Surfer Girl

or more like the girl, in this case Kate Moss, who hangs out with hot surfers, especially ones getting into their boardshorts by the side of a car . . . a la Bruce Weber.

I love this picture.

R.I.P. Leroy Grannis

Dubbed, by the NYT as the "godfather of surfphotography". Leroy Grannis was legendary for what he captured of the surf scene in the 1960's and 1970's and is the stuff of legends, iconic. It is from his pictures that the romance, the adventure, the fun of surfing was revealed to me. It is not just a sport, it is a lifestyle. It is beautiful.

"There's surfing royalty, and he was one of the kings," his son said. "He inspired so many big-name photographers that consider him their mentor."

1969, California also cover of his book published by Taschen.

1969, LeRoy Grannis surfing Hermosa Beach with his Calypso amphibious camera, invented by another aquatic legend– Jacques Cousteau. Photo by John Grannis.

RIP Leroy Grannis. 1917-2011. Thank you.

All Photographs ©LeRoy Grannis. All rights reserved.

The Journey of a Wardrobe and Oliver Clegg

Another genuis feat by Louis Vuitton where art is fused with commerce in such a way that in my opinion embraces the reality that the two cannot exist too long without one another.

In this case, it is The Journey of a Wardrobe series which Louis Vuitton Malletier commisioned Todd Selby to do that is so true to the spirt of travel which is totally Louis Vuitton and also that of adventure and discovery in hidden corners in Paris, London, NY, Tokyo and Shanghai that is so charming and engaging. The Journey of a Wardrobe is a visual dialogue between Todd and certain individuals, be it designer/actor Waris and hotelier/man of great vision Andre Balazs in NY or an artist/good friend of mine :)Oliver Clegg in London.

Todd has managed to capture Ollie at his natural, cheeky yet intense best - you get to see Ollie as an artist, his work and his inspirations.

At the same time, Vuitton is selling the wardrobe and luggage that the clothes should come in. Wonderfully effective, and visually very pleasing - not just Todd's photographs but the drawings and the whole website. And to think, this is a little travel guide and a look book . . .

It certainly is a Journey of a Wardrobe, a lovely journey and how lucky it is for that Wardrobe to be in the hands of Todd Selby.


http://press.louisvuitton.com/TheJourneyOfaWardrobe/

Photos by The Selby courtesy of Oliver Clegg

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

We heart Bruce Weber. . .forever and always . . this short film he did for YSL for A/W 10 is no exception.  Quintessentially Bruce Weber . . a erotic but in the most innocent way, as timeless, pure and strong as ever . . .this one is especially intimate and the Bunny Yeager bits take you into another world . . . the world through Bruce Weber's eyes.

Even sweet, tender and cute in some parts. Makes you smile.

A world that is truly free - he captures this . . .there is a quote in the film from "Me and Mr McGee",  "freedom is just another word for having nothing left to lose . . " yes maybe that is why life is so full of joy and hope seen through his eyes.

IMPROMPTU

On a violently rainy Saturday night I went to the opening of Impromptu, P'Oh's new series of work.

"In Impromptu, the story which Piyatat is telling is that of Jazz music, specifically Jazz music in Thailand . . . To me, his work is about duality and contrast, in the sense that his photos transcend the difference between lightness and darkness, using the two opposites to his advantage, thus straddling between the two extremes, where the shadows and reflects are most prominent and the greys come to life . . .

There is synchronicity in this story, movement, as well as collaboration between the artists and the instruments . . .

 . . .the vibrations of the double bass resounds out of the image .. .

. . .  the steady beat of the drums . . .

 . . . There is soul in Jazz, as to me these pictures enables the viewer to admire the seamless , almost perfect form of the inanimate instruments that come to life so effortlessly  in the hands of a maestro. . . 

Piyatat and I - my favourite lithographs in the back

 . . .Jazz is about life, and life is about improvisation, and here in Impromptu, life and music become one through Piyatat Hemmatat's lens."

- extracted from my introduction to the book which accompanies the exhibition, Impromptu is on at the Jazz Gallery, Bangkok until September 30th, 2009

R.I.P Dash Snow

It is always very very sad and tragic when a young artist, especially with talent and his own unique voice passes away . . . so young as well . . . but in Dash Snow's case, it would appear that he really did LIVE . . . and live to the fullest . . . and he did produce work, A LOT of work . . . which I love (the photographs and graffiti particularly) -  and respect - it always provokes thought, challenges, was simple yet ironic and oddly beautiful.

Condolences to his family and friends . . . 

  

R.I.P. Dash Snow

nsha x baseman . . .

So Chichi of La Clique blogged about this little collaboration of mine in her fantastic blog for Colette - thanks Chichi (Chichi is amaazing - love Chichi - check out her photographs too - my faves are the dayscapes)! So here it is . . .nsha x baseman

Nsha is the label that Nishita Shah and I started, I was the creative director and whilst I was there we did a little collaboration with artist Gary Baseman who I ADORE, after Gary came over to Bkk for the Nsha Launch last October, we talked about it a bit then, some more in Miami during Miami Basel (this is where Gary and I actually met 4 years ago!) and well, and I am thrilled with the results -  a set of limited edition bikinis, swimsuits and boardshorts for girls and guys, though we kept the guys' boardshorts to only 50 and girls' to 80.  There are 150 bikinis and 60 swimsuits in 2 patterns . .  . . .I've cheated and tested them out already and I looove them . . . there is Chouchou which is the orange little guy.

 Bali

and then Hot Cha Cha in electric blue on black . . It is sooo dope.  

HOT CHA CHA CHA

Not to get all the technical on you but the bikinis fit so good, I mean, I can go surfing in them and they don't fly off, I chose top grade polyamide for it and the boardshorts are dope too - light weight but falls well . . thus it is the only bit of nsha that I have kept and is kinda the little baby that will being launching. . .somewhere very soon . . . Chichi is right, we are keeping mum about this till further notice . . .I shall keep you posted  . . in the meantime yes, that's me in the bikini . . !

middle of the sea - Samui