Nudes of Jean Clemmer.
The visionary and in hindsight, modern, images explore fantasy, sensuality and haute couture in 1960s Paris and included the iconic collaboration between Clemmer and designer Paco Rabanne from 1969.

This is also a celebratory exhibit, staged to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Canned Candies which was first published in Paris in 1969 under the name Nues, meaning naked. Yet this is the first time in which the UK has hosted an original collaboration between the two legendary names in French artistic and fashion culture plus a wider range of Clemmer's female form studies.

And whilst this exhibit is an event in itself, it coincides with the London Fashion in Film Festival for which the involvement of Rabanne's famed futuristic rhodoid and era fits perfectly. This iconic period explores the Utopian dreams, and dare say hopes, of an aluminum chain-mail realm of science fiction and fantasy. These were styled and captured by Clemmer using nude models 'dressed' in Rabanne's then unwearable fashions which depicted and epitomised the growing freedom of sexuality of the 1960s and it's height in 1969.

The publication Canned Candies was a groundbreaking piece of photographic journalism, using black and Asian models, unheard of across the industry at the time. It was originally launched at the iconic Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris with a flourish of naked dancers and an abundance of cocktails which caused an immediate scandal against morals and sensation.


Clemmer was a photographer who captured the essence of a lost era; the sensuality, the spectacle and the pleasure of human form when the time was about sexual freedom and gratification. This is a must see exhibition, not only to see two of the biggest names in French and contemporary culture, but to see how a woman captures a form traditionally taken by a man.

For further information and to see more images by other photographers, Click Here.

Words by Dan Hasby Oliver

The Godfather of Street Art Launch

The stars turned out in their droves this week for the highly anticipated launch of the Vladmir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida in collaboration with Giorgio Armani exhibition The Godfather Of Street Art, which features work by acclaimed artist Richard Hambleton.

The launch, which took place at The Dairy on Wakefield Street, saw the unveiling of the striking collection in London following previous stints at New York, Milan and Cannes. The event saw an enviable guest list of high-profile individuals that included fashion designer Pam Hogg, Imogen Poots and Amber Le Bon.

Presenters Jameela Jamil and Reggie Yates made an appearance, while comedian David Walliams and new wife Lara Stone looked every inch the stylish couple throughout the soirée. Other fashion royalty included the always glamorous Roberta Armani, niece of Giorgio Armani, who happily posed for pictures alongside Editor-in-Chief of French Vogue, Carine Roitfed who proudly attended the launch in support of her son.

The exhibition is open to the public from Monday to Friday (10am to 7pm) at The Dairy, 7 Wakefield Street, London WC1 1PG.

The Godfather of Street Art

Richard Hambleton has experienced a notoriety like no other since he initially rose to fame in the early 1980's. Making his mark on the streets of New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Paris, London and Japan, Hambleton's visually arresting public art, most notably his Shadowman and Crime Scene series, has played heavy influence on street artists Blek Le Rat and Banksy.

As the last influential surviving member of the East Village Art Movement, Hambleton -who has often been heralded as the "Godfather of Street Art"- has led a relatively reclusive life for the past twenty years and yet has still managed to retain a constant presence on the art scene. With past works having been exhibited in the likes of The MoMa and The Houston Museum of Fine Art, Hambleton's latest venture sees him becoming the subject of new exhibition in collaboration with fashion power house Giorgio Armani. Curated by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida, the exhibition shall feature 45 works (25 of which have never been seen before) and shall open at The Dairy on the 18th of November. Joining forces with Armani through a shared drive of "Individual passion and creativity", the exhibition shall continue until December 3rd.

Of the exciting collaboration Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida say: "Richard Hambleton’s brush stroke as an artist is genius and is in a league of its own. Most significantly, he is the most important and influential living street artist in the world today, with a story and career that is unparalleled. It is also a privilege for us to collaborate again with Giorgio Armani and we’re pleased to present it in such a prestigious space."

High Art Gets High Fashion

Jason Alper has quite the resume. As a stylist and costume designer he first gained attention; but through collaborating with Sacha Baron Cohen he really started to gain notoriety. Now he's revealed his talents extend further as an artist with his latest exhibition Proletarian Drift and The Enfranchisement of the Bourgeoise at the Guy Hepner Gallery in West Hollywood. Taking luxurious fine art oil paintings and splattering them with the iconic Louis Vuitton Logo, Alper's creations are a nod to past representations of status, while at the same time reflecting how the perceptions of labels have now changed in modern society. With such fearless humor, is it any wonder that this is the man behind the infamous Borat man-kini?

