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James Turrell’s Lalique Collaboration Debuts at Art Basel Paris
James Turrell recently made a foray into design, teaming up with Lalique crystal to create two custom fragrances and decanters that debuted at Paris+ par Art Basel. Known for finding endless inspiration in light and space, Turrell also created Crystal Light Panels, a series of crystal engravings that showcases 30 different color sequences. “The nature of my work is the shaping of light,” Turrell says. “Light is the material; perception is the medium. There is no image in my work because I am not interested in representation.” Though Turrell and Lalique founder René Lalique are separated by generations, his outing with the crystal house and its legacy of technical virtuosity seems most fitting. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Image courtesy of Drift…
Drift is using illuminated drones to reimagine what restored landmarks would look like.
“Drift has embarked on a new project that uses drone technology to imagine what famous landmarks would look like if they were finished or restored. The ancient Colosseum in Rome and Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona are among the life-size renderings so far completed by the collective, which is formed of Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, who founded Studio Drift. ‘When Notre Dame burned, we started to think of rebuilding it with light,’ Nauta told Artnet News about how the idea first originated. ‘To show the world how old, gone architectural masterpieces might have looked in the past.’” [H/T Artnet News]
RISD enlists alum Ryan Bugden for a new rebrand and update of its 70-year-old seal.
“For a new rebrand RISD has called upon independent type designer and RISD alum Ryan Bugden, independent strategy and design studio Gretel and On Road, a London-based research agency that ‘specializes in understanding the next generation, with a focus on BIPOC youth and underrepresented voices,’ according to a press release. Focusing on a family of custom typefaces and a redrawing of the institution’s more than 70-year-old seal, the rebrand aims to ‘reflect the institution’s vision, values, and priorities,’ while signaling the launch of a new guiding idea to ‘question to create, create to question.’” [H/T It’s Nice That]
The Design District Canteen designed by SelgasCano. Photography by Iwan Baan…
“London’s Design District is welcoming a new addition by SelgasCano. Serving as a food market, the transparent structure sits at the main pedestrian access of the Greenwich Peninsula, welcoming locals and visitors into its light-filled and dome-like interior dominated by a vibrant yellow hue. The Design District Canteen features a light metal structure, a clear ETFE membrane shell, and polycarbonate panels. These layers cover a central spine in which SelgasCano fitted the stalls and a seating area on the top floor.” [H/T Designboom]
Marc Spiegler departs as Art Basel’s global director while Noah Horowitz joins as CEO.
“Just a week after the launch of Art Basel’s first Paris edition, the leading art fair company, which also hosts events in Switzerland, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong, has announced a major change in its leadership. Marc Spiegler, who has been with Art Basel for more than 15 years, will depart his role as global director, and he will be succeeded in the newly created role of CEO by an Art Basel veteran, Noah Horowitz. Spiegler will stay on through the end of the year, including for the run of the 20th edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, which is scheduled for Nov. 29–Dec. 3, while Horowitz will rejoin the company on Nov. 7.” [H/T ARTnews]
Joopiter, the new auction platform by Pharrell Williams, shuts down due to high traffic.
“Pharrell Williams’ online closet clean-out attracted six-figure bids for his luxury—and quirky — ‘clutter.’ The music mogul announced the launch of his online auction site, Joopiter, in September, putting several personal items on the block. Some of the higher price tags included $76,000 for a pair of Oakley sunglasses, $79,000 for a Louis Vuitton trunk, and $510,000 for a necklace. As the hours of the online auction ticked down, the blinged-out sunglasses, a gold-encased Blackberry phone, and a diamond-encrusted dice set continued to attract top bids. Bidding was scheduled to close Thursday, but hours after announcing its last call for bids, the site shut down due to a ‘high volume of interest.’ It’s unclear how long the site will be down or how the issue will affect the auction.” [H/T Business Insider]
Image courtesy of Made.com…
British design retailer Made.com abruptly shuts down after failing to find a buyer.
“British online furniture and homewares retailer Made.com has stopped taking orders and terminated its formal sales process after being unable to find a buyer. The retailer, which announced its intention to commence a formal sale process on Sept. 23, had invited a number of companies to submit ‘firm offers’ by the end of this month. However, it said last week that it is no longer in receipt of any possible offers and has concluded that there is no reasonable prospect for one. Made.com will ‘continue to look to preserve value for its creditors and shareholders’ and give a further update when appropriate.” [H/T Dezeen]
Climate activists target Vermeer’s masterpiece Girl with a Pearl Earring in The Hague.
“Climate activists targeted Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece Girl with a Pearl Earring with glue and liquid on Thursday but the painting was not damaged in the latest publicity-seeking stunt. A video posted on Twitter showed one man pouring a can of red substance over another protester who appeared to attempt to glue his head to the glass-protected painting. The second man stuck his hand to the panel holding the centuries-old painting. ‘The condition of the painting has been investigated by our conservators. Fortunately, the glazed masterpiece was not damaged,’ the museum said.” [H/T NBC]
Image courtesy of Blue Cube…
Today’s attractive distractions:
We’re all curious: how much money can you actually make selling feet pics?
Can intangible cryptocurrency ever compete with the fanciful bills of yore?
Cold-plunge enthusiasts are dropping close to $5,000 on a single ice bath.
Historians learn that a Mondrian painting was hung upside down for 75 years.
