Samantha Louise Emery launches IKONA / Mirrored Interior - A Collection of wearable art inspired by modern muses

IKONA 9 Malala Yousafzai,
Nobel Peace Prize winner and ardent activist
for women’s rights,by Samantha Louise Emery.

Artist Samantha Louise Emery presents a new collection of scarves and sarongs based on her series of powerful portraits IKONA | Mirrored Interior. The portraits of 10 modern muses represent the women who have inspired the artist throughout her life.

Emery presents the women in bright abstract forms with their features becoming distinguishable upon closer inspection.

IKONA 7 Caitlin Moran, columnist and candid comedian, by  Samantha Louise Emery.
Each portrait attempts to capture more than just a physical representation of the subject but seeks to reveal the deeper layers of the self and the Feminine spirit, looking to bring awareness to the positive effects of Feminine solidarity, says Emery.

Subjects of Emery's art span from an Anatolian vegetable seller Sadiye to Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and ardent activist for women’s rights, Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo.  There's Grammy Award winning musician Laurie Anderson, and British author and outspoken feminist Germaine Greer.

IKONA 4 Germaine Greer, author and outspoken feminist , by Samantha Louise Emery.

IKONA 3 Sadiye, matter of fact, maternal Anatolian vegetable seller by Samantha Louise Emery.
The scarves (28”x38”) and the sarongs (50”x66”) are at samanthalouiseemery.art/.  A portion of all income from the work is donated to the Working Chance charity and the Malala Fund. Working Chance is the only recruitment consultancy for women leaving the criminal justice and care systems. The Malala Fund works to give all girls the chance to an education.

IKONA 6 Krystyne Griffin, prominent jewellery designer and godmother by Samantha Louise Emery.

​Throughout the series Emery incorporates imagery of her own body, displaying her connection with her subject and laying bare her vulnerability as an artist, according to the Emery, the multimedia artist who splits her time between the UK and her studio in Bodrum, Turkey, her spiritual home.

Emery says, “IKONA honours ten women alive today who have inspired my evolution and journey in rediscovering the source of a woman’s power, the Feminine spirit.  I believe in the potential and majesty of female solidarity and feel privileged to live in a time of change, when many women have asserted their Feminine selves and have inspired others through their actions.”

The 10 muses in the series are:
IKONA 1 Laurie Anderson, creative pioneer and Grammy Award winning musician
IKONA 2 Angelique Kidjo, Fearless activist and Grammy Award winning singer
IKONA 3 Sadiye, matter of fact, maternal Anatolian vegetable seller
IKONA 4 Germaine Greer, author and outspoken feminist
IKONA 5 Alanis Obomsawin, spokeswoman for Native American and women’s rights
IKONA 6 Krystyne Griffin, prominent jewellery designer and godmother
IKONA 7 Caitlin Moran, columnist and candid comedian
IKONA 8 Jane Goodall, conservationist and impassioned animal rights activist
IKONA 9 Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize winner and ardent activist for women’s rights
IKONA 10 Lucy, artist Samantha Louise Emery

Singapore designer and illustrator promote bridal brand in London Bridal Fashion Week

Singapore-based bridal wear designer Vienna Mei and founder of bridal company Giorgia Couture is in London Bridal Fashion Week to promote her range of bridal fashion.

Vienna Mei showing her showpiece gown to a visitor from the US at London Bridal Fashion Week.

All photos by Lucia Carpio.

But Vienna's showpiece that has attracted buyers' attention is a one-off tiered organza gown featuring a special print that was originally painted by Singapore-based fashion artist Chan Clayrene, who's known for her signature style of illustration, using water colour and her own brand of nail polish that she sells online.

Chan's illustration for the dress was painted on paper and then transferred and digitally printed onto fabric.  It features Singapore's Changi airport and surrounding architecture; the complex has undergone an elaborate  development recently.  Chan Clayrene takes the opportunity of attending London Bridal Fashion Week to customise her illustration for visitors to their stand.



