Exhibition: David Hockney at Tate Britain, London

As we finally reach the edge of winter and step into some (hopefully) Spring like weather, there are an array of exhibitions coming up that are set to inspire. Most importantly, the upcoming David Hockney exhibition that is opening on the 9th February at the Tate Britain. The display will bring together an extensive collection of Hockney's most famous works, celebrating his achievements across six decades in painting, drawing, photography, print and video.

As his 80th birthday approaches, Hockney continues to change his approach and way of working, having experimented with new technologies throughout his career. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a selection of unforgettable works, from his extraordinary portraits to the azure blue LA swimming pools, all the way through to his Yorkshire landscapes and some pieces that have never before been seen in public - this will be, quite simply put, the exhibition of the year in London. 

David Hockney: Red Pots in The Garden (2000). 

David Hockney: More Felled Trees on Woldgate, 2008. 

David Hockney, Tate Britain

From 9th of February 2017 until 29th of May 2017

A Cuban Retrospective in London: Wilfredo Lam at Tate Modern

This September, don't miss the chance to see one of the most notable Cuban and modernist artists of the twentieth century in this major retrospective at The Tate Modern. Wilfredo Lam's work addresses themes of nature and spirituality as well as social injustice. His work is closely associated with icons such as Andre Breton, Pablo Picasso and Lucio Fontana. 

Having witnessed political upheaval throughout his life, including the Spanish Civil War and the evacuation of artists and intellectuals in France during the onset of WW II, Lam offered a unique historical perspective through his painting of a post-colonial world. 

Wifredo Lam, Horse-headed Woman, 1950

The exhibition will include over 200 paintings, drawings, photographs and prints, and will trace Lam's 60-year career from the 1920s to the 1970s, confirming his place at the centre of cosmopolitan modernism. 

Wifredo Lam, Tate Modern – 14th September 2016 – 8th January 2017

From Great Escapes to Floating Dreams: Your Culture Guide to September

Visit – Abstract Expressionism, Royal Academy. Experience the colour, scale and energy of America’s greatest art movement in this autumn’s must-see exhibition at the Royal Academy. Highlights include Pollock, Rothko and de Kooning. The perfect transition into the winter months. Opens September 24th 2016. 

Clyfford Still, PH-950 (detail), 1950

Eat – 100 Islington – A shoot off of 100 Hoxton, you can’t go wrong with these delicious Pan-Asian and Middle Eastern small plates. 

Read – Slim Aarons: Great Escapes. Perfect for back to school season, this gorgeous hardcover journal features ten inspirational photographs of spectacular holiday spots from the infamous Slim Aarons from the 1950’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. 

Slim Aarons: Great Escapes

Watch – Absolutely Fashion: Inside British Vogue, September 8th on BBC2. We can’t wait to catch a glimpse into the making of the Centenary Issue of British Vogue. 

Go – London Design Festival. Feel inspired across all of London as the Design Festival runs from September 17th to 25th. From pop-up shops to major design shows there will be fantastic events all over the city. Don’t miss Mathieu Lehanneur’s marble installation at the V & A. 

Ik-Joong Kant: Floating Dreams installation 2016

See – Floating Dreams by Ik-Joong Kant – Don’t miss the chance to see this major installation by Ik-Joong Kant, one of South Korea’s prominent multimedia artists. Floating Dreams is a large-scale installation positioned in the centre of the River Thames by Millennium Bridge. Constructed from 500 drawings and illuminated from within, the three-storey-high structure acts as a memorial to the millions displaced and divided during the Korean War.

From Zevs' Big Oil Splash to Danler's Sweetbitter: Your Culture Guide to August

Go – Mary Heilmann, Whitechapel Gallery. American artist Mary Heilmann’s bright canvases are currently on display at the Whitechapel Gallery. Don’t miss the chance to be inspired by her stunning choice of colour and form. Until 21st August. 

M. Heilmann - Taste of Honey, 2011

See: Yerma at The Young Vic. This superb play based on Lorca’s achingly powerful masterpiece stars Billie Piper. A superb performance by Billie, she plays Yerma, a woman driven to the unthinkable by her desperate desire to have a child, an intense modern-day tragedy. Until 24th September. 

