PANTHÈRE DE CARTIER SA DESIGN FASHION & ART SPRING SHOPPING
September 2014 |www.cheektochic.co.za
2 | Editor’s Letter
Editor’s letter
T
revyn McGowan from Southern Guild, which showcases the very best of South African design from the most respected designers and artists in the country, believes that South African design is “growing in stature, variety and professionalism and has a strong unique visual identity.” After visiting the inaugural 100%DesignSA Cheek2Chic agrees, so this spring issue features top local designers, from Capetonians Robin Sprong and Anthony Shapiro to Braamfontein’s Dokter and Misses. This issue’s Style Icon is internationally recognized awardwinning designer Ronel Jordaan, whose pebble cushions have even reached as far afield as Clarence House. The paintings of artist James Delaney translate into gleaming piles of silk as he undertakes an artistic collaboration with New York couturier Anthony Manfredonia ... you might call it “fashionable art”. The sizzling new 56 piece Panthère de Cartier collection, featured on the cover, is audacious and sophisticated and we meet the modern and multifaceted face of Swarovski’s Fall/Winter 2014/15 campaign, Miranda Kerr, and enjoy a collection of mixed metals with clean, delicate lines. Further temptations to the purse include the dazzling new Rolex watches which were presented in 2014.
Bernard Gutman of Waterfront Whisky shares tasting a Glen Grant 50-year-old whisky from a cask that was hand-filled before he was born while Tammy Theron takes us on the most luxurious train trip in the world, through the breathtaking Hex River Valley down to Cape Town, as she works her way through the wine list and makes new friends! It’s been a feast of polo and luxurious experiences on the Highveld from the Land Rover Africa Cup (where rugged explorer Kingsley Holgate was a VIP guest in the revamped Inanda Clubhouse) to The Prince of Wales Cup and the blue and white Grey Goose marquee at the annual BMW polo, both at Waterfall. It’s time to soak up the balmy warmth, and what better place for some serious upscale spring retail therapy than the Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria? Watch this space for regular shopping sprees with the lovely shops in the mall! Readers can also win a wonderful afternoon tea and champagne giveaway at the luxurious 54 on Bath in Rosebank, which this year celebrates its second birthday. So go on ... spoil yourself ... we know you want to!
Sarah Cangley Cheek2Chic Editor
Cover picture by: Tania & Vincent © Cartier
Two lucky readers can win a afternoon tea experience with a glass of Veuve Clicquot at 54 on Bath, which celebrates its second anniversary this year. Email your details to scangley43@gmail.com to win. Only South African residents may enter.
4 | Design
Picture supplied by: Ronel Jordaan
100%DESIGN SA was co-curated by Cathy O’Clery, who is well known in design circles, Laurence Brick from Loads of Living and Julian Gelb, formerly of Home Fabrics.
6 | Design
SA’S GOT DE 1
00%DesignSA had its debut this year and ran concurrently with Decorex SA at Gallagher Estate.
The event showcased design from four distinct areas of the industry, which were residential, hospitality, office and product design. The main thrust of the show was contemporary design and South Africa’s top designers took centre stage, including Laurie Van Heerden of Wiid Design who created furniture for an cork-clad bar, sponsored by Spier Wine Estate. Dokter and Misses created 100%Office in association with Visi magazine, Dauphin, Interface and Gone Rural. Mr Price Home also showcased its collaboration with other leading South African designers like Amanda du Plessis and Ed Suter at The Mr Price Home Co Lab Café, and Yanni Vosloo kept a high profile. Black Fabrics, Robin Sprong, Fabcote, Plascon, C.O. Designs, Able Walling, Black Fabrics, Romo and Interface featured design for fabric, floors and walls. The cream of South African textile designers exhibited, from Ronel Jordaan, Mungo Design, Bead Design Studio and Coral Stephens Handweaving, to Ginger Cat, Design Team, Carole Nevin, Adele’s Mohair and Ashanti. In the furniture and lighting companies departments there was an impressive line-up: Dauphin HumanDesign® Group, Tonic Design, Streamlight, Leonardo Design, A la Maison, Southern Hospitality, Obbligato, Inova Furniture, Limeline, Marlan Teak, Mezzanine, RAW Studios, Guideline MNF, Glo Lighting, GDF Design Lab, One Good Turn, Bacsac, Tilt Design Collective, Hope Furniture, Antiques and Heritage of Europe, Trestle South Africa, Space For Life with C20 Gallerie and Amatuli. South Africa excels in ceramics and there is an unsurpassed representation from the ceramic world including Ceramic Factory, Mud Studio, Mick Haigh and Lisa Firer. The Long Table, a ceramic collective feature by Art in The Forest in association with House & Leisure, was one of the highlights of the show. Robert Sherwood designed 100%Hotel; Sarah Ord Interiors sneak previewed her new hotel The Stack; Head Interiors, M Interiors and Karen Robert Interiors designed 100% Lodge in association with Home Fabrics and Shiree Darley’s team at DIAD showcased their magnificent interiors work in the hospitality. Cape Town designer, John Jacob Zwiegelaar created a green and restful room for Condé Nast House & Garden, and Hocus Interior Design Studio, Archipelago Collective and Blacksmith Interior Inspiration created their own contemporary styled room sets.