And here's Chan's customised illustration she has done for our Content Editor, Lucia Carpio, embellished with her own brand of nail polish.

Second-hand clothing market sets to overtake the fast fashion movement

One of the reasons why I have problem de-cluttering my wardrobe is because I still love all my old clothes and accessories. (Marie Kondo, look away.)  Now take the cue from celebrities who are going for pre-owned clothing.  Leader of the pack is Kim Kardashian West who was photographed recently sporting vintage Azzedine Alaïa and Versus Versace.

Indeed various studies have shown that the second-hand clothing market is set to grow massively in the coming years, and will overtake the so-called "fast fashion" market.

Consumers are increasingly turning towards second-hand clothing, with conscientious buyers set to make pre-loved items a bigger market than so-called ‘fast fashion’ by 2029.  Photo supplied by BusinessWaste.co.uk.

Unless we have beloved relatives and ancestors who pass us their hand-me-downs, second-hand clothing outlets are where we can source desirable additions to feed our quest for something "near new" to wear.

According to a poll conducted this week by the waste management agency, BusinessWaste.co.uk, consumers are beginning to shake off their prejudices about wearing second hand clothing. While just 20% said they currently regularly buy second-hand clothes, some 90% said they could be influenced to start doing so by friends or family doing so first and 94% would follow celebrities who do so.

Interestingly, while both younger and older fashionistas were seemingly happy to shop second-hand – 80% of 16 – 21 year-olds and 91% of over-sixties, respectively – the overall percentage averaged at 45%, suggesting that there are cultural elements at play, according to Mark Hall, Communications Director of BusinessWaste.co.uk.

 “Older people are used to buying clothes that were made to last and passing hand-me-downs through families, which explains this age group’s willingness to buy second-hand. And, on the other end of the scale, young people are increasingly environmentally conscious, which could certainly influence their shopping decisions and cause them to turn away from fast fashion.  However, those in their thirties and forties are perhaps of a generation more used to consumerism, having grown up in the excessive 1980s – it’s certainly an interesting generational divide,” said Mark.

He added: “People are turning to second-hand clothing – not just out of financial necessity, but out of choice. There’s a huge opportunity here for retailers to improve their green credentials and tap into a growing number of consumers who would like to buy stylish clothing, but without the ethical concerns. Some well-known retailers already feature vintage or pre-loved selections in store and there’s clearly room for these to be more widely available – consumers still have the benefit of shopping curated lines of (second-hand) pieces in line with their preferred style, but without the environmental impact.”

The San-Francisco-based secondhand fashion marketplace ThredUp has also released similar findings in its 2019 Resale Report, saying the secondhand apparel market has been growing 21 times faster than retail apparel over the last three years and is on track to be larger than fast fashion by 2028.

“Resale offers the wardrobe-rotating fun of fast fashion without the guilt or waste. By driving preferences away from fast fashion towards higher quality clothes, reuse is a boon for our personal style and the planet.” says Elizabeth L. Cline, Author of the Conscious Closet.

Bang & Olufsen announces SS2019 Collection in Scandinavian summer colours

The new Spring/Summer 2019 Collection from Bang & Olufsen, which includes a range of premium headphones, speakers and accessories, celebrates the subtle colours associated with a Scandinavian summer. 

The limited-edition B&O SS19 Collection includes a range of premium headphones, speakers and accessories in a new, ethereal colour scheme that eases from the ground, through the forest and up into the pale blue sky. 

The new, ethereal colour scheme features Clay, a deep and natural colour inspired by the earthy tones and dramatic seaside cliffs; Pine, a dark green that brings to mind the crisp freshness and deep contrasts of the Scandinavian forest; and Sky, a light blue tone with a cool sense of breezy summer afternoons. 

DDP streetwear label in collaboration with Neith Nyer in Paris: A clashing of universes or a cohesive love affair?

