Love Story – Works from Erling Kagge’s collection
Text FREDRIK AUSTAD & MAREN SERINE ANDERSEN
Photography LUCA SØRHEIM
Erling Kagge has now been in love for more than three decades. Thirty-two years ago, the Norwegian adventurer invested two average but tasteful bottles of Bordeaux wine in his very first piece of art: a signed and numbered lithography inspired by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. Kagge’s first love still remains among the other contemporary art pieces in his now quite remarkable collection, but the bottles of Bordeaux wine are history- they were gone the same night.
Today, after polar expeditions, a stroll through the sewerage of New York City and years of art collecting, Kagge is presenting the exhibition “Love story – Works from Erling Kagge’s collection” at Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Oslo, Norway. Gunnar B. Kvaran and Therese Möllenhoff together with Kagge himself have curated the exhibition, and present art pieces by 18 carefully selected artists from his private collection.
One day before opening, the art collector explains how the title “Love Story” was a natural and obvious choice to represent the exhibition; Considering such passion and eagerness experienced through the collecting process, one can easily do the comparison with true love. Kagge’s collection stands out as he has focused on selected artistries in depth when it comes to essential aspects as timespan, techniques, media and themes. It consists primarily of contemporary art by European and American artists born in the 60’, 70’ and 80’s.
The collection has no obvious overarching theme, if not to point at slight tendencies among some of the artists which can be identified as post conceptual art and more philosophical approaches within Neomodernism. The latter tendency mentioned is recognized in some of our favorite pieces of the «Love Story» collection, like Tabu Auberach’s woven canvas and Sergej Jensen’s textile pieces. Other favorites are the impressive works of Wolfgang Tillmans, Olafur Eliasson, Kirsten Pieroth, and Klara Lidén, a selection of art pieces in the collection that we had to ask the museum hosts a little extra about.
Erling Kagge has written the book “The art of collecting art” for the exhibition. In a vivid and humoristic lingua he reflects on his experiences of becoming an art collector and hands out insider tips about buying pieces you love. The book is to be found in the bookshop at the museum.
The exhibition will be at ASTRUP FEARNLEY MUSEUM OF MODERN ART from 22.05-27.09.
– And watch your step in the museum space, there is a 265 000 NOK banana peel laying around!
The Modern Traveler
Text Fredrik Austad & Maren Serine Andersen Photos MR.PORTER & COS
Presenting COS and MRPORTER.COM with The Modern Traveller: a capsule collection for summer 2015.
“In addition to sharing similar brand values, we feel that MR PORTER is a pioneer in their area of expertise. In this contemporary setting of the ‘information age’ they continue to lead in adapting the latest technology, information sharing and pioneering design-led fashion. For ‘The Modern Traveller’ we wanted to create a collection that reinterpreted function for every occasion – a collection where the tailored suit can take you from a business meeting in NYC to an art gallery opening in the evening.”
– Martin Andersson, Head of Menswear Design, COS
The constantly changing western society is turning more and more globalized. This has definitely made its impact on the modern man’s life. It is clear that it has become almost mandatory to possess a wardrobe functional for every occasion that might occur. This includes traveling, work life or in private and is exactly what inspired to become a collaboration between the Swedish minimalistic designer brand COS and the well-known, web-based menswear destination MRPORTER.COM.
The creation of the limited 23-piece collection is based on menswear essentials in lightweight, wearable pieces. The color range combines white and greys with burgundies and various hues of blue. Clean lines and simplicity representing COS, mixed with sharp tailoring has resulted in a distinct minimalistic design that most likely will appeal largely to the Scandinavian customers.
A journey through Portugal by Joakim Heltne
mon Dieu contributor Joakim has documented his journey through Portugal.
Memories portraying well-chosen sites of the lovely country has been captured by the photographer using his iPhone. This is what he discovered when he explored places like Sintra, Cascais, Porto, Aveiro, Azenhas do Mar, Sortelh and Lisboa.
A journey through Portugal by Joakim Heltne
mon Dieu contributor Joakim has documented his journey through Portugal.
Memories portraying well-chosen sites of the lovely country has been captured by the photographer using his iPhone. This is what he discovered when he explored places like Sintra, Cascais, Porto, Aveiro, Azenhas do Mar, Sortelh and Lisboa.