Picture supplied by: 100% Design South Africa
ESIGN TALENT
8 | Design
John Jacob Zwiegelaar John Jacob Zwiegelaar has made his name as “the creator of unmistakable, highly bespoke, glamorous work underpinned by attention to detail, a feel for individual clients’ requirements and client satisfaction”. (www.johnjacobinteriors.com)
Picture supplied by: Zebra Square
10 | Design
Dokter and Misses Industrial designer Adriaan Hugo and his graphic designer wife Katy Taplin have based their design company Dokter and Misses in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. They are influenced by their surroundings and their selection of furniture, lighting, objects and design-art pieces boast strong modernist lines and graphic patterns. (www.dokterandmisses.com)
Picture supplied by: 100% Design South Africa
12 | Design
Robin Sprong Robin Sprong wallpaper/surface design/photography creates incredible imagery for interiors from bricks and concrete to graffiti to famous South African artists’ works available for re-printing. “We are constantly on the lookout for new and exciting imagery from designers, illustrators and photographers” (www.robinsprong.com)
Picture supplied by: 100% Design South Africa
14 | Design
Anthony Shapiro Award-winning ceramicist Anthony Shapiro teaches at Art in the Forest Ceramic Centre in Constantia, Cape Town. His popular ANT bowls have been sold to Conran stores, Anthropologie and ABC Carpet and his ceramics featured at The Long Table at 100%Design. His signature Forestware, made by the ceramicists of the future, include Nguni Jugs and Sculptures, Vertical Gardens, Raku Rhino Pots, porcelain bowls, ceramic ottomans, smoke fired bowls and ceramics by Lauren Kaplan and Chuma Maweni. (www.artintheforest.com/forestware)
Picture supplied by: 100% Design South Africa
16 | Design
LOCAL DESIGN G I
n 2003 Trevyn McGowan and her husband Julian founded Source, which is a primary agency for the international representation of South African design. Five years later they co-founded Southern Guild, which provides a platform showcasing the very best of South African design from the most respected designers and artists in the country. They are also the founders of the international design fair GUILD which shows in Cape Town each February and Trevyn is curating the V&A’s new craft market, The Watershed, in Cape Town. She is an agent for many South African designers, such as Ronel Jordaan. “I have been working for 11 years on the export of South African design and have seen local design show stratospheric growth. It is growing in stature, variety and professionalism and has a strong unique visual identity,” says Trevyn. “In this country design is very artist-led and has a creative background. It has a unique handwriting and a very authentic way of producing. Our designers are passionate and end up teaching others their skills. But it’s not enough to have beautiful things; ultimately a successful business is dependent on a designer’s strong drive and acumen – it needs to be reliably suppliable to the outside world, with consistent quality.” Which is where the two arms of the McGowans’s business come in. “In 2008 we began to ensure that a whole category of products were accepted into top fairs throughout the world and that they were taken seriously by respected journalists and curators. “Exposure to these fairs has taught our designers a different mindset. It motivates them to work within a platform that drives sales. “Southern Guild has shown South African design at collectable limited edition fairs which sell design as an investment art piece, such as Design Miami, which runs concurrently with Art Basel and exhibits in both Basel, Switzerland, and Miami. Southern Guild has also attended the Design Day in Dubai and has been responsible for eight percent of the sales. “Source has been instrumental in the opening of The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront which will have 165 stallholders ready to supply the public 364 days a year with strong South African brands. “Other ventures we are involved in are the opening of our first permanent Southern Guild gallery, in Woodstock, our first retail offering Odeon opening at The Watershed and the launch of our seminar programme Businesss of Design.” While Southern Guild deals with limited edition design Trevyn’s second company SOURCE is more relevant to the mass market and obtains products that are more appropriate to the international market via one on one meetings or trade shows, such as New York Now or Ambiente in Frankfurt. The company works out final packages for clients, sorts out compliance requirements, gets orders from buyers, consolidates from a variety of suppliers, ship products to the US, UK and around the world and as well as organising media and publicity.