Eat – Padella, London Bridge. There’s nothing we don’t love about freshly made pasta. Head over to Padella by London Bridge for their sensational pasta dishes – we recommend the crab linguine with chili and a glass of bubbly. Divine. 

Read – Sweetbitter: A Novel by Stephanie Danler.  This wonderful coming of age tale takes place in the tantalizing world of New York City, a winding journey through the most exclusive restaurants in Manhattan. 

Sweetbitter: A Novel by Stephanie Danler, 2016

Visit – Zevs: The Big Oil Splash at Lazarides Gallery.  Hockney’s influence isn’t going anywhere soon. This eerie selection of prints addresses some societal issues using Hockney’s a Bigger Splash. A bit like seeing an old favourite but with a new twist. Lazarides Gallery, London, W1T 1HR. 

Zevs' The Big Oil Splash, Exhibition at Lazaride Gallery, 2016

Watch – Watch the Olympics in style at St. Katherine’s Docks.  It may be a million miles away from sunny Rio, but with ice-cold cocktails in abundance and deck chairs we can’t think of anywhere better to be. 

82 Portraits and 1 Still Life: David Hockney

After his monumental exhibition in 2012 of bright exotic landscapes, David Hockney has created a new series of portraits, which will be on display from 2nd July at The Royal Academy.  Each portrait was made over three days in bright acrylic colours, all on identically sized canvases with all subjects sitting in the exact same chair. The exhibition is bursting with sartorial inspiration, from polka-dot silk ties to eccentric accessories; it really is pure colour and texture. The portraits capture some real personality too, from friends, family and acquaintances including fellow artists, office staff, gallerists and curators such as Larry Gagosian and John Baldessari.  

Celia Birtwellmast by David Hockney

David Hockney: 82 Portraits and 1 Still Life, 2nd July 2016 – 2nd October 2016, Royal Academy

Magnified Flowers and Mexican Landscapes: Georgia O'Keeffe

Magnified flowers and Mexican landscapes will soon land in our capital. Don’t miss a rare chance to see Georgia O’Keeffe’s truly gorgeous (in every way) body of work, primarily because none of her work is on display in public collections in the UK.  She was best known for her abstract paintings and depictions of natural forms. 

This will be the first exhibition of O’Keeffe’s work in 20 years. Come first and foremost to challenge the female vs male divide, a topic O’Keeffe’s paintings so naturally conjure up.

“Men put me down as the best woman painter…
…I think I’m one of the best painters.”

Georgia O’Keeffe

Jimson Weed / White Flower No. 1

The highlight of the show for us will be Jimson Weed / White Flower No. 1 (pictured), the most expensive painting by a woman ever sold at auction (not a small feat Georgia). The exhibition will open with her charcoals that were first exhibited in 1915 and will end on more conceptual river scenes from the early 1960s, an unfeigned journey through her life and career. 

From July 6th at The Tate Modern’s Eyal Ofer Galleries, this is really a show not to be missed.  Head over on a Summer afternoon in your very best attire to get lost in the ethereal landscape of O’Keeffe’s New Mexico. 

July 6th – 30th October 2016

Tate Modern

   

To Freeze The Time Through Tapestry — Retrieving Memories Through Carpet Landscapes: Alex Keha

How to connect the dots between nature, sustainability and carpet making? By reinventing cherished childhood territories from leftover textiles of her family-owned factory, Argentinian rug artist Alexandra Kehayoglou gives an answer to this seemingly impossible equation. It’s in the Studio Kehayoglou, where the hands work hard and artisanal immaculacy bravely takes shape, stopping the passing of time in ethereal still-life carpet artwork.

Carpet artwork by Alexandra Kehayoglou

Your carpets are pure magic. How does the process of creating one begin? 

