Malene Birger - My Garden by ABA ART LAB

MALENE BIRGER

Exhibition: 19th September - 9th December ‘13 My Garden - Malene Birger Organized/Curated by: ABA Art Catalog Design: Harry Fox © of artworks and photography: Malene Birger and Samantha Hemsley ABA Art Contemporani Pl. Porta de Santa Catalina 21B 07012 Palma de Mallorca | www.abaart.com

Malene Birger was interested in art and all its expressions from the very beginning of her life, due to the influence of her mother and grandmother; both clear stylistic role models in her career. In 1989 she finished her Design Degree in the renowned Danish Design School and began her amazing professional path. She was working as a designer in well-known and international brands such as Jackpot by Carli Gry and Marc O’Polo in Stockholm. In 2003 she decided to launch her own brand ‘BY MALENE BIRGER A/S’, which includes accessories, bags and shoes that can be found in various cities from all over the world. In 2010 she published ‘The beautiful coffee table book: Life and Work, Malene Birger’s Life in Pictures’, where she displays the interior design from her Spanish and Scandinavian houses. Furthermore, Birger is an Ambassador for UNICEF Denmark and she is also involved in a project in Togo, improving the education and health of the children. After exploring various different career paths, Birger has reinvented herself to offer genuine art with new surfaces and materials, using meditation as her tool to express the wonders of her garden.

MALENE BIRGER A N I N T E RV I E W B Y M I C H A E L STO R R S

Michael Storrs | How do you strike a balance between the responsibility of overseeing such a successful international fashion business on one hand, and creating art on the other?

fashion work. As a designer, I have teams of people around me all day long. But I really love my own time, to be alone, when I’m painting or doing collages or whatever I do in my studio.

Malene Birger | It is a balance – you are right. Which is why I decided to give myself that creative allowance three years ago, where I sold 49% of my shares back to my investor. I was drowning in administration, staff issues, PR and daily business. I was losing myself. I couldn’t see myself working in the fashion industry 24/7 for the rest of my life. I lack energy and peace of mind if I’m not creating, working or developing myself creatively. So now I have my fashion, my interior design, my art and my travel, all ready to be drawn up. I’m like a drawer full of ideas and concepts. I’m a great believer in planning ahead.

MS| You are clearly influenced by early art and nature. How do you connect to that?

MS| Some key figures in the fashion industry such as Mario Testino firmly differentiate their works between those of fashion and those of art, while others like the late Alexander McQueen blurred the line. For you, is the drawing of painting different to, say, designing a dress or drawing a print pattern? MB| Well, sometimes it’s a little blurred. But sometimes the way I approach the separate fields in entirely different. You can compare the work I’m doing on the dummies in the tailor room with my work creating sculpture in clay, for instance. Its form, proportions, movement are similar. I have a craving to express myself in many creative areas but I prefer to keep my art at distance from my

MB| I’m influenced by many things, I’m a nomad, I travel, I observe. I’m 50 years old and have over the last 15 years developed a stronger and deeper love and understanding for both art and nature. As I matured I simply had to start painting. The more artistic side of me had been waiting to get out. But I’m really still a beginner and have so much more to learn. I have a huge respect for artists. I admire them. But I’m more into distilling all my creative ideas from my own universe. I like to imagine, design a building, design the furniture, paint, cook, make my own bed and then live in my own hotel. That’s my heart’s fondest wish. I’m actually planning on doing this in reality.

solutions. We’ve not been used to sophistication and extravagance at all! In my own case, it’s quite the opposite: I’m a maximalist. I mix and match many different styles and époques, but both my designs and my art are mostly simple, with the focus on the aesthetic, proportions, colours, structure, the materials and functions. To answer your question, yes. Denmark had and does have a lot of talented artists creating very beautiful and simple things. No hassle or tassle, it’s not a cliché: it’s a fact. MS| One receive the impression that sparseness is important to you. MB| No, not really, my life is not very simple nor minimalistic. What’s important to me is to have a plan with my projects and my life, to be inspired, to meet great and free people with full spirits, to travel, to live, to love my friends, family and my husband and to be free in all my decisions. To plan them, and then take action. I’m a mover.

MS| On gets the impression that Danes are in an advantageous position aesthetically because of an innate talent for pairing back and keeping things simple. Maybe this is naïve or cliché but do you feel this is the case?