Picture supplied by: 100% Design South Africa
GETS A PLATFORM
Vogel Magnet Lounge Chair Designer: John Vogel
18 | Design
Willow Lamp Willowlamp is an innovative, award-winning South African lighting company whose products are anchored in one simple yet very ingenious idea: a patented method of attaching ballchain to laser-cut steel frames (www.willowlamp.com)
Pictures supplied by: 100% Design South Africa
Sarah Ord
Sarah Ord Interiors are “particularly fond of saturated hues that make a statement, quirky conversation-starters, and South African features that have become their trademark. All about colour, Sarah Ord showcases exquisite ceramic lamps and feature shades, rustic tableware and zingy fabric.� (www.sarahord.com)
20 | Style Icon
O
Picture supplied by: Ronel Jordaan
ne of the stars at 100% South African Design was internationally recognized award-winning designer Ronel Jordaan.
Over the past ten years Ronel has carved a niche for herself in the pantheon of design, with her unique, instantly recognisable line of hand-made high-end soft furnishings, all made out of handfelted merino wool with inners made of 100 percent wool or polyester.
When I was in Blairgowrie I used a handheld carding machine to create the veins, drawing the different threads of wool gently through the felt to create a naturalistic look.
Her pieces are architectural, yet natural, soft yet sculpted, with influences of the flora, fauna and landscapes of South Africa as proteas, porcupines, raasblaar leaves and rocks, rivers and pebbles.
6 7
1
HOW HAVE YOU GONE FROM A SMALL ENTERPRISE TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? WHEN I FIRST MET YOU IT WAS IN A TINY STUDIO IN CRAIGHALL PARK – BACK IN 2006 – AND YOU HAD TO HAND CARD THE FELT WITH A HANDHELD DEVICE. Trend forecaster Li Edelkoot took us to Stockholm and Paris where she had a design exhibition “North meets South”. After that we started doing trade shows in Canada, Montreal and Toronto, then Paris on a regular basis at MAISON&OBJET. I found that as second time exhibitors we got more orders as people took us more seriously. Now I have agents who exhibit twice a year.
2
WHEN WE FIRST MET YOU WERE MAINLY DOING THE PEBBLE CUSHIONS BUT NOW YOU HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF PRODUCTS FROM SUCCULENT CUSHIONS TO SCREENS, THROWS, AND GORGEOUS GLOWY BOWLS. Obviously the cushions are my bread and butter and remain very popular. I have kept my staple lines and every year add two to three new designs. I find that it takes three years for a design to catch on. This year it was my Ndebele chair. I think it is because people start to recognise the images from design magazines and hotels. People in Europe love the rocks and Prince Charles even bought some of my boulders for Clarence House.
3
TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT LINES.
I also make nests, furniture,rugs and screens, planters, and hollowed out sheep, as you can see, which can be used as floor lamps.
4
AND THE GOLD AND SILVER LEAF? THAT IS AMAZING, IT JUST GLOWS! I CAN JUST SEE THEM DOTTED AROUND SOME AVANT GARDE HOTEL.
I use that when the “veins” in my cushions are not right or the sheep come out too fat! We add a special treatment to the cushions, then press gold leaf onto them.
5
YES, YOU ARE VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE “VEINS” IN YOUR CUSHIONS, WHICH EMULATE THE VEINS OF STONE RUNNING THROUGH A NATURAL PIECE OF ROCK.
They need to be just right.
DO YOU GET COPIED A LOT? Yes! But they don’t do it very well, so the copies are mostly inferior. TELL ME ABOUT THE PROCESS OF MAKING FELT FROM THE MERINO WOOL?
As you see we have a new industrial carding machine because when the wool is dyed it goes tight. It goes through the carding machine and when it comes out it is combed and carded. For the felt we use sheep’s wool. SA Merino wool is very good for felting. I find Australian Merino wool too fine for this work.
8
ANY NEW PROJECTS ON THE CARDS?
I am going to open up a small little shop at The Watershed in Cape Town, developing small products which will not be under the Ronel Jordaan design brand, as I want to keep the brand clear. Markets are for tourists who need something small and portable.
9
WHAT ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS? I SEE YOU HAVE AN INSPIRATIONAL STORYBOARD OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE WITH ALL SORTS OF CLIPPINGS ON IT.
I love product development. I see something and get an idea. For example, I saw this acoustic cubicle and immediately thought of the properties of wool, it muffles sound. It all goes on the design board, so I don’t forget the ideas and am reminded every time I pass by.
10
THOSE ARE YOUR NEW ACOUSTIC FELT PANELS WHICH YOU EXHIBITED AT 100%DESIGN? THEY REMIND ME OF A PATCHWORK QUILT, WITH THOSE HEXAGON PATTERNS. I showed the felt acoustic panels for the first time and had huge interest from architects and musicians. I like to develop something that you can take and change and wanted the panels to be interactive so a client can use them per m² or go very organic with them. The acoustic panels are two-sided: one side is very colourful and the other plain as the mood changes.