Every piece has a story behind it and the whole process that leads to the final result is rather long and complex. [In my approach], the original techniques of tufting are combined with modern technology. I try to link both platforms — the industrial and the manual — to create more experimental artworks. My greenlands, paddocks, shelters and tapestries are made up from retrieved material of the factory owned by my own family. In a way, they contain my own life experience. 

I usually have a previous idea of what I want to achieve [as a final result], but this always changes through the process. I first sketch on the canvas, then apply the tones and create textures inspired by landscapes I’ve seen. The textile is weaved with handtuft system — with a pistol that I manipulate on vertical racks to create the weft that will give shape to the final piece. Each of them is unique, with a certain texture, pattern, volume and unrepeatable palette. 

When did you start connecting and exploring the symbiosis between landscapes and rug making?

I grew up among rugs. Seventy years ago, my Greek family brought the tradition of designing and producing the carpets to Argentina. After many years of research, I decided to transform my family history into an artistic expression. 

Everything started with my diorama boxes in which I tried to freeze a scene. An artificial miniature beach landscape in which the spectator could submerge, but these were at first [merely a] model — they were small and packed in a box. When that tapestry unfolded on the floor, I realised I could create those landscapes, following the same idea of time being frozen, but this time in a human scale. Therefore I decided to keep my cherished territories from childhood safe from the passing of time by recreating my landscapes. 

How is the sustainability element represented in your artwork? What other principles do you consider to be the cornerstone of your art? 

Sustainability is present in each piece of work. I am deeply conscious about nature and that is why I hand-tuft my pieces with 100% natural sheep wool and all the materials are surplus from my family’s factory. The materials are selected carefully and then dyed to achieve the desired colours.

Alexandra Kehayoglou

How long does it take to create one masterpiece rug? What's the most complex project you have undertaken and completed?

Depending on the complexity of the piece, the production time can take from one to several months. I pay a lot of attention to details and I am extremely tedious with each and every stitch. The most complex project I worked on was a custom-made carpet designed by Olafur Eliasson and crafted by Alexandra Kehayoglou’s Studio. It consisted of a 3D carpet, which we had to adapt to a wooden topography to create a reading space in the Art Kunz Library of Berlin. This was truly challenging, because we had to develop a new method for the carpet installation. All in all, it was a great experience; we spent almost three weeks at the Studio. We worked a lot! 

“Each of them is unique, with a certain texture, pattern, volume and unrepeatable palette.”

What makes a particular landscape inspiring enough for one of your rugs? What else inspires you throughout the process?

I guess the contemplation of the landscapes I love is the first step for the development of my work. Also, Argentinian geography has been very inspiring for me because, in a way, my personal history is tightly related to the history of that land. Walks through my parents garden with my son, road trips, sunsets, aerial views, the sea, the beach, my family, my grandmother, are part of this dialogue between nature, tradition and art. 

You also have an inspiring Instagram account. In your view as an artist, is it important to promote yourself more as a 'brand' nowadays? Don't you feel that it has made your work more commercial?

I believe all art is very much about freedom. In a way, Instagram is a great tool for any visual artist, because it allows us to choose what we want to share about our daily work at the studio — it’s sort of a visual diary. During the last few years, artists have found new ways of creating the ‘buzz’ and circulation, it’s not merely about being a part of a gallery anymore. Even though my work is sometimes related to important brands, I really don’t find my work commercial at all. In fact, it is well known that there are new models of art business arising and concurrently with them, new ways of being an artist. 

“Walks through my parents garden with my son, road trips, sunsets, aerial views, the sea, the beach, my family, my grandmother - all are part of this dialogue between nature, tradition and art.”

Alexandra Kehayoglou

Describe the relationship between fashion and your rugs. There was a runway setup project you've done for one of the major fashion brands. Are there any other fashion collaborations you’ve executed?

In 2014, Dries Van Noten contacted my studio through a fashion producer called Villa Eugénie, who had seen my work online. They asked for a rug of 50 meters based on the same nature concepts that I work on. The design of the carpet was a pastizal (grassland/pasture). We travelled to Paris for the installation of the piece. It was a great experience because, even though the process was very intense and it had to be developed in a very limited timeframe, a new way of thinking my work appeared [as a result]. 