MS| You are a Dane who lives between London and Mallorca and your sense of style and surroundings seems to have a strong African influence. How do you identify with these international factors in your life?

MB| I have been asked that question many times and I’m still not sure how to answer it. But I’ll try. Denmark, from a historical point of view, is a very basic farming country in origin. I think that the Danes out of necessity have been used to finding simple and functional

MB| I have always been drawn to the Arabian and African style. I feel at home under a palm tree. I adore the Arabian architecture, the balance, the symmetry, it gives me peace. The combination of Mallorca, London and Copenhagen is an interesting cocktail. Again, you

see, the mix and match. My identity is developing through time and travel, and these have always been dominant in my life. I love to live in an international environment. I can’t live in places, where I cannot feel free, where there are too many obligations socially. It disturbs my creativity. As mentioned before, I’m a nomad. The only permanent force in our life is change. MS| Are you concerned that no matter how accomplished you are as an artist it may always be overshadowed by your success in fashion? MB| No, I’m totally aware of the situation and the circumstances and I’m totally okay with it. It won’t stop me from painting, sculpting or doing whatever I want to do. MS| Is music dance or theatre and important part of your life? MB| Music and dancing, oh yes! Very important. I listen to music all day long, all kinds of music, jazz, classic, disco, soul etc. All depending on my mood. And when we go out, I love to dance. I enjoy ballet and opera but not particularly theatre. Movies have always influenced my life, and I love to escape into my bed and watch a good movie with the lights switched off.

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 81 x 100,5

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 89 x 116

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 73 x 92

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 97 x 130

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 86 x 116

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 73 x 92

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 81 x 100,5

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 89 x 116

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 73 x 92

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 89 x 116

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 73 x 92

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 89 x 116

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 73 x 92

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 89 x 116

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (black frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 oil paint on linen canvas 97 x 130

THE ART OF

CHANGE

MALENE BIRGER

She is the most renowned Danish fashion designer and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark’s favourite. She has received several prestigious awards, has as the only designer created a stamp for Danish Royal mail and is the UNICEF Ambassador in Denmark, supporting kids in need. Now, Malene has decided to explore her artistic side as well and from her finca in S`Arracó, she talks to Soledad Bescós about her life as an artistand designerin Mallorca. Her next exhibition “MY GARDEN” will open on September the 18th at ABA Art Gallery. Malene Birger (Copenhagen, 1962) is famous for her impeccable taste and uncompromising style. Her boutique in Copenhagen has been nominated as one of the world’s finest in terms of design and decor. Malene Birger’s interest in design began at an early age inspired by her grandmother, as well as her mother’s sharp eye for fashion and trends “My mum was trendy and very creative, and the smartest 33

mum at my school and my Dad has always been a hard worker and very detailed. I’m the result of themboth,” she says very naturally. In 1989 Malene Birger completed her Fashion Design Degree at the prestigious Danish Design and Art School and started her remarkable career, she worked various places as a designer and lived in Stockholm for 4 years. In 1997 she established her first brand, Day Birger et Mikkelsen, which became a success overnight, and in 2003 By Malene Birger A/S was founded in cooperation with IC Company A/S, one of Denmark’s largest fashion houses, Malene Birger owned 49% of the shares. By Malene Birger started with 7 employees 10 years ago and has today more than 130 staff members. Her designs are selling in more than 42 countries and the brand has more than 30 shops around the globe. In 2010 the prestigious German publisher “TeNeues” launched a coffee table book about Malene’s “Life and

Work”. The 2nd edition is on its way and book number 2 in the pipeline.

first time in my life I have a private life, and a wonderful husband!

Malene is very disciplined, and an obsessed perfectionist, she plans everything carefully, to be able to save time for her creative time. She hates mess, and people arriving late. She travels 6 months a year and after so many years living and working just for fashion, she decided to sell her shares in 2010 to be able to developherself, set herself free creatively.

We married in Palma last summer. I had my first ART expo last year in Palma too, so all in all a different and exciting 2012. I met ABA ART, at the opening, and they asked me if I wanted to do another expo in Palma this year, and here I am, in my garden, painting and absolutely loving it”, she said very convinced.