11
SO ARE YOU VERY GREEN?
Yes. We have solar panels and harness water from a tank in the roof, we recycle water and use biodegradable soap, it’s part of our ethos.
Pictures supplied by: Ronel Jordaan
22 | Style Icon
Q&A 12
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU EMPLOY? WHEN I FIRST MET YOU YOU WERE A ONEMAN BAND.
We employ over 35 people, all women because they are good at multi-tasking and are the caregivers! I train them in all stages of production management and they all know how to make every product and resolve problems.
13
WHERE DOES THE INTEREST IN YOUR DESIGNS COME FROM?
Mostly South Africa, although the US market is quite big. My biggest sales in Europe come from Germany , then a small segment from the Netherlands, France and Switzerland. I also sell to the UK, Australia, Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong. We also do a small trade in China. We are able to make bespoke pieces.
14
HAVE YOU HAD A LOT OF PRESS, FROM BOTH SOUTH AFRICA AND INTERNATIONALLY?
I did the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) this year and won the textile award so I did get a lot of press in the US for that. I have been going for ten years now and have had nice recognition, especially from my fellow South Africans. For now, I am focusing on one design and getting it to market. I like challenges, I don’t want to be static.
15
YOU ARE GETTING BUSIER AND BUSIER. WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO NEXT?
I have been invited to take part in a competition run by an Italian design magazine which chooses designs from all around the world.
Strips of brightly coloured felt flutter in the sunshine outside the Ronel Jordaan studio, waiting to be made into something magical
24 | High Jewellery
RETURN
A panther woman was taking shape... but who was she? A predator, an Amazon, a mystery, a fantasy, a muse, halfwoman-half-feline? What we do know is that she stood out, claimed her independence and freedom, and marked her existence with a wild and beautiful femininity as only she could.
Picture supplied by: © Cartier
I
n 1914, the Cartier panther appeared for the first time as a panther-spot motif on a wristwatch. Inspired by nature, its black and white abstract onyx and diamond paving inaugurated the use of flecking in jewellery and pioneered the contrasts of the future Art Déco style.
For Cartier, the first panther woman was Jeanne Toussaint, Louis Cartier’s close collaborator and muse. She was original, creative and demanding. She was an inventive source of inspiration who approached the feline step by step, revealing its jewelled coat through an impression of spotted motifs before giving it body and life. Cartier’s high jewellery creative director in 1933, in the eyes of her major clients she enveloped herself in an indisputable aura of elegance by dictating the famous “Toussaint style”. Because it makes its mark, its appearances instantly distinguish a style. The 2014 Cartier panther is once more distinguished by its phenomenal and modern presence. Figurative, graphic, playful, gentle, wild, sensual, ferocious or kinetic, the 56 pieces in the Panthère de Cartier new collection offer a range of surprises, loyal to its audacious and sophisticated jewellery aura.
White gold necklace, rock crystal, onyx, emeralds, diamonds Tania & Vincent © Cartiert
N OF THE PANTHÈRE
Picture supplied by: © Cartier
26 | High Jewellery
White gold bracelet, onyx, black lacquer, chrysoprase, diamonds Vincent Wulverick © Cartier 2014
Yellow gold necklace, onyx, black lacquer, citrine, tsavorite garnets, diamonds Vincent Wulverick © Cartier 2014
White gold ring, onyx, black lacquer, emeralds, diamonds Vincent Wulverick © Cartier 2014
Yellow gold ring, black lacquer, onyx, tsavorite garnets Vincent Wulverick © Cartier 2014
Picture supplied by: Š Cartier
White gold bracelet, onyx, emeralds, diamonds White gold ring, onyx, black lacquer, emeralds, diamonds Tania & Vincent Š Cartiert
28 | Fine Timepieces
ROLEX UNVEILS
Picture supplied by: Rolex
Cheek2Chic was invited to view the new 2014 models for Rolex, which included the Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller D-Blue 116660 watch, which was released as a new version of an existing watch in honour of James Cameron and his journey to one of the deepest parts of the ocean in his aptly named Deepsea Challenger submersible in 2012.
Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller D-Blue 116660
S 2014 MODELS
30 | Fine Timepieces
Sky Dweller
Cosmograph Daytona Reference 116576TBR/78596 (40mm case)
Cellini Dual Time
Reference 50525/Strap (39mm case)
Also on view were new Rolex models from Baselworld 2014, including the emblematic Oyster collection, as well as an entirely new range in the Cellini collection, which offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional watch with a distinctive Rolex signature.