The French streetwear label DDP's new AW2020 collection was conceived with the collaboration of Neith Nyer,  and unveiled at Paris Fashion Week in February.

Described as "a brutal car crash with tender lovemaking",  the inaugural collaboration was designed with the intensity of a clashing of patterns, layering of various proportions, marked by floral prints and madras checks,  fleece, knits and leather, oversized sportswear shapes, puffa jackets, along with drawstring detailing taken from active sports.   The collection carries this spirit of accumulation, searching for cohesion between clashing universes.  

The new collection isn’t just about two brands working together, it is an attempt to create an aesthetic that blurs the lines between the new and the old, luxury and streetwear, a genre that Neith Nyer creative director Francisco Terra does very well, working closely with DDP Founder Laurent Caillet and their shared obsession with flea markets have influenced their ideas. "We thought of a digger," explains Francisco. "She's a girl who obsessively bargains, she runs from the club early morning to get the best deals at the garage sales."

The creative process guiding this collection reflects the same dynamics: through their research, the designers excavated hundreds of DDP archive pieces, some of them dating from the mid 90s. (DDP was launched in 1995 by LAURENT CAILLET with partner DIDIER MAUROUX.)

Individually, the pieces are commercial and adaptable.  It's in the use of fabrics in an unconventional, almost perverted way that provokes.  Fleece is treated to look moth-eaten, then employed to craft byzantine corsets and bizarre flowers. Padded nylon is the base of mini skirts while knitted jackets are spray painted.

The cartoonesque shoes were done in collaboration with Naomi Hille, while Florence Tetier designed this seasons jewelry, a cosmic assembly of iridescent bubbles.

The collection is under the auspices of the iconic figure of the eggman, one of the most memorable visual elements of DDP, whose face is burned on jersey and hand-sewn on hoodies. This character, revived for the collection, serves as the symbol of « Neith Nyer and DDP », a brand that stands for playfulness and inclusiveness. 

Butterflies bring a happy feeling.

A Red Admiral among lilacs. in my garden.  Photo by Lucia Carpio.

With the promise of Spring,
Butteflies are everywhere.

Butterfly effect. 
Bold lines, dynamic cutouts and refined lens shape.
From Silhouette Spring Summer 2019 collection.
Accent Shades inspired by the Morpho didius butterfly of Peru.

Chase And Wonder Gift Wrap The Butterfly Lady Portrait.

Printed butterfly scarf, National History Museum, London.

Made-to-measure butterfly wallpaper mural by Gina Lorena Maldonado at Wallsauce.com.

 Hand-decorated butterfly chest of drawers, the Natural History Museum, London.

Kimhékim's runway presentation in Paris: Ready-to-wear 2020

KIMHÉKIM's ready-to-wear collection for Fall Winter 2020 features smart tailoring and suiting shapes, as well as street-style aesthetic with a nod to his Korean roots.  Note the asymmetric cuts, fitted as well as generous silhouettes, in a range of fabrications.

“ If one asks me about my new collection, I will say it is all about ‘me’, who I am and what makes me. I say or mention the word ‘me’ more than uncountable times per day, ‘Text me’, ‘Give me’, ‘Love me’… what really defines me ?" says the designer Kiminte Kimhekim.

In fact the name Kimhekim is of ancient royal family in Korea and it symbolizes the era of a golden kingdom.

This catwalk presentation is referred to as the "Renaissance of the Golden Kingdom -  Enrichment of the decorative art" whereby he enhances women’s silhouette with experimental elements.

The new elegant collection represents the brand’s signature silhouette indicating the designer's passion through details, feminine references and sophisticated finishes.

The designer Kiminte Kimhekim graduated from the notable Paris fashion design institute of Studio Berçot in 2009 and went straight to work at the prestigious fashion house Balenciaga in Paris.  He worked there for 4 seasons crossing between the studio and the atelier and learned the importance in the approach and the attitude and mentality of an artisan.

