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The Wapping Project

All Pictures taken by Vision Of Splendor on an Iphone.

Last night to celebrate a friends birthday I finally got to go dinner to The Wapping Project based in an old Hydraulic Power Station with constantly changing Art Exhibitions.

We were luckily to have booked on  a night that "Yohji Making Waves" Installation was on, by Yohji Yamamoto. Set in the 1890's Boiler Room filled with water you are taken around in a small wooden boat by their version of a Gondoliere as Yohji's Wedding dress Installation hangs Illuminated from the ceiling.There is such an ethereal ambiance that you feel enveloped in its cocoon, we so enjoyed that little trip.

Even if you are having dinner in a industrial space they manage to make you feel at home with their very warm service and the visual feast of architecture meets art. On old Tv's dotted around the vast dinning space Yohji Yamamoto's catwalk show video's were shown to tie in with Exhibition.

Outside there in a little patch of green sits a Garden Shed turned Bookshop where every Thursday evening an artist, author or poet is invited to give a reading or a performance.

There were other areas to explore but wanted to save it for a next time, where am sure it will be different again.

I loved every minute of it and will certainly return.

http://www.thewappingproject.com/

http://thewappingprojectbookshop.com/

http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp/

Based Upon ~ Metal Storytelling

 Set up by twin brothers Ian & Richard Abell Based Upon is a team of incredible craftsmen, metalworkers and artist that create spectacular designs out of liquid metals and resins. Personalized large scale Artwork, Sculpture and Furniture is painstakingly made with outstanding results. We all have a story or a memory that we want to have with us always, Based Upon can manifest this for you in an unforgettable way. 

Browse their website which is full of interesting information on what they can create for you.

Storytelling in Liquid metal, now that is unique. xo

Images sourced via their site,

Based Upon

Based Upon Unit A121 / Faircharm 8-12 Creekside London SE8 3DX UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 83202122 info@basedupon.com

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert

Well done England for putting on such a beautiful show. London never looked so beautiful! So happy to have been here to be part of such a memorable weekend.

God Save The Queen. xo

Sources via,

www.guardian.co.uk

www.telegraph.co.uk

www.dailymail.co.uk

www.flickr.com

Hassan Hajjaj

I fell in Love with Morocco when I went on holiday as a child to Tangiers, the mysterious and exotic fragrances filled my young senses, the colours , hustle and bustle, charming people and food stayed with me forever. I always have a soft spot for artisans from that region and one of these has caught my imagination.

A mix of Andy Warhol and North African sense of humour with streetstyle makes Hassan Hajjaj's work unique and wonderful. Born in Larache Morocco in the 60's and moved to London in the 1970's were he found his creativity of mixing his North African vibe with the western world.

Hassan has an incredible amount of talents photographer, artist , furniture designer, think recycled tables out of street signs, fashion and the list goes on.He has decorated Riad Yima in Marrakesh and the hilariously named  Andy Wahloo in Paris owned by Mourad Mazouz of Momo's and Sketch in London who is a big supporter of unique talent and thanks to him I discovered Hassan's work.

If you are in London you can see one of Hassan's pieces in Harrods were at the moment there is a pop up exhibition called Inspiring Morocco or go to his studio in East London.

Click below to Play Thé a La Menthe by La Caution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=crrKWEVetUM

www.hassanhajjaj.com

www.riadyima.com

www.momoresto.com/restaurant/paris/andy-wahloo/about/

All Aboard The Passenger

When I first saw these images of The Passenger (great name ) I thought it was a real train, only when I read the text did I realized that this is a bar in Madrid that looks like you are on a train. What a cool idea, with video production by Spanish video Artist Franger gives the illusion that you are looking out of the windows of a moving train.

Owned by Spanish Actors Rodrigo Taramona & Jimmy Castro and two entrepreneurs friends, they commissioned Latin Creative Director, Producer and Designer Paraolio to create the luxurious interiors to transport you back in time. Open during the day for one of Madrid's best cafesitos and  by night drink your whisky and cocktails to classic rock . I wonder if the issue The Passenger Passport with drink stamps if you travel  a lot with them.