How can we be more environmentally aware and shape people's mindsets through what we put out in the world?

I think we should start with small actions. Every day is a chance of making things better. If we finally understand that we are not the centre of the Earth, but just a tiny part of it, as well as the trees, the animals, the rivers and seas and the mountains, our decision-making and behaviour will lead us to living a more environmentally-conscious life. 

“I decided to keep my cherished territories from childhood safe from the passing of time by recreating my landscapes.”

What's your relationship with nature? 

I was raised in a house with a big garden, so my approach to nature is quite sincere and spontaneous. As a child I used to explore the different colours, shadows, smell of the grass, the flowers and plants. Everything was special and new, my point of view was not contaminated by life experience. I remember making up stories for hours, nursing the birds, playing with mud. The feeling that time was frozen in a special moment is something I’ve been trying to transmit with my work as part of that first intuition. 

The process of creating a masterpiece: Artist Alexandra Kehayoglou

In what ways has Argentina played a role in shaping you as an artist?

Argentina offers many kinds of climates, landscapes and cultures. I decided to embrace this diversity because it’s also a part of my own identity. The scenes I create are part of native territories that carry ancestral information and I think that my job as an artist is to transmit their message through the best language I know, art. 

http://www.alexkeha.com

Artattack: C for Charlotte Posner Pop Dolls

Meet Miss Charlotte Posner — London’s contemporary bespoke illustrator whose glam Pop Dolls have conquered the city’s galleries and conceptual shopping spaces. Whether it’s a proud row of sophisticated fashion Pop Doll icons, or elegant eye candy for the foodies, the funky hand-painted illustrations, mimicking commodity culture, branding and fashion’s exuberance in a stylish and satirical way, are simply a joyous celebration of the (otherwise) mundane everyday objects. All around us. 

Recently: C. Posner brought the era of fun, customised illustration back at Daisy Green Food, Seymour Street, on May 11th, and even three splashes of sticky prosecco accidentally poured over couldn’t stop us from admiring the majestic Pop Doll artwork, paired in perfect harmony with the trendy Peonica London summer collection handbags (above). 

C Posner Art

At Savant, we always love personal stories the most. Tell me more about your artistic background and key influences. How did your journey of becoming an illustrator begin?

'Hello Sweetie' by C Posner

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a passion for expressing myself through creativity. My academic capabilities were not always my strongest asset and being artistic allowed me to strive and achieve in the one area that bought me happiness. From the age of 14, Mr. Jepson, my art teacher, taught me how to create using oil paint, which is where my love for art grew deeper. I spent 4 years studying at Chelsea Collage of Art and Design, which also included a semester at Emily Carr in Vancouver.

For the past 6 years I have worked on my paintings from Limehouse Art Foundation Studios in East London, competing in competitions and exhibiting my artwork nationally and internationally. I’ve had my work accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, I participated at the Tate Modern. I also won a Saatchi drawing prize, and have been featured on the BBC Culture Show. Three years ago I decided to quit my part time job to become a full time artist. ‘If i don’t do it now i never will.’ I haven’t looked back since…

What trends and techniques are prevalent in your field of illustration today? 

The main technique I use for my illustrations is pen and ink drawing, starting my work by sketching first in pencil, I then use dip pen and black ink going over the rough sketch with solid neat lines. I then paint in the colour with acrylic or watercolour and touch up in pen again. I also use collage and jewels to accessorise the paintings. I want my paintings to be stylish, bold and easy to live with.

“Three years ago I decided to quit my part-time job to become a full-time artist. “If i don’t do it now i never will,” ran through my mind. I haven’t looked back since…”

How long does it take you to complete an illustration? Have you also experienced the so-called 'creative block' periods when you are unable to produce new art at all? How do you overcome such periods?

The process of creating my painting from start to finish depends on the size of the painting. They range from a day for the very small drawing or sketch to two-three weeks for the very large. I occasionally get the creative blocks, but I find that less thinking and more doing helps! Working on a few paintings at the same time keeps my imagination flowing and keep me interested in my work.