Scent Stories

Founded in 2008, design duo Magda Katek and Kamil Jerzykowski are the fiercely creative minds behind Ah&Oh Studios, the imaginative hub based somewhere in between Berlin and Warsaw, in the old Poznan district Jezyce. Katek (aka Ah) is the Head of Art and is responsible for the visionary productions the studios unveil; meanwhile her cohort Jerzykowski (AKA Oh) possesses the rather humorous title of Head of Head and is the mastermind behind producing the emerging projects within the company.

The studio's latest conception is entitled "Scent Stories" and was developed on the basis that perfume packaging design had been the twosome's dream project, hence they delved right into the challenge and decided to explore the world of men's fragrance. Their initial tact was to first concentrate on the idea of the scent itself and sought inspiration in the "great, dark literature and distinctive, strong characters". Through such a process, they then set about describing the dark sides of men's nature with a line of scents named after famed writers throughout history. Brandishing the names of literary greats Orwell, Poe, De Sade and Laclos, the artfully constructed bottles resemble the classic shape of the inkwell and have become the new home of the heady scents that they developed. With distinctive black and white colouring and featuring strong, bold lettering, the Pièce de résistance of their designs are heads of characters which loosely recall each author's respective masterpiece.

"Richard Hambleton - New York" in Moscow

After having been held in display both in New York and Milan, "Richard Hambleton - New York" will debut at The State Museum of Modern Art of the Russian Academy of Arts in Moscow, Russia. Curated by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida, the exhibition will feature 30 original paintings, including 15 never-before-seen works.

The opening reception is today, and will be open to the public from tomorrow until September 29, 2010. The highly successful exhibitions will continue to London next. During this year's amfAR charity dinner in Cannes 2 pieces sold for more than 1 million dollars.

Sounds Like by: Joey Roth

As if Joey Roth's much coveted, ceramic speakers can't get more interesting, he creates "Sounds Like". An exhibition showing the interpretation of Joey's friends, (Nine designers, Five musicians) during ICFF in New York. And, if the designs shown are any indication of the inspiration the speakers bring, 7thMan is looking forward to September, when 'Sounds Like' will be moving to L.A. Bringing at least two new interpretations!

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

Tamra Davis met Jean-Michel Basquiat when he was only 21 years old, and she says he "definitely looked different." It was not far to long before the both started to bond over filmmaking, going out to movies and making there own reviews. Davis at that time was just a gallery assistant and was attending film school and pretty soon started filming him, and then Jean-Michel asked her if she could make a film about him.

Throughout the mid-80's Tamra filmed the artist in the studio painting, she recalls "Every time I was with him-and anybody will tell you this-he was always was working. He would be drawing at the restaurant; he would be painting."

Then in 1988 news broke out that Jean-Michel Basquiat passed away. And, Tamra Davis feeling bad and in mourning felt uncomfortable to do anything with the footage, and put it away and forgot about it. But in 2005, with the help of friends she returned to the 80's footage to make a 20 minute tribute. When the late artists friends and fans saw it they all flipped out! So Davis developed the short into a feature-length documentary with Arthouse Films, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child.

The film just had its New York premiere at Moma during the Tribeca Film Festival. Injecting passion for the late artists legendary charisma. Which was propelled into culture during the late 70's, making everyone wanting a piece of him.

To see a trailer of the documentary visit this link.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a Cult-Figure, inspiring us then and now.

Carnaby Street - 1960-2010

As everyone knows Carnaby Street today is part of the daily life in London, and as well for tourists around the world who come to view the hot designers & labels of the street. What most might not know is of the rich history Carnaby brings, like the music heritage such as the Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, and Jimi Hendrix from the 60's. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary there will be year long events starting with an exhibition and book of the same title; 'Carnaby Street 1960-2010'.

The exhibition will put into context the history of Carnaby from its earliest origins in the 16th Century to the present day with a focus on the 60's...The limited edition book will feature images from the 60's photographer Philip Townshend and exclusive interviews of people who lived and worked on Carnaby.

Series of events will follow throughout the year including a live music weekend in June and a unique fashion show in September.

Carnaby Street: 1960-2010 opens from today the 26th of February to Saturday the 10th of April.