KIMHEKIM has presented in Paris since 2014 and has expended into the global market, 

receiving high praises from buyers and the social media.  

Britons splash out £6 billion a year emulating celebrating lifestyles

Magazines and social media's report on celebrity styles and fashion because such news drive circulation sales and in turn, what a celebrity wears can have great influence on the way we shop in the UK.

David Beckham named as
British Fashion Council (BFC) 's
Ambassadorial President last year.
BFC photo.

According to a new report conducted by OnePoll for Zopa, British consumers love to emulate celebrity lifestyles to the tune of £6 billion a year, in the survey of 2,000 consumers.  Additionally a typical Briton spends £517 yearly making an attempt to emulate celebrities’ lifestyles.  While nearly a fifth admitted to purchasing merchandise within a fortnight after seeing a star wearing or using a merchandise, one in four adults stating that their spending habits have been influenced indirectly by celebrities.

The most influential female celebrity has been revealed as TV star Holly Willoughby, presenter on This Morning, whereas  David Beckham is deemed the most influential male celebrity.

Other influential female celebrities include Rihanna, Kate Middleton, the Kardashians, Kate Moss, Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift, Victoria Beckham and Emma Watson.

Male style-role models include actors Bradley Cooper and George Clooney followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Kanye West, Ryan Gosling, David Gandy, Justin Bieber and Harry Styles.

The top items that celebrities inspire consumers to buy included gadgets and clothing, and products for the home.
Celebrities can also influence us on hairstyles, fragrances, merchandise, watches, make-up, footwear, luggage, jewellery and sunglasses.

The survey shows that women are more incliend than men to be swayed by a celebrity link, while 25 percent in comparison with 22 percent of males.  But men are more likely to be influenced to make more expensive purchases.

UK Retail: Is Fashion fleeing the high street?

Following the news on Friday 15 March that Arcadia is reportedly poised to launch a CVA, Sofie Willmott, Senior Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view on the chain's current challenges and the scenario on the UK retail market: click vs mortar.  Clothing & Footwear will the fastest declining sector in UK town centres over the next five years.

News that Arcadia is poised to launch a CVA comes as no surprise as clothing & footwear spend continues to shift online and rising operating costs make physical locations less viable, said Ms Willmott.

“(UK) High streets will be the hardest hit with already declining spend being further impacted by significant branch closure plans at Arcadia as well as major players Debenhams and Marks & Spencer. The shuttering of anchor stores in town centres will encourage consumers to go elsewhere to purchase clothing & footwear, negatively impacting other retailers in the area.

“GlobalData forecasts that clothing & footwear will be the fastest declining sector in town centres over the next five years with spend falling 13.8% between 2018 and 2023, versus the total town centres market which is set to decline 1.9%, propped up by essential product sectors namely food & grocery and health & beauty.

“While town centres accounted for over 40% of clothing & footwear spend in 2013, other locations which are better able to meet shoppers’ needs such as supermalls and retail parks, as well as the online channel, have tempted consumers away with high streets forecast to account for just 25.9% of spend by 2023.”

A Fisherman's Trend for transition weather

It's hard to decide what to wear during this Spring-cum-rain time of the year.  Especially when it's looking stormy outside.

Elka has collaborated with Monocle to bring a unisex hardwearing rain jacket to the market.

Elka draws on its expertise in creating Danish fishermen’s work clothes when producing its high-quality rainwear.

With welded seams and adjustable hood, this exclusive Monocle collaboration is a careful adaption of the classic raincoat.

Made in the EU with lightweight PVC, simple snap buttons, and an adjustable hood, it is a practical solution for a wet weekend away.  Elka X Monocle rain jacket available in Navy and Olive, in sizes: XS to XL.

About Monocle, it is a complete media brand based in London, with print, audio and online elements and an expanding retail network and online business. Via their shops in London, Toronto, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Zürich and LA, and a seasonal shop in Merano, Italy, the company sells products that cater to their readers’ tastes, produced by brands they believe in. Monocle also has cafés in Tokyo, Zürich and London, as well as a newsstand and coffee concept in London called Kioskafé.

