DESTIG Issue 4

DESTIG.COM

ISSUE NO. 4

DESTIG CREATIVES WITHOUT BORDERS

DALLAS ISSUE

Ashima Collective

Michal Ashkenasi

Friedman Benda

Shane BishopÂ

Eve by Borzalino

Svetlana CameronÂ

When Thou Art in Dallas

Didier Faustino

Ferrillo x Moschino

Glib Franko

Joe Gadreau

Clinton Helms

Blue Italia

James Joy

Doroni Lang

Changyeon Lee

Jonas Leriche

Kevin Marty

Philip Noyed

Staj Olson

Motifs All Over

Oliver Perry

Maira Reinbergs

Jenny Richter

Hasti Sardashti

L'Atlas

Samir Mazer

Sam Shepardson

Tejbir Singh

Hanna Supertran

Jennifer Taylor

Inna Timokina

Eric Wiles

Waldfrieden

Art Highlights

Hot Picks

W.F. James

Wooden Story

DESTIG Awards

TEAM Mike Walters - Editor in Chief Yeliz Cilar - Managing Director John West - Head of Sales Mark Del - Corporate Business Development Andrew Stephens - Corporate Account Manager Alice Carreras - Client Manager Mark Billings - Accounts Consultant Marco Ranieri - Financial Control Zayne Walters - Intern Micah Sayed - Intern Ricardo Andrade - Intern

Published by DESTIG UK Limited.

EDITOR'S NOTE Some of the world’s most exciting artists: showcasing their works and sharing their stories, ideas, questions and approaches. Inspired by Dallas: 200 beautiful pages packed with invaluable interviews from London to California to Bahrain to the Ukraine… from Paintings to Digital to Photography to Sculpture… from Classic to Sci-Fi to Concrete to Fabric… simply a ride of joy!

Artists are struggling to CONNECT. Android and iOS tribes are highly-informed authorities with the narrowest of perspectives and interests… anaesthetised by data, trained by algorithms, hooked to the forever flow of square-shaped images… are we having the time of our lives or are we living through time?

Great art heals and has the responsibility to rescue. It must reshape the online space to its advantage.

DESTIG is committed to using the best tools for the maximal benefit of our artists. Thanks and Enjoy!

MIKE WALTERS (EDITOR)

ASHIMAÂ

SPECIAL FEATURE

Existing at the intersection of art and design, the Ashima Collective is a group of artists, designers and craftsmen who are passionate about creating artifacts born of material and function.

Their expression gives rise to exploration of life’s subtler facets, inviting the viewer to join in the journey.

All works of art are sculpted in luxury concrete as thin as 1/8 of an inch. Each piece can then be founded into bronze, stainless steel, crystal or precious metals, allowing for the creation to be given whatever finish or patina was desired, providing each piece with near-immortality.

To further increase the experience of the artwork, each piece crafted with luxury concrete can incorporate radiant heat and/or sound.

ASHIMA COLLECTIVEÂ An alchemy of life and inspiration.

MICHAL

ASHKENASI

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

"When I began painting I painted at random whatever my imagination had in stock for me. Now I paint in series around an issue that has my attention."

Tell us about yourself and background.

What makes your work and approach unique?

I was born in the Netherlands 1935,

My work is unique because of my

in 1951 I emigrated to Israel to a

style, the big fields of color and the

kibbutz in the Negev desert.

harmony of the compositions.

I am a widow, mother of 2 sons

An artist from 1987 after 3 years

Why is your work a good investment?

University in Haifa and 7 years

As to investment, I think it is a good

master- classes. I paint,

item for collectors. Â

photograph and do digital art.

For the layman it is a little

and grandmother of 5.

difficult to understand, but for a

Tell us about your work.

collector who can see the deeper

My paintings are abstract –

nuances of the colors it's an open

minimalists where color has a

book. Here in Israel I'm called 'an

dominant part. I paint in big fields

artist for artists '"!

of color with some small object in

without frills and leave it for the

Tell us about some of your achievements.

lookers to" feel" the smallness of us

My biggest achievement is that I

in the universe.

became an artist.

it. my aim is to show the meaning

MICHAL ASHKENASI

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

I came to art late in life. At the age 46 I began to paint and an artist friend who saw my work told me to go and learn because, as he said: 'you have talent!' I did as he said and never looked back.Â

What are your sources of inspiration?

My inspirations are Nature, events in the world and my country, dreams and imagination.

What are you passionate about?