Milgauss
Picture supplied by: Rolex Rolex Datejust Pearlmaster 34 Reference 81348SARO/74868 (34mm case)
Picture supplied by: Rolex
32 | Fine Timepieces
Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II
Rolex’s uncompromising mastery of all aspects of the art of watchmaking, from the case and the bracelet to the mechanical movement, and from design to gem-setting is particularly illustrated by the spectacular red and blue, single-piece Cerachrom bezel insert of the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II
Picture supplied by: Swarovski
34 | Fashion Jewellery
SWAROVKI’S
Miranda Kerr embodies this modern and multifaceted woman, and has been chosen as the muse for Swarovski’s Fall/Winter 2014/15 campaign. Radiant and renowned for her impeccable sense of style, the supermodel has many different sides that, for Swarovski, make her the perfect expression of its values. “Miranda was an obvious choice for Swarovski. She represents a very contemporary idea of women, which illustrates the brand perfectly,” explains Nathalie Colin, Swarovski’s Creative Director.
Pictures supplied by: Swarovski
S
warovski mixes light, sparkle, and glamour to create its signature style that is instantly covetable. A brand synonymous with modernity, Swarovski caters for today’s multifaceted woman who always wants to look her best at any given moment.
Starring in the new worldwide campaign shot by Steven Meisel, Miranda declares: “I love the versatility that Swarovski infuses into its collections. Its pieces are always in step with the times, fashionable yet timeless, so you can wear them from morning to evening, with casual and formal styles” A campaign highlighting Fall/Winter 2014/15 key trends Comprising 7 visuals, the campaign highlights key seasonal trends which stand out of the Fall/ Winter 2014/15 collection. The first is mixed plating as a major new and easy-to-wear theme. Gold, rose gold, and silver plating come together in harmonious combinations, as seen in the ad campaign featuring Miranda wearing “Bound” necklace and bangle. For Nathalie Colin “the mixed metals trend underlines the idea that you shouldn’t be afraid to break the rules to create your own signature style. This season, Swarovski will go beyond its previous exploration of mixed plating by releasing a number of pieces in each color. From rich indulgent gold tones, through to delicate and feminine rose gold and refined graphic silver... why choose just one?!”
Swarovski truly encourages women to be bold with their looks, allowing them to incorporate new trends into their own style, in their own way, every day.
NEW MUSE
Earings
Pendants, bracelets, and rings with clean, delicate lines are available in a range of metals, adding a new dimension to the concept of versatility, which is such an iconic feature of many Swarovski designs. Really mix things up this season by stacking the same ring or bangle, or layer a couple of pendants, in a variety of metallic |and combinations to choose from.
36 | Fashion Jewellery
Bound Bracelet
Stone Mini Bangle
Earings
Bound Leather
Bolt Pendant Pictures supplied by: Swarovski
38 | Shopping
Situated in the heart of Pretoria’s cosmopolitan Embassy suburbs, Brooklyn Mall and Brooklyn Square combine all the right components to create a vibrant hub of activity for the Capital’s most prestigious neighbourhood. A full complement of national retailers along with approximately 180 specialist retail stores provides a comprehensive and sound matrix of choice. There is a large assortment of restaurants and coffee bars satisfying an astute palette.
Greig & Meinke Mont Blanc Henry Steinway Limited edition 4810 pen. R 28,700
His and Hers Rolex Oyster Watches. Hers - Rolex Datejust 36mm Ref 116244/72600 with Brilliant cut Diamond Set Bezel and Pink Floral Dial. His - Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 950 Platinum Ref 116506/78596 with signature Ice Blue Dial and Brown Cerachrom Bezel. Prices on request
Greig & Meinke From left to right 1.) 18 carat white gold with a Kunzite surrounded by diamonds R 125,200.00 2.) 18 carat white gold 3 strands with diamonds and 3 coloured gems R 38,750.00 3.) 18 carat white gold with a cushion cut Tanzanite surrounded by diamonds R 128,400.00
Pictures by: Dylan le Roux The Algoa Bay Coffee Company Swiss-made Jura Impressa coffee machine with touchscreen technology, R32 000.00
i-Salon Wooden ukulele, R750.00-R1600.00
i-Salon iMini with charger and radio, R999.00
40 | Shopping
Sunglass Hut Dolce & Gabbana Almond Flower R2650.00
Con Amore Two gorgeous vintage bamboo lamp stands with brass bases, R1950.00 each
Vendange Champagne magnum candles, R285.00 each
Pictures by: Dylan le Roux Hero Jour d’Hermés Pure Parfum, 15ml limited edition perfume R2835.50
Foodlovers Market Liquors Special edition Chivas Regal, R2420.90
Weylandts Egg shaped wooden coffee table, from the Philippines, R17 995.00
42 | Art
FASHION & ART
J
ames Delaney is a South African artist best known for his depictions of African landscapes, especially from above, as well as abstract and elemental depictions of nature, interesting installations and an ongoing fascination with baobabs which he depicts in his lithographs. An inveterate traveller who has visited Europe, Asia and the Americas, James’s work features in collections in South Africa, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Spain. His influences are great abstract masters like Rothko, Brancusi and Pollock as well as great works of scale, like Monet’s giant water lily canvases in the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. This abstraction in his work led him to a new artistic venture, a foray into the world of high fashion and an interdisciplinary connection with a fellow artist.