2019 Baselworld - March 20th to 26th - has been reinvented says organiser

As the world is increasingly concerned about climate change and the impact of plastics pollution in our seas, water and the earth's oceans are very much sources of inspiration for many watch brands from Switzerland launching to the trade this Spring.

The Nethuns Colorum II collection is water resistant to 200 metres, thanks to a unique construction that includes a sculpted outer case in either 925 silver or a special bronze alloy made of copper and tin. This outer case is fitted over a watertight inner case that holds the movement. The dial is made in a choice of bold colours, including red, blue, turquoise and orange, which are the best colours for readability under water. Each dial colour has a rubber strap to match. A sturdy screw-locked crown at the 9 o’clock position operates an internal bezel that times dives without being susceptible to inadvertent adjustments. An eternal renewal, like the life which flows through us.

One example is Strom's Nethuns II Colorum collection inspired by the Etruscan god of the sea.  Nethuns symbolises the perpetual cycle of water flowing from sources to streams, rivers to oceans, before evaporating into the sky to be reborn as rain.

Another example is the  Faubourg de Cracovie Salmon SOCKEYE collection of CZAPEK & CIE which has been named after famous salmon species from the Pacific Ocean.

The dial of the Sockeye - part of CZAPEK & CIE’s new Faubourg Cracovie salmon collection  - is made of alloy 401, a combination of 55% gold and a mixture of platinum, palladium and silver with an electroplated salmon finish. It was made by the craftspeople at Metalem, Czapek’s partner in Le Locle. The steel case houses a high frequency (36,000 vph) automatic movement, the calibre SXH3, an outstanding integrated column-wheel chronograph movement, bearing the COSC Chronometer certification and made by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. Limited edition to 18 pieces.

The dial design of the Sockeye was inspired by a bespoke piece created for a collector who requested a watch from the Quai des Bergues line with a salmon-coloured guilloché dial and blue hands and numerals.

While visitors to the 2019 Baselworld will be on the look-out for new creations from Swiss brands exhibitinng at the prestigious fair from March 20th to 26th, all eyes will be on new changes that the organisers had promised since last December that the 2019 event “will be reinvented and more appealing to all.”

Michel Loris-Melikoff, the new director of Baselworld, supported by the Swiss Exhibitors' Committee, was determined to give the show a complete makeover, in addition to the synchronisation of exhibition dates between the world’s two largest watch fairs – SIHH and Baselworld -  which will come into operation in 2020 (SIHH from April 26th to 29th and Baselworld from April 30th to May 5th), among other changes.

On a practical level, the Show is rearranging the exhibition areas, resulting in a more compact event that will take place mainly in Halls 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 3, as well as a new press centre strategically located in the heart of the main hall, directly linked to the "Central Plaza" with its many restaurants. Not to mention the new "Best of Les Ateliers" located in Hall 1.0 (south); "The Loop" in Hall 1.1 with restaurants and lounge bar; and "The Show Plaza" in Hall 1.2, with runway shows worthy of New York salons. A range of new options with a wide choice of friendly places to work, chat, eat, drink or simply have a good time.

For 2019, a new partnership is being established with hotels in Basel and the surrounding area, with the aim of ensuring that hotel room rates are respected during the exhibition in an entirely transparent manner.  Apparently hree-quarters of hotels in Basel and the surrounding region have signed an agreement on compliance with maximum rates. They thus become official partners of the event and ensure that there will be no longer any minimum length of stay and no price increase compared with 2018.

The Amazon effect - Nine in ten Brits shop on Amazon

British shoppers' love affair with online shopping is going from strength to strength and Amazon is now revealed to be the go-to retailer nine out of ten times.