I am very passionate about justice, about the same value for all human beings, about anti-Semitism and about my country.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

I'm a member of a group of 12 artists here in my town and 7 years ago we decided once a year to work around a topic and make a calendar, to sell this and give the money to the less fortunate people in our town. In order to do this every one of us makes a special work and aside of the Calendar we show the works, which are for sale too in a small gallery here.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

Next month I will participate in an exhibition and auction in Montecatini in Italy. At the end of November until the end of December I will participate in a group show in Rome, Italy.

Tell us about where you are based.

My home and atelier is in a small town 20km northeast of Tel Aviv. It's a very nice and easy place to live in, much greenery, trees and gardens. All facilities one needs are here, all shops and even 2 big centers for art and artisan items. I live in a residents house in which I have my apartment and my atelier. All facilities included, swimming pool, gym, a park. I'm lucky!!

MICHAL ASHKENASI

WWW.MICHALSART.COM

FRIEDMAN BENDA EXHIBITION

ETTORE SOTTSASS MISHA KAHN JONATHAN TRAYTE For its annual exhibition at The Salon Art + Design,

Like Sottsass, Kahn demonstrates how a functional

Friedman Benda will present, Dialogues, bringing

object can contain personality, energy and spirit.

two emerging voices in context with the

The presentation will include a site-specific floor.

groundbreaking Italian architect and designer,

London-based artist Jonathan Trayte (b. 1980) will

Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007). Focusing on three

present a selection of new works. “I grew up in the

radically different approaches and practices, this

80’s between South Africa and Yorkshire, spending

exhibit will bring focus to the breadth of each

a lot of my childhood in the bush. I had no idea who

designer’s expression, while contextualizing Sottsass’

Sottsass was, but his striking and experimental work

enduring legacy that informs generations of young

permeated through popular culture and influenced

designers and artists from across the globe.

so many. This cross-disciplinary approach to design

Dialogues will debut ambitious new works by Misha

and architecture is an inspiration,” says Trayte.

Kahn (b. 1989), who lists Sottsass’ “willingness to

A floor lamp, Velvet Straight-Neck, and vanity table,

swim upstream against conventional taste,” as a

Pink Mondi with Bomba Lamp, offer a fresh take on

continued major influence.

Sottsass’ eye-catching hues and distilled forms.

SHANE

BISHOP

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Portrait eyes that brim with life.

Walls inviting you to live among them. Life caught in that moment of contact. The daily images of our life.

Tell us about yourself and background.

Growing up in a coal mining town in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, there really wasn’t much use for Art. Yet that is just what filled my 5 year old head as I sat watching pictures of Thumper from the Little Golden Books, emerge from my hand onto the

What makes your work and approach unique?

Why is your work a good investment?

what I saw has remained with me

A willingness to go where the work

It’s an investment in people. Our

to this day.

suggests; no matter how ludicrous -

society. Us. Anthropologists and

Including plenty of finger painting,

Historians have always looked to

and covering myself with paint for

historical contemporary portraits

I would say my work is

the Body Presses. I often work from

for an understanding of society at

predominantly ‘Contemporary

black and white photographs as

the time.

Realism’ with a focus on

this prevents any preconceptions

Technology brought us the camera

Portraiture.

about relevant or appropriate

and the subsequent decline in

Strong composition through

colour, allowing the work to

painted portraiture patronage.

a balance of detail and calm

dictate. I love the way colours sit

A camera sees in stark, naked light

pauses; rich in colour through

beside each other, which led to

and dark, with no room for

judicious complimentary

Caravaggio, Rembrandt, the study

interpretation, but a portrait

underpainting; confident line that

of Chiaroscuro, and the

painting can tell us about

understands its vital relationship

transformative green

ourselves.

with the canvas edge; and

under-painting of Verdaccio.

If a portrait “symbolizes the value

textural vibrations. From a facial

My approach to portraiture is akin

and worth of the individual in

focus to a broader interest in the

to rowing down a river.

society,” then what is that worth

narrative we act out in our daily

The character of the subject flows

when we are inundated with

lives.

in and out, with me gently guiding.

‘selfies?’

paper. The sheer joy of making lines and seeing them turn into

Tell us about your work.

SHANE BISHOP "If a portrait “symbolizes the value and worth of the individual in society,” then what is that worth when we are inundated with ‘selfies?’

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us about some of your achievements.

It may be a cliché but to watch my son grow into a healthy, loving and incredibly creative soul is the biggest achievement. Exhibitions? Awards?

Recognition? Everything else pales.

Aside from that, I would say that continuing to paint portraits in the face of society’s growing disinterest has been the hardest, yet most fulfilling achievement.

What are your sources of inspiration?

An incredibly creative mother, two brilliant and open-hearted teachers who recognised and encouraged my passion for Art so very early on.