38 Carnaby Street, W1

Contributing Editor - NJD

Top & below image by: Philip Townshend

Middle image by: All Hulton

"Richard Hambleton - New York" in Milan

Richard Hambleton rose to fame in the early 1980's when like his contemporaries, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, had great success coming out of the New York City art scene. He used the streets of NY as his canvas for visually arresting public art, most notably his "Shadowman" & "Crime Scene" series. Hambleton has been labelled "The Godfather of Street Art".

The last surviving member of the East Village Art Movement, Hambleton saw what fame and drugs use did to his close friends, and for the last 20 years has led a relatively reclusive life in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. During those years, Hambleton has continued to create and his works can be found in the permanent collections of the MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, the Zellermeyer in Berlin, the Andy Warhol museum, the New Museum of Contemporary Art and even at Harvard University. In 1984 he was chosen for the Venice Biennale.

Following the highly successful New York exhibition in September 2009, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld & Andy Valmorbida in collaboration with Giorgio Armani will present "Richard Hambleton - New York" an exhibition of 45 works by Hambleton, during Milan Fashion Week.

Vladimir & Andy say: "Richard Hambleton's brush stroke as an artist is genius and is in a league of his own. Most significantly, he is the most important and influential living street artist in the world today, with a story and career that is unparalleled. It is also a privilege for us to collaborate with Giorgio Armani and we are pleased to present it in such a prestigious space."

The Richard Hambleton exhibition will be open to the public on March 1st to the 12th 2010, following the opening night reception on February 25th 2010. All at the Armani/Teatro in Milan, which will be open from 10am-7pm.

It will feature 45 pieces, 30 works-15 never before seen, will be for sale.

Contributing Editor - NJD

Richard Hambleton's images by: Hank O'Neal

Fashion Vending Machine

If you are in Miami this week, like the rest of the fashion pack for Art Basel, due stop by the "Vending Machine". As part of its fortieth anniversary, Interview is celebrating by stocking on forty years of pop culture at Miami's Mondrian Hotel. With contributors like Dolce & Gabanna, Fred Perry, and Jil Sander, the vending machine will also feature limited edition pieces such as the above hand-constructed tank from newcomer Rochambaeu.

So, if your in need of fast fashion, literally, put in your "quarter" and get a special piece.

Mondrian Hotel

Tel: 305.514.1500

Online Contributing Editor-NJD

Gagosian Shop Opening in New York

Gagosian Gallery opened its first ever-retail shop last month, located on Madison Avenue. The venue is featuring Gagosian publications, posters, prints, and magazines as well as limited editions by John Currin, Tom Friedman, Ellen Gallagher, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Marc Newson, Richard Prince, and Franz West to name just a few.

This will also give Gagosian Gallery and their artists the new opportunity to create innovative projects in the medium of editions and artists books, bringing everything to us directly. The space will present rotating artist projects, beginning with the presentation of Richard Prince's newest limited edition artist book, Bettie Kline, up for grabs now.

One will also be excited to know there will be a section of the store devoted exclusively to "Other Criteria". Currently running two shops in London, which already has been established as one of London's best locations for buying artists editions and books.

7th Man is pleased about this new approach to art. A store where one can unwind in the reading lounge with out-of-print Gagosian titles, a video installation of current gallery exhibitions, and collaborations with artists on works exclusively for the store.

Gagosian Shop

998 Madison Avenue-@77St.

New York, NY 10075

212.744.9200

Open Monday to Saturdays: 10am-6:30pm

If you have any questions please e-mail: shop@gagosian.com

www.gagosian.com

Online Contributing Editor-NJD

New York-in-London

New York is known for its shopping, there are plenty of neighborhoods to go, but one of the last hidden areas is the Lower East Side.

As a born and raised New Yorker there was nothing more wonderful than heading downtown, and delighting yourself with what it has to offer. It has flourished with talent, from galleries to new retailers. Since moving to London It has certainly been one of the routines I miss the most. So, it came with much excitement when I discovered that part would be experiencet again, here in London.

“Wish You Were Here” has open two pop-up stores, featuring 12 independent brands from the Lower East Side. Throughout the month of October you will be treated in shopping events, fashion shows, live street performances, and a Halloween party, American style.

If this is not a reason to visit Carnaby, then you should also know there is a multi-media exhibition of New York artists with work influenced by the neighborhood.

Shopping and Art! You will get the genuine experience of walking through the L.E.S., NY.

To get the full information of “Wish You Were Here” visit:

www.wishyouwerehereswap.com

Opened today through the end of the month

-Online Contributing Editor -NJD