Couturier and artist might come from different disciplines but both fields require the same thought
Picture supplied by: James Delaney
processes
44 | Art
Pictures supplied by: James Delaney
After two shows in New York and one in Philadelphia James felt that he was starting to make steps into the US art world and build his profile. Then after meeting New York couturier Anthony Manfredonia who makes bespoke pieces for high profile clients like Beyonce, who wore a MANFREDONIA corset and swimsuit for the “No Angel” video from the MANFREDONIA Spring 2014 Collection - James had a light bulb moment. Why not take his paintings into a different medium? Fortunately both he and Anthony were on the same page. The process of seeing his artworks reborn as gorgeous piles of printed silk was enthralling. “Anthony knows my work and looked at everything, then chose a few pieces that he said would work when printed on to silk. He needed a certain amount of abstraction - something that alluded to something.
“We had to use super high-resolution images which would be used in billboards. “The pictures were printed on to huge pieces of printed silk which Anthony took and cut up. He pinned the pieces on to mannequins to see that the light and shadows fell in the right place. He needed loads of pins so the silk hugged the mannequin. “I really enjoyed going into Anthony’s studio which is a small intense space in this cool brownstone building in Hell’s Kitchen. “Seeing the silk printed with my images was a transmogrification into a whole new medium which I would never have conceptualised. The silk moves all the times so you can’t hold on to it. It is a whole lot of different colours, a play of light and shade, so I would not even recognise the original piece.”
“Seeing the silk printed with my images was a transmogrification into a whole new medium which I would never have conceptualised. The silk moves all the times so you can’t hold on to it. It is a whole lot of different colours, a play of light and shade, so I would not even recognise the original piece.”
46 | Art
So who will be wearing James’s painting? “I do not know. Anthony works with a model then sends his pieces to agents. Anthony’s clients are celebrity or high profile people who source clothes from him. The garments are one-offs so he is not competing with the mass market. “The fabrics created for this collection are very intense so Anthony chose a different, quieter mood for his next pieces, using lots of blues and greys and a different colour palette. James loves New York and spends hours walking around the city. “As an artist I love experiencing the biggest art scene in the world. I won’t go near touristy places like Times Square but there are so many quirky bookshops, galleries, museums and coffee spots to explore. I take loads of pictures of installations in galleries - here is one made entirely out of straws, look how the light shines off it. “I am lucky enough to have friends who own an apartment with a top floor view of the river. New Yorkers tend to be from other places and it is a great place to plug into new trends, make connections and see what is out there now.” James might venture into fashion again as he says: “Art does not mean being in one world.” Couturier and artist might come from different disciplines but both fields require the same thought processes, precision and sense of construction. Conceptualising an artwork, like James’ coffee cup installation of Nelson Mandela’s face in Sandton a few years ago which he initially mapped on computer, is very similar to Anthony’s construction of a bustier (James is fascinated by the pronunciation of the word!). Fashion connections have occurred before in James’s career. He was involved in a collaborative project with South African designer Craig Jacobs ten years ago, and worked with SA Fashion Week founder Lucilla Booyzen in the Fashion District when he needed an exhibition space. At home James has often exhibited at In Toto Gallery in Johannesburg which is a great fan of his work: “James reveals a process of letting the paint take its own form on the canvas. When it’s dried, he works with it, slowly adding layers of colour, lifting the energy of the canvas, until it has energy, so it almost vibrates. It is partly planned, and partly happens on its own. “His approach is perhaps best summed up by the late Robert Hodgins, a famous South African artist who was a wonderful optimist, and described art as ‘an auto-intoxication that allows one to live through marriages, divorces, deaths and unhappy love affairs, and come up smiling all the time.’”