The popularity of Amazon - the retail phenomenon which started in a garage and now, nearly a quarter of a century later - its success is unbelievable.  But believe it as new research from Mintel reveals that almost nine in ten (86%) Brits are Amazon users/shoppers. According to Mintel, more Amazon shoppers have increased their shopping (21%) with the retailer than decreased it (13%) over the past year. Overall, most (70%) Amazon customers shop with the retailer at least once a month, while just under a fifth (17%) use the retailer on a weekly basis.

In terms of what’s in the basket, hardcopy media (books, DVDs or video games) (39%) remains Amazon’s most popular purchases. This is followed by electricals (30%), fashion/jewellery (30%), and toys (20%). An impressive 45% of households in the UK have some form of Amazon produced device, with Kindle (23%), Fire TV/TV Stick (16%), Fire Tablet (14%), and Echo (11%) proving the most popular.

Inherent trust in this retail giant is confirmed by the fact that as many as half (51%) of Amazon users assume that the e-retailer has the cheapest prices, while six in ten (59%) say they are loyal to the company. What is more, 70% of Amazon shoppers say it is the first retailer they go to when shopping online.

Nick Carroll, Mintel Associate Director of Retail, said:

 

“Amazon is a phenomenon of 21st century retail. In a little over 20 years, it has grown to be a retailer that nearly all consumers use. It has achieved this through a relentless focus on customer-facing investment and innovation. Amazon started selling books, but now holds a significant share in almost all retail categories, helped by the incubation of thousands of independent sellers through its Marketplace scheme. The retail giant has expanded far past the bounds of normal retail operations into media streaming, consumer electronics and cloud computing. Amazon has built a platform that customers are both happy to use, and pay for the privilege of doing so via its various subscription services.”

“While most consumers already shop with Amazon, the retailer continues to gain market share by increasing the number of Prime members. That’s because Prime members buy significantly more, and across a broader number of categories, than non-members. This is why Amazon continues to add to the list of Prime-exclusive services, with Premier League matches coming in the second half of this year. Regardless of the reasons people join Prime - there is a net benefit for the retail side of the business,” Nick adds.

Amazon is not the high street killer

The impact of Amazon’s reach into the physical retail sector is confirmed by the fact that almost half (45%) of Amazon users believe that the e-tailer is responsible for physical stores closing. Meanwhile, three quarters (75%) of Amazon shoppers say they often check the prices of products they see in-store on Amazon. And physical retailers are probably being used as showrooms, as 70% of Amazon shoppers say they research products elsewhere but then buy via the site.

But while many acknowledge the negative impact of Amazon on the high street, some 40% of Amazon users believe it supports independent retailers and 29% believe that shopping via Amazon Smile is a good way to give to charity.

 

New sustainable and functional fabric options on offer at Intertextile Apparel

Comprehensive product zones including one entitled All About Sustainability which will feature Chinese and European exhibitors are deemed to be must-see destinations at the upcoming Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Spring Edition trade fair, March 12 - 14.

The Forum Space at last year’s All About Sustainability Zone proved popular, say organisers at Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong, noting that the zone is ideal for visitors sourcing eco-friendly textile products to gain insight on new sustainable business approaches.   Photo: Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong.             

Exhibitors at the All About Sustainability zone will include Foshan Chicley Textile’s sustainable fashion fabrics – a range of organic linen and cotton, Lenzing ECOVERO, Modal and TENCEL, as well as digital printed fabrics.  While the new OEKO-TEX®100 Standard regulations have been published for 2019 according to organisers at Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong, the All About Sustainability zone also houses exhibitors who provide testing and certification services.

With the added element of the fringe programme, which will include seminars held by exhibitors, the fair offers visitors opportunities to learn more about the latest industry opinions and regulations.

Hohenstein Textile Testing and TESTEX both offer Standard 100, STeP, Eco Passport, Detox to Zero and Leather Standard by OEKO-TEX® testing amongst other services, and both of these exhibitors will also host a seminar.  Hohenstein Textile Testing will explain the amended OEKO-TEX® regulations, while TESTEX will discuss how these new regulations help to build trust with today’s consumers. Other exhibitors offering testing services include Intertex Testing Services, SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services and TUV Rheinland.