It seems like you get the inspiration from the most unexpected places - like the row of Magnum dolls, and many other commercial brand and figure led influences. How did you get into this niche? 

Everything around me is influential, I really stand by the quote, ‘you are what you surround yourself with’. All my artwork is based on current trends, life events and all my travels. 

The first ‘Pop Doll’ painting I ever created were the ice cream girls. I posted the dolls on social media and I received more ‘likes’ than I have ever had! From then on my ideas grew and little did I know I had my theme. From ‘foodie dolls’ to ‘designer dolls’, my work was slowly but surely taking off. I started to receive interest from brands, such as Magnum, Coke, Walls, Kellogg, Nails INK, and Magnum UK featured me on their summer campaign.

My vision for the future is to stick to the same theme, whilst growing my style and keeping my work fresh and interesting.

'Magnificent' by C Posner

Why should we appreciate bespoke illustrations today? 

Making art is being totally in the present. It is a full process of taking your time, concentrating and using your imagination. Everything is becoming much more digital and easily accessible today. I believe that, ‘Good art is like a designer bag, you keep it and it never loses it value.’ My paintings are only increasing in value as my work has become more popular.

What's your opinion on promoting your work at concept store events, such as the Fofolles Popup on Kings Road, Chelsea, in perfect harmony with other ‘brands’, be it artists or fashion makers? Could it be that it creates a better connection with your art when exhibited in a conceptual space?

I think all exposure is great, having a pop-up store on the Kings Road was fantastic for brand awareness and getting my art seen by a young, trendy audience and surrounded by other luxury brands.

Why is it that many artists today decide to sell their work only through social media, and not in galleries anymore? In this case, what could be our potential loss as artists and consumers of art?

I believe the reason for this is that the rentals for gallery space in central London are financially prohibiting. I would agree that a gallery is the best place to exhibit you artwork because this is the only venue that encourages the speculative purchaser that buys on impulse.

'Saucy Ladies' by C Posner

Who are your favourite illustrators?

My favourite illustrators are Harry Clarke, Léon Samoilovitc Bakst and Richard Dadd.

Who would you expect to have their home decorated with your wonderful illustrations? 

I am extremely fortunate to have acquired such a wonderful audience of all ages. My clients leave it up to me to design what I feel, for commissions they give me the theme and idea and I go ahead and create. I like having the freedom to experiment with colour and style, to give the client the painting they want. My work is hanging all over the world - starting from London, Paris, New York to Brazil! Art is an international language and thereby appreciated all over the world.

Find the above and other bespoke, limited edition Pop Doll prints -

http://www.charlotteposner.com

Meet Miss Martin

Agnes Martin’s subtle pencil lines and light colour washes will be welcomed this summer to London’s Tate Modern. The exhibition will display three decades of Martin’s work, from her early beginnings in New York to her escape from fame in Taos, New Mexico.  Agnes Martin was born in Canada and considered herself an abstract expressionist, like her male peers Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. 

Agnes Martin. 

Martin once remarked that ‘Without awareness of beauty, innocence and happiness, one cannot make works of art’, which suggests her reasoning for moving away from the competitive New York art scene and to seek creative comfort in New Mexico’s foreign lands. Martin believed in the power of the emotional over the physical and also believed that her most recent work of art was always her best.  Somewhat controversially, Martin wished for all of her early works to be destroyed, a collection of which will be on show to the public this summer.  We must feel privileged to have the opportunity to witness the growth of a successful female artist, in an arena that was monopolized by men. Women artists are gaining more and more attention in the current climate, with Georgia O’Keefe recently setting a new record for the highest female auction price for her White Flower Number One. Expect to be soothed and meditative in front of Martin’s paintings, their striped linen canvases will hold your attention with their ever so slight details.  

"I often paint tranquility. If you stop thinking and rest, then a little happiness comes into your mind. At perfect rest you are comfortable."

– Agnes Martin

Agnes Martin, artist portrait. 

Agnes Martin at The Tate Modern 3rd June – 11th October 2015.