The usual suspects - Matisse, Shiele, Caravaggio, Munch, Dali, Close and Giacometti. I like the idea that art can be mostly self perpetuating, with little need of external inspiration. Though it can sometimes feel like our search for perpetual motion machines.

Early 70’s Australia had ‘Jolliffe’s Outback Cartoons’ magazines. Inside were rare gems; charcoal portraits of Australian Aboriginals, which I copied. This may also be where my fascination for portraiture stems from.

What are you passionate about?

We seem to have lost the ability to feel true empathy.

Is it a lack of curiosity? Perhaps technology has stunted our imaginations as well as attention spans?

Has political correctness replaced empathy? Spiralling so far out of hand we have become afraid to feel, say or express anything in case it ‘hurts someone’s feelings’. Yet it is our duty as artists to face this repression/oppression down with truth/confrontation.

Recent interest in Astrophysics is perhaps a natural extension from a life questioning just where does inspiration, and indeed the capacity to create come from, and by extension, our place in this universe.

SHANE BISHOP TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

A woman approached me who had just given birth to a still-born child and wanted to commission a drawing. My initial reaction was that it would be too emotionally taxing, uncomfortable; yet as soon as I felt this, I felt how brave it was for this grieving mother who would never get to raise this child to approach me, to ask for something tangible to remind her of this life that almost was.

It was one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done, and though I don’t think of it very often I like to think my drawing helps keeps her child alive for her.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I have been working on pen and inks for a few years now; though still fresh and fun, there is a tightness of line and space that has led me to look for a gentle diversion from the intensity of portraiture. This is where my fascination with textures has come to the fore.

Combining traditional painting and drawing techniques with Trompe L’oeil effects combine to create these ‘Footpaths’. All those textures, patterns, and natural, random abstractions passed by unnoticed under our feet.

Tell us about where you are based.

Australian light has an intensity that brings such richness to colours, particularly here in Victoria, hence why so many films are made in Melbourne.

Warrnambool, where I live now, is just down the coast from The 12 Apostles, so being a tourist destination brings an influx of new faces to watch, capture and express.

Warrnambool is also a University town; I studied here in the early 80’s, so there is the yearly intake of new students with their attitudes and ideas that spawns all sorts of creativity.

SHANE BISHOP

WWW.SHANEBISHOPART.COM

SPECIAL FEATURE

EVE

BY BORZALINO Eve is is a nice and amazing armchair. An object to match with different solutions. The seat, large and very comfortable that grants more comfort thanks to the slight inclination. Romantic and adaptable to all environments, it is an armchair that combines elegance with comfort.

BORZALINO began in 1976 following the great artisan tradition that for centuries made famous the Tuscan craftmanship in production of furnishings and accessories. This immense know-how and the great wealth of knowledge and experience of the founder, Galeazzo Fedi, are today managed by daughter Cristiana and nephew Matteo, second and third generation, respectively. borzalino.com

SVETLANA

CAMERON

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Svetlana Cameron is a classically trained portrait artist dedicated to the revival of Old Masters' painting techniques. She specializes in portraiture in the style of classical realism.

She is best known for her commissioned official and ceremonial oil portraits, as well as delicate life-like paintings of children in pastel.

Since 2005 my home has been in Great Britain but I work worldwide: my current schedule includes projects in six different countries.

Tell us about your work.

I create realistic portraits in classical style, working primarily by commission. I am best known for ceremonial portraits and paintings of children.

I have tried working in different genres and

Tell us about yourself and background.

techniques but my passion for classical

I am usually described as a ‘Russian-born British

portraiture has been so strong that I gave it all my

artist’, which is very true. However, I’ve lived in so

time and energy. I’ve been painting portraits full

many countries I often think of myself as a ‘citizen

time for the last 15 years. I also have a strong

of the world’. I was born to a Russian family in the

interest in painting fabrics and elaborate

former USSR, grew up in Latvia, Czech Republic

embellished garments, which makes me very

and Slovakia, went to high school and university in

suited for ceremonial portraiture and attracts

Russia, received my art training in Malta and Italy.

most fascinating commissions.