Picture supplied by: James Delaney
CELEBRATING 48 | Whisky
G THE BIG 5-0 Inside the safe we found whisky and crystal tumblers and added water from the stream to the whisky, perhaps much like James ‘The Major’ Grant did a century ago, after his hunting trips into Africa
Picture supplied by: Glen Grant
50 | Whisky
I
want to share the day that was the highlight of my “whisky life”. In over ten years of talking whisky around the world I’ve heard many people say they want to have my job. I suppose it sounds glamorous: the travel to exotic destinations, five-star hotels, seven-course dinners and, of course, the pleasure and privilege of drinking rare whiskies, some of which cost far more than a luxury car. But whisky people are different. We are happiest in the quiet times, sitting alone with our thoughts and a glass of history, or with close friends and a bottle of something special. After years of festivals and airports, we can become jaded. I was. I needed something special to revive the romance; much like an old oak cask, filled once too often, I needed to be rejuvenated and restored. And a few weeks ago my soul got what it needed. A group of whisky lovers from South Africa went along to Scotland for a week which began with a visit to Old Trafford, the home of my beloved Manchester United. On the Sunday, we enjoyed the final day of the British Open, from the luxury of a hospitality tent, then on to four days at the Glen Grant distillery in Rothes, in the northern part of Scotland. We searched for the Loch Ness Monster (no, we didn’t find it!), spent a day in the countryside clay pigeon shooting, 4 x 4 driving and archery, and of course enjoying distillery visits. We ticked a few things off the bucket list but, ultimately, enjoyed what time, patience, skill and dedication bring to something as simple and as complex as whisky. At first glance, the highlight of my whisky career was an average day - a small group of whisky lovers sitting in a warehouse in Scotland enjoying a wee dram. But it was far from average. The person pouring the whisky was Dennis Malcolm, a veteran of the whisky industry. The whisky was The Glen Grant 50-year-old. On October 28 1963 Dennis hand-filled the cask; on the 25 November 2013 he decided that the whisky had reached its high point and released the cask for bottling.
Now there is some perspective in today’s world of instant gratification. How many of us can comprehend the patience needed to do that? How many of us would give in to temptation and want to share that special spirit, perhaps before it was ready? The whisky is spectacular. But – perhaps even than the taste, the colour and the aroma - the most special part of the day was immersing myself in the history of the distillery. Walking through the lush gardens we found a path to a waterfall where there is a safe built into the hillside. Inside the safe we found whisky and crystal tumblers and added water from the stream to the whisky, perhaps much like James ‘The Major’ Grant did a century ago, after his hunting trips into Africa. Drinking a whisky that was distilled before I was born gave me a sense of history. It was not the oldest whisky I’ve ever had, but it was the oldest, by some years, that I’d enjoyed with the person who filled the cask. There were only 150 bottles produced: 15 came to South Africa, of which ten have been sold, three are on display and two are being sold this Christmas. R150 000 will buy you a piece of history and a lot of love. And if you buy it, give me a ring, I’d love to share it with you! Slainte.
I needed something special to revive the romance; much like an old oak cask, filled once too often, I needed to be rejuvenated and restored.
Story by: Bernard Gutman
Picture supplied by: Glen Grant
Drinking a whisky that was distilled before I was born gave me a sense of history
52 | Travel
RIDING ON THE
Picture supplied by: Rovos Rail
PRIDE OF AFRICA R
ovos Rail boasts some of the most famous train journeys in the world - their destinations throughout Africa include Durban, Namibia, Dar es Salaam, the Victoria Falls and even Cairo. One of the best known routes on Rovos Rail is the trip from Pretoria down to Cape Town. TAMMY THERON experiences what has been described as “the most luxurious train in the world”. “My journey back in time starts at the Pretoria station in Capital Park, where you are welcomed by old-world colonial staff offering champagne. The warm Pretoria sun is welcoming as we watch the Station Master rolling up various old steam locomotives for guests to climb in and toot the horn. “The staff are friendly and professional as they announce each guest, and you are assisted by your personal butler to your suite where he/ she explains all the amenities. “Our suite is incredibly comfortable and surprisingly spacious. We immediately unpack and settle in, wondering what we should do first. We both bring two books but not one page is turned during the entire two days!” As the train sluggishly leaves Pretoria on the company’s flagship locomotive, Pride of Africa, Tammy is immediately transported back to a bygone era. Haste is replaced by history. Pride of Africa is luxurious in every way – plush furniture, beautifully hand-carved teak pillars and an Observation Deck at the back with a 360 degree view of the world. Travelling by train allows passengers to experience South Africa’s least seen scenery. There are no roads through the mountains and the only traffic experienced is the odd meerkat or buck. Being the old Dame she is, Pride of Africa is incredibly rocky but after a few glasses of wine in the Observation Deck the guests are soothed by the swaying of the cars. “Rovos boasts the most incredible wine selection, (everything on Rovos, including alcohol is included), and it’s like having your own personal wine tutelage. One can’t talk about the wine without mentioning the food, and this is by far the most incredible dining experiences you can ever wish to have. The South African flavours just add to the amazing ambience,” says Tammy.