“Shanghai is a great city for a business with original prints, and Intertextile is one of our busiest fairs. It’s a good place to find new clients,” explained Ms Jane Han Zhang, Founder & Creative Director of British design studio Fairbairn & Wolf Studio.  Jane and her partners are alumni of the London-based TexSelect (formerly Texprint) which promotes and nurtures British-trained fashion and design graduates through its annual competition that has won international acclaim.

Messe Frankfurt has reported that over 3,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries & regions will join this year’s Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics from 12 – 14 March, spanning a huge range of textile product categories, from fashion to technical innovation. 

Comprehensive product zones will reflect demand for different products such as sustainable solutions, functional fabrics, digital printing, accessories and denim.

Spanning six halls at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (Shanghai) this year, the fair will be held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, Yarn Expo Spring, PH Value and CHIC.

New Art Exchange presents Hassan Hajjaj: The Path 6 April – 23 June 2019

A new solo exhibition featuring the latest works by Moroccan-British photographer Hassan Hajjaj entitled The Path will put you on a journey experiencing his unique travel photographs in exciting colours and stimulating settings.

My Rockstar Series featuring (from left) Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, 2017/1438 and Kamaal Williams,
2016/1437 by Hassan Hajjaj

Presented by the New Art Exchange - a contemporary arts space in Nottingham - The Path  will take place from 6 April to 23 June showing new works from the celebrated My Rock Stars series; a new collection of previously unseen travel photographs, In Between; new works from the Dakka Marrakchia series and a site-specific installation called Le Salon.   This exciting showcase will exhibit Hassan Hajjaj’s diverse wealth of work, curated by Ekow Eshun.

Dakka Marrakchia series - Dotted Peace, 2000/1421 by Hassan Hajjaj

Hajjaj’s work is characterised by an exuberant melee of colours, patterns, appropriated brand logos and everyday objects, such as the Sprite cans and tomato tins he works into his picture frames. Taking a view through an international lens, Hajjaj uses photography to present a unique and timely consideration of culture and identity in the modern, globalised world.

In the photography series Dakka Marrakchia, women pose like fashion models on the streets and rooftops of Marrakech while dressed in camouflage pattern kaftans and luxury print face veils. The portraits offer Hassan’s perception of Muslim women as dynamic and empowered.

My Rockstar Series featuring (from left) Rilene and Marc Hare, 2013/1434 by Hassan Hajjaj

The Path confronts Hajjaj’s dual-identity through the bold use of colour, shape and pattern. The exhibition title references Hajjaj’s personal journey from his birthplace in Larache, Morocco, to London, UK and beyond, into his experience working around the world.  The showcase draws inspiration from the album The Path by the jazz-fusion musician Ralph MacDonald, which pays artistic testament to the diasporic scattering of people of African descent around the globe, a common theme in Hajjaj’s practice.

(Above: Between series (from left): Neon In The Night, 2011/1432 and Chanel Back, 2010/1431
by Hassan Hajjaj)

Much of Hajjaj’s work focuses on figures whose family origins mostly lie abroad, in Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East or elsewhere. Through this theme, Hajjaj conjures a vision of a society united, not divided, by difference.  At a time of major conflict within Britain, Hajjaj’s portraits make an urgent, timely case in favour of hybridity and multiculturalism. In his images, cultural identity is seen as fluid and multiple rather than fixed and singular.

From left: Laroussa table, 2009/1430 and Astral bucket stool, 2002/1423 by Hassan Hajjaj

At NAE Hajjaj turns his focus to British personalities, concentrating primarily on figures such as the painter Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, jazz musician Kamaal Williams and the shoe designer Marc Hare. As always, his subjects hail from a range of cultural backgrounds creating, in composite, a portrait of Britain at its most dynamically diverse.