SVETLANA CAMERON TOP ARTIST 2018

What makes your work and approach unique?

was last year when I was commissioned to paint a

I practise techniques that are rare today as they

very important military portrait for the permanent

are no longer taught in art schools. My oil painting

collection of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (UK).

method is based on the traditional 17-century Flemish technique. I start with a detailed

What are your sources of inspiration?

monochrome underpainting and develop the

I draw my inspiration primarily from the great

image gradually by applying multiple layers of

figurative artworks of the past.

opaque paint and transparent glazes. This

I love exploring how artists captured their sitters,

technique creates visual effects that are not

what clothes they wore, what settings they chose

possible to achieve with modern direct painting

and why, how they resolved compositions and

methods. My pastel works are inspired by the

orchestrated lights and shadows. I can get

coloured chalk drawing of the Renaissance. I work

inspired by passages of masterful brushwork,

in Conte on toned paper and use a limited palette

graceful lines, subtle colour harmonies and

of only three colours – red, black and white – which

exquisite detail, meaningful props that contain

can produce a surprisingly wide range of subtle

hidden messages.

realistic skin tones.

When I work in my studio I think about what makes me stop in front of certain paintings, and I strive to

Why is your work a good investment?

create works that can potentially trigger similar

I believe that classical portraiture is a unique

emotions in people.

genre that has a timeless value and is above trends and fashion. People are always drawn to

What are you passionate about?

well-painted portraits because they are more than

I am passionate about reviving traditional

paintings: they engage the viewer and provide

aesthetics and standards of quality in art,

psychological insights into the characters of the

particularly in portraiture.

sitter and the artist. I try to create portraits that

Modern art is an interesting area of activity and

speak a universal language and communicate

experimentation, but I find a lot of it gimmicky and

feelings and ideas that will be as relevant in the

too focused on the desire to shock. I doubt many

future as they are today. I care a lot about the

of those works will survive the test of time as they

longevity of my works and use only premium quality

try to fit the trends that are fleeting, and also

archival materials and time-tested techniques.

because they are not made with archival materials. It makes me sad because what we

Tell us about some of your achievements.

create today establishes us in the eye of the

I would like to hope that my major achievements

posterity as a culture. I do not want future

are still ahead, but I’ve had a few moments that

generations to judge us solely by examples of

made me feel proud. One happened in 2016 when

modern art.

I was awarded the status of ‘Living Master’ by the

Fortunately, there are many brilliant figurative

Art Renewal Center in the USA, which included my

artists active in the world today and I am happy to

works in the ARC Museum of realist art and placed

feel a connection with them and to see that

me in the same league as many great artists I had

realism is appreciated again in the 21st century.

admired for years. Another memorable moment

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

Tell us about where you are based.

One of the most fascinating projects of mine was

I live on the south-eastern coast of England in the

a set of ceremonial portraits which I created a few

scenic East Sussex. Set in the private garden of

years ago while living on the Isle of Man.

our family home, my new recently opened studio

It began in 2011 when I was commissioned to paint

provides a very inspiring environment for me to

two Speakers of the local parliament called

work in.

Tynwald. I got an opportunity to meet very

The nearby towns - coastal Hastings and historic

interesting people and learn history of one of the

mediaeval Battle are both full of character and

oldest European parliaments which is more than

popular with visitors all year round. The history of

1000 years old.

this area is amazing and there are many

I loved painting the gold-embroidered ceremonial

picturesque ruins of Norman castles scattered

robes and elaborate props which really challenged

around the county.

my painting skills! Later I continued the theme and

London is only an hour away and I go there

painted several more artworks inspired by the

regularly to attend meetings and exhibitions.

Tynwald traditions, including a panoramic scene of national day celebrations with Manx folk dancers in the foreground.

Three of those Isle of Man themed artworks are now on permanent public display and are officially part of the UK national collection of oil paintings.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I have always wanted to work on some interesting projects in Russia, it was my dream, and finally it has come true: I am painting two very famous Russian film and stage actors Sergei Bezrukov and Danila Kozlovsky.

They are very different but both incredibly talented and charismatic, and I feel extremely fortunate to have a chance to meet such amazing people and work with them.

I am also getting ready to paint Mr. Howard Quayle, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, a distinguished politician with a fine taste in art.

My list of private commissions for next year includes a number of portraits I will be creating for clients in England, Scotland, Sweden, Ukraine and Italy.

SVETLANA CAMERON

WWW.SVETLANACAMERON.COM

DESTIG TRAVEL

WHEN THOU ART IN DALLAS Dallas delivers invaluable experiences for fans of the Arts thanks to the largest contiguous urban arts district in the USA.

M R O F

M R O F

The Dallas Arts District The Dallas Arts District is the largest arts

The Dallas Arts District has selected global

district in the nation, spanning 68 acres and 19

architecture, planning and design firm NBBJ to

contiguous blocks. The district is comprised of

create a new Master Plan for the dynamic

museums, performance halls, corporate

downtown neighborhood.

offices, residences, restaurants, churches and even a school. It now boasts buildings by four

In the last decade, the Arts District has seen

Pritzker Prize-winning architects within a span

dramatic investment, growth and changes and

of several blocks.

has become a diverse magnet for businesses, development, residents and tourists.