She is now experiencing a true transition focusing on art, interior and travelling to new destinations, her creativity and expressions are without limit.“I’m still responsible for the collections and the universe at By Malene Birger, but this year I decided to go a bit more with the flow, which is unusual for me, but healthy. I’ve been very very busy for so many years driven by my love and ambitions to build a brand and keep developing; there is no future where there is no change. I love working but I decided to invest more time in my private life too, and now for the

As she speaks, she is preparing her new solo art exhibition with the title “My Garden”, essentially inspired in her Mallorca finca in S’Arracó and its surroundings. It’s a compilation of paintings portraying all kind of vegetation as flowers, seeds, aloe vera and typical Mediterranean plants. Malene prefers the linen canvas, as the background for her chosen motives, her strong pallet of colours, such as yellow, green and ocean blue, stand out on the raw structure. White and black in contrast, her signature style full of energy, transmitting her most authentic personality. Mrs Birgeris such a strong personality and as I

observe her house is alsoblack and white, I ask her about the new era in her life “I’m trying to combine all my passions and developing myself as an artist, step by step, when I paint I feel free, I feel light, it is my medicine. I’m also working on my new company Birger1962. I would like to sell “my style” on an E-shop, I have the concept ready in my head, in this moment I can’t say more, but I’m excited. New projects are so inspiring and refreshing. I will start it with my sister. A combination of my world in one unique place, also includinga personnel selection of art, flea marketfinds, music, scents, my own books, interior and designs for your home, all expressions from my world”. This unique woman has decided to settle in London, and moved there in February this year with her husband -despite she loves changing and have moved more than 40 times since her 20’s – it doesn’t stop her moving and travelling to new destinations “I’m a modern nomad, and if I stand still, I will die, I’m desperate to search

for new sources”. As she continues telling me about new projects she said: “I have another dream, and my dreams must come true, I would love to do a hotel project, creating 4-5 personnel small boutique hotels, on few selected locations around the world….on the doormat I will write “WELCOME HOME”, there are so many beautiful hotels out there, but so many are lacking of personality and humour, and the smell of homemade bakery…all the little things… yes that’s what I’m going to do. When I get older, I can see myself living in a hotel ordering room service non-stop”. As mentioned several times in this interview, MOVE is her gasoline, and since she was a little girl she wanted constantlyto change and moved and decorated her tiny 8-m2 room every month, her parents couldn’t stop her. Now, after more than 20 years hard work in the fashion business, and still in creative charge of her growing fashion brand, having proudly dressed all Scandinavian Royalties dressed a huge amount of

celebrities and travelled the world. She still loves the work itself more than being on the red carpet. “I develop through my work, the more I work the better I get, and the more I develop… not the opposite!” As the conversation goes, I am more fascinated with her tenacity and she tells me: “I am a big package. I am dominating, I know myself better and better the older I get, I know mostly what I want. I am a hard worker, creative, I take responsibility for my actions and decisions, and I don’t mind being wrong, I learn from my mistakes… I’m a realistic not a dreamer. When I work for somebody I want to fulfil their expectations, I wish to give them something more, than they asked for, I try to live up to that ambition”. When talking about the family structure nowadays she considers that “men should be more feminine and women should be more masculine”.

last 6 years to UNICEF, through her T-shirt designs. In 2011 she went to TOGO as an UNICEF ambassador, and visited the villages, the school, saw the sanitary system, clean water and all the good things, UNICEF has manage to develop in this poor country. It made a forever deep impression on her soul. We are lucky to have such a significant talent on the island. Malene arrived in Mallorca in 2001, she visited a friend after the loss of her first brand Day Birger et Mikkelsen, and needed to rest and thought herself out, find her legs again. She did find herself, she felt in love with the island, and she has bought several houses since and decided in 2007 to come and live in Mallorca. She still has her little finca, and can always come back to her garden rest and fill up the “tank”, and paint. Free as the bird.

This impressive woman has donated more than 7 million DKKR over the 34

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 72 x 93 (wooden frame)

My Garden 2013 ink drawing on paper 63 x 81,5 (wooden frame)

“What’s important to me is to have a plan with my projects and my life, to be inspired, to meet great and free people with full spirits, to travel, to live, to love my friends, family and my husband and to be free in all my decisions. To plan them, and then take action. I’m a mover.”

ABA Art Contemporani | Pl. Porta de Santa Catalina | 21A 07012 Palma de Mallorca info@abaart.com | www.abaart.com