Tuesday, September 11

Eva Zeisel and her Sensual Modernism



Lived for 105 years... and lived constantly in the present.
Eva Zeisel, born in Budapest in 1906, apprenticed to potters as a teenager, then worked in Germany and later Russia and Vienna. Landed in New York in 1938 with her husband Hans and began her second design career that will define an era. Organic shapes, toned colors, a sense of fun and play and fluid lines set her appart of a cold modernism, she wanted to bring humanity to design and she did.



"I didn't accept the purism of modern design," she said. "In my definition, if it gave beauty to the eye, it was beauty."_Eva.



“I don’t create angular things. I’m a more circular person—it’s more my character….even the air between my hands is round.”




"I call myself a maker of things. I don't call myself an industrial designer, because among other things industrial designers want to make novel things. Novelty is a concept of commerce, not an aesthetic concept. The industrial design magazine I believe is called "Innovation". Innovation is not part of the aim of my work. Well, makers of things, we make things more beautiful, more elegant, more comfortable than just a craftsman do."


Below is a great interview that shows her fascinating energy and her bright mind at 93 years of age. Just look at her hands drawing, that's a life well lived.

Thursday, August 30

Lady Dior strarring by Marion Cotillard, the muse.



As part of a series of short films for Lady Dior starring by French actress Marion Cotillard, Lady London is a muse capable of unleashing the inner power of any man...well. True or fantasy has great photography, an adorable Marion and superb styling. Reminds me of my recent trip to Las Vegas where I finally got to see the French performance Crazy Horse, so tasteful. Next time I shall see the one in Paris!



Dior's cinematographic fashion campaign for the Lady Dior Handbag. Art direction by John Galliano. Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, starring by Marion Cotillard, Ian McKellen and Russell Tovey.






Thursday, August 23

Flying High in Paris by Laurent Chehere




A whimsical series by French photographer Laurent Chehere inspired by the 19th and 20th arrondissement of Paris, specially the Belleville and Menilmontant neighborhoods. I always say I want to live in Paris, I should get one of these...