The district's architectural richness extends however, with examples of significant buildings erected as far back as the late 1880's, just 40 years after Dallas' founding.

DESTIG TRAVEL

Dallas Museum of Art:Â Located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the museum has a stunning collection with more than 22,000 pieces, spanning the third millennium BC to present day.

Artists on display include O'Keeffe, Pollock, Rothko, Warhol, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet and more.

African American Museum: Housed in four vaulted galleries, this museum explores the African-American experience through exhibits and displays. The African American Museum is the only institution of its kind in the Southwest offering an impressive collection of African and African American art, featuring one of the largest folk art collections in the nation.

Nasher Sculpture Center:Â The Center, which was designed

by Prizker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, is located on a 2acre in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. The museum was a long-held dream of the late Raymond and Patsy Nasher, who together formed a comprehensive collection of masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Miro, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, and Serra, among others.

WHEN THOU ART IN DALLAS

The Meadows Museum: The MM features a permanent collection of 15th - 20th-century art from Spain, as well as special exhibitions and a sculpture garden.

Crow Collection of Asian Art: Whether for quiet reflection in a serene atmosphere, marveling at centuries-old artifacts or gazing at unique works of art, the museum is an inspiring experience. Located in the center of the Dallas Arts District, the museum features exhibitions of arts from Asia.

The gem of the museum is the breathtaking sculpture garden, home to 15 contemporary and historical pieces.

Frontiers of Flight Museum: From the Kitty Hawk to the Moon Walk, relive the History of Aviation amidst one of the world's finest collections. Over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, including 25 aircraft, 20 interactive displays, educational workshops, and regular presentations from space shuttle astronauts and NASA officials. See the Apollo 7 command module, a moon rock on display, the Bell "Huey" Helicopter or the most extensive collection of ejection seats.

DESTIG TRAVEL

The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection in Dallas was created in 2012 to house the Japanese armor of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller. Their ever-expanding collection is comprised of almost 1,000 objects, many of which are exemplary examples of samurai armor.

Irving Arts Center: The performing and fine arts community in Irving welcomed a new home in 1990 with the completion of the Irving Arts Center. The Arts Center's 10-acre complex, nestled in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth, features two fully-equipped theaters; four galleries; meeting, classroom, reception and rehearsal facilities; and a verdant sculpture garden.

Dallas Holocaust Museum/ Center for Education and Tolerance: Its mission is to teach the history of the Holocaust and advance human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Annually, more than 72,000 visitors tour the Museum and many have written, emailed or posted notes that their lives have been forever transformed by the experience.

DIDIER FAUSTINO - CLOUD SHELTER The humanitarian project Cloud Shelter, by Didier Fiúza Faustino, came into being after the September 2017 earthquakes that severely shook the town of Juchitán in southern Mexico. It is a volunteer project, carried out and financed by the Foundation Alumnos.

“Conceived like the shell of the armadillo, the structure of this architecture is comparable to a protective skin, ensuring the safety of the people in case of a natural disaster. Thanks to its elevated platform, people are protected from possible flooding, whereas the hammocks, which it shelters, provide dry refuge.

They are mobile and may slide along the masts to meet the needs of the time. This particularity offers a clear open space when all of the hammocks are raised skywards, allowing the inhabitants to use the area and take up different activities”, describes Didier Fiúza Faustino.

A true gathering space of exchange and conviviality, the structure is able to host approximately 50 people.

This bright and open space is thought of as an anchorage point for the community, a symbol of identity. An opportunity to make time and life more pleasant, moments more precious, to eat, to rest, to take refuge, to converse, to resist, to care for one another.

A place suspended in time, with ones head in the clouds.

FABIO

FERRILLOÂ

FABIO MEETS MOSCHINO

The exclusive customer experience in the Moschino gallery store transports the visitor into an exciting and engaging dimension that accentuates the aesthetic impact of the collection and simultaneously contextualizes the brand's amazing artistic spirit.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Moschino is opening a new

connected through a two-story

Walls with a refined cement finish

flagship store in the heart of the

space and imposing curved

enclose the Italian terrazzo flooring

French capital on rue

staircase that becomes the focus

and accommodate a complex

Saint-Honoré.

of the architectural perspective.

system of translucent resin panels in delicate shades organized to

Creative Director Jeremy Scott

The street entrance with store

flexibly and dynamically display

wanted to transform the

window immediately projects the

removable satin-finish steel

magnificent late-18th-century

visitor into an emotional

shelves, racks, and storage

building in