Buen Viaje xo

Sources,

Cool Hunter

Paraolio

The Passenger

East is East

Last Saturday a dear friend of mine organized a fantastic tour of East London Street Art. The Sun was shinning and temperatures high, we started our day by meeting up at Shoreditch House for some brunch, good friends and family from London and two friends from Spain who are not all familiar with East London our group in its self is a melting pot of nationalities as none of us are born in London.

Once fed and energized we strolled to Liverpool station to meet our Street Art knowledge bank and off we went to discover the vast art that is spread out over parts of East London. Concentrating around the Brick Lane area, which is filled with history, like the legend of Jack the Ripper and many layers of cultures, religions and famous artists.  I knew the area well enough having lived in London for more than 20 years but did not know much about street art and how big it has become in the East and around London.

It was a enriching day, sun, art, history and great friends. I recommend this to everyone, yet another thing that makes London so special is that its always filled with surprises.

I love you London xo

All pictures taken by Vision of Splendor with my iPhone.

Here is the link to book your tour,

http://www.insider-london.co.uk/london-graffiti-artists-walking-tours/

I Loewe You

Clockwise: Founder, Enrique Loewe Roessberg (1844-1929); Enrique Loewe Hilton (1879-1934), charmed high society to Loewe; Enrique Loewe Knappe (1912) pioneered international expansion; Enrique Loewe Lynch (1941) launched ready-to- wear in the 60’s, and created the Loewe Foundation, 1988.

Most people when they see the name Espagana , they think of Flamenco, bullfights, passion, paella, sangria, tortilla and Ibiza.

Let us not forget the incredible history of this country that brought these worldwide famous painters like Velazquez, Picasso, Goya and Dali and the legendary story of Don Quixote de la Mancha written by Miguel de Cervantes to name a few of the top of my head. The other well known Spanish expertise comes from craftsmanship and leather.

This is where the House of Loewe (lo-ay-ve) comes in, in 1846 a leather goods workshop was created  by  a group pf craftsmen on the year of two royal marriages, that of Her Majesty Isabel II of Bourbon to the Duke of Cadiz and that of Princess Maria Luisa Fernanda to the Duke of Montpensier. In 1872 Enrique Loewe Roessberg, a German craftsman specializing in leather working arrived in Madrid and decided to join forces with the these craftsmen and established the Loewe brand. With the precision and technique of Enrique Loewe and the creativity, leather and sensuality of Spain the house of Loewe rose in popularity becoming the Official Supplier to the Spanish Royal Crown in 1905. Famous stars such as Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Maria Callas and Ernest Hemingway would all purchase from the Gran Via store in Madrid.

Loewe started expanding all over Spain and in 1963 opened its first boutique in London's New Bond Street. Loewe then branched out into the Fashion Industry, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani and Laura Biagiotti were behind the first Women's Ready to Wear Collections. From there they created perfumes, Men's ready to wear and opened shops all over the world, in 1988 the Loewe Foundation was created including the Annual International Poetry Prize . In 1996 on the 150th Anniversary of the House of Loewe  LVMH took over the ownership of the brand, now with by Stuart Vevers as the Artistic Director of the brand.

What wonderful history this brand has, and if you ever get a chance to pass by their store go and view their collection "Clothing as Light as Air, as Soft as Silk", the leather is so so soft you can't believe it , the quality is just perfection.

Ole! xo

All photos via,

www.loewe.com

Research via,

www.wikipedia.org

Happy Winter Solstice

"In the depth of Winter, I finally learned that within me lay an an invincible Summer"

Albert Camus           

Winter Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere between the 21st-22nd of December depending on your time zone. This is officially the first day of Winter, it happens when the North Pole tilts 23.5 degrees away from the sun, it is the longest night of the year. On a very good note, after this event the days will slowly get longer until the Summer Solstice!

Pictures via National Geographic, Flickr, Tumblr and Pinterest,

L'Apartement de Monsieur Lagerfeld

«Je voulais un appartement avec du verre et de la transparence partout …

Ici, pas de couleur, car je suis entouré de couleur en permanence. Je préfère vivre dans un environnement neutre.»-KL

 I wanted an apartment with glass and transparency everywhere … And there is no colour here, because I am constantly surrounded by colour. I prefer to live in a neutral environment.

Photos by Karl Lagefeld

www.admagazine.fr

www.karl.com/fr