Picture supplied by: Rovos Rail
54 | Travel
“Just as we are about to pull into Kimberly to visit the Big Hole we are enthralled at Kamfers Dam by the biggest flock of pink flamingos I have ever seen. This is one of only six breeding grounds for lesser flamingos in the world, and it is breathtaking to see so many of these gracious birds all together. “The visit to Kimberly Big Hole is just as breathtaking , including an incredible collection of diamonds locked away behind a massive vault. Our tour guide is a proper comedian and his tour is not only informative but he makes it great fun.” As Tammy and the others depart Kimberley and head for their favourite place, the Observation Deck, they work their way through the white wine on the wine list, lazily watching as the train heads into the arid heart of the Karoo. Most of the guests are overseas tourists and it is delightful to listen to the stories of their experiences travelling in South Africa. “It makes me feel very honoured and privileged to say I am from
this wonderful place we call home,” says Tammy. Soon it is time to change into formal attire for dinner, and the passengers make their way down the rocking narrow corridors to the dining car. As arid and stark as the Karoo is during the day, at night the sky burns brightly and nowhere can you imagine so many stars. This is truly the highlight of the trip for Tammy. The next morning she has an option to get off the train and hike for five kilometres to Matjiesfontein, but opts for breakfast before stopping. Staying true to the theme of the trip, Matjiesfontein is as Victorian and old-world as the Pride of Africa itself. The Lord Milner Hotel is the last vestige of Victoriana in South Africa and its ghostly museums do not disappoint. “As we wave farewell to the Karoo, once again our scenery
changes dramatically and large open plains are replaced with lush, green mountains capped with snow and vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see. “Once again we make for the Observation Deck and this time work our way through the red wine list. By now we have made friends with the other guests and enjoy their company as we learn each others’ stories. “As we roll into Cape Town I am struck by such emotion that this amazing journey had come to an end. I can’t help wanting to stay back in time. “Rovos does not allow any electronic devices in any of the cars, except in your room, so for two days you don’t hear or see a cellphone, so instead of looking down you’re looking up and out ahead of you. Friendships made. Train journey completed. I decide that all is well with my soul.”
Rovos Rail boasts some of the most famous train journeys in the world their destinations throughout Africa include Durban, Namibia, Dar es Salaam, the Victoria Falls and even Cairo. Story by: Tammy Theron
56 | By Invitation / Polo
Picture by: Gareth Jacobs
58 | By Invitation / Polo
The revamped Inanda Club was the perfect venue for guests at the Land Rover Africa Cup to sip Veuve Clicquot from long stemmed yellow glasses, lean over the balcony and watch the polo with friends in the afternoon sunshine. Sexily jodhpured Land Rover hostesses handed out blue rimmed sunglasses and Panamas to guests, including South African explorer, humanitarian and author Kingsley Holgate. Pictures by: Gareth Jacobs
60 | By Invitation 6
7
The Prince of Wales Cup combined the prestige and glamour of polo with the energy and vibrancy of the city of gold. The tournament ran over three days and was held at the exclusive Waterfall Equestrian Polo Fields with the national team being selected on the final day. Mr Concierge provided a plush environment for guests. Pictures supplied by: Mr Concierge
62 | By Invitation
BLUE & WHITE REIGN
The annual BMW International Polo Series sees the smart set of Johannesburg turn out and 2014 was no exception.
filled to capacity. The young and fashionable flocked to the Peroni and Grey Goose tents where chic blue and white reigned.
With gleaming convertibles cruising the sidelines and the country’s finest horse flesh on display the main marquee, sponsors’ tents and picnic areas were
In one whisk of a horse’s tail South Africa had racked up ten goals to the US’s 6 and the game was over ... but not the fun
Pictures by: Ouparazzi
NS AT GREY GOOSE
SLIT is a limited edition range of duo-toned leather carriers created by Quamta, in collaboration with Africa’s premium electric bicycle lifestyle brand, Cycology. True to Quamta’s stylized nature and refined design principles, the SLIT range is a seamless carrier that collapses into a pure geometric form - simplified African luxury at its finest. Designed to fit neatly around handlebars, the SLIT range also allows the traveller to explore the city and beyond comfortably, on Cycology’s eco-conscious and stylish electric bicycles. The collaboration will be launched in Cycology’s exhibition and retail space WINDOW on 4 October / 44 Stanley avenue / Millpark / Johannesburg http://window.cycology.biz/gallery/quamta/