A closer look at McQ autumn/winter 15
Text FREDRIK AUSTAD & MAREN SERINE ANDERSEN Photos Group88/McQ
For their AW15 womenswear collection, it is quite obvious that McQ aims to attract Scandinavian people in their prime. The pieces are simpler than in their previous collections and there is a notable rise of basic classics that are easily paired.
The chaos of metropolitan life has been the inspiration, a component that is reflected in the wide selection of pieces. Tailoring, leather and knitwear are strong elements of the collection. These are tastefully combined with a lot of black and exotic prints such as the python printed dress and the leopard pony hair jacket.
When it comes to the menswear collection, the design is based on iconic pieces traceable in youth culture. This is a somewhat typical signature of McQ, and the designer has this time transformed the pieces into being contemporary iconic interpretations with unmistakable references to urban inspiration.
Layering is a keyword when it comes to styling and it is difficult not to admire certain looks such as the pairing of Japan inspired culottes with straight-cut blue jeans. The diverse range of knitwear is easily matched with the more masculine leather pieces. The contrasting effect of simple meeting complex introduces a collection that showcase the diversity of McQ’s customers reflected in texture, color and silhouette.
McQ is under constant development and has created a new unique universe at mcq.com to strengthen the brands identity. The new logo features the name of the house of Alexander McQueen with most of the letters crossed and blacked out, leaving the ‘McQ’ behind.
Jonathan Akeroyd, CEO of Alexander McQueen, comments:
“This is an exciting time for McQ, offering a clear definition of the brand’s values as we move forward. A new creative identity and digital home for the brand allows us to further establish McQ’s relationship with the house and the importance of the brand to our continued evolution.”
Photographer journal: Henrik by Erik André
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A few testshots of Henrik (Team) by Erik André Nes.
Armoire d’homme nominated for the International Woolmark Prize.
Story by Fredrik Austad
The Scandinavian fashion brand Armoire d’homme is one of the European nominees for the International Woolmark Prize 2015/2016.
The Woolmark Prize was first launched in 1953 and is still showcasing young fashion designers and brands from all over the world working with Australian Merino wool. Today more than 60 designers from over 20 countries are presented in the international competition. Previous winners are great names like Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.
The European award will be held on 13th of July 2015 in Antwerp and the winner will compete in the international finale held during Pitti Uomo in Florence January 2016.
Armoire Officielle was established in Copenhagen 2012 by Kjetil Aas and represents a timelessness design together with functionality “taking classic pieces and re-interpreting them in a contemporary context.”
Explore the brand here.
COS x Snarkitecture – Milan design week.
Text Fredrik Austad
The minimalistic Swedish clothing brand COS is collaborating with New York-based studio Snarkitecture for this years’s Salon del Mobile during Milan design week.
The design duo Daniel Arsham and Alex Mustonen have created for COS an environment that reflects the brand’s core DNA. They wanted to create a space to inspire, explore and relax, and to return to. The shifting quality of light seem to create a different space and experience with each visit
COS Heads of Design, Karin Gustafsson and Martin Andersson were drawn to Snarkitecture’s work when researching inspiration for the SS2015 collection. They found many parallels between the approach to design of Arsham and Mustonen and COS: most notably the concept of reduction. Snarkitecture describe «removing anything non-essential and focusing the viewer’s experience» and comparably the COS aesthetic is often described as clean and modernist.
The installation is open from 14 to 19 April and is located within the art district of Brera.
Film by Andrew Telling
Mardou&Dean – The Octagram
Story by Fredrik Austad
The Octagram – the eight pointed star
You can find the octagram in different cultures and religions all over the world.
It was created in different times, at different places but we can still recognise the same figure.
Why do the same things suddenly appear in different parts of the globe?
Why do we sometimes think the same thoughts without communicating?
Humans have a collective consciousness, an invisible bond that ties our minds together.
These are thoughts that have inspired the Mardou&Dean autumn winter 2015 collection and have resulted in a variation of pieces with contrasting fabrics as delicate chiffon, fine wool and leather. The strongest items being a biker jacket with fringes, nice tailored wool coats for men and puffy animal friendly sheepskin jackets. We also have a thing for these two stunning dresses.
L’amour Fou – Nina Jarebrink AW15
Photography Fredrik Austad
«Uncontrollable passion, crazy love, wild love, dangerous love.»
Nina Jarebrink showed her FW15 collection last Thursday inspired by the strong power of love.
The collection had a 70s vibe with red, blue and black velvet fabrics, textured wool , and of course the signature pieces like the Camilla belt with gold details and big feminine hats. Here, some of our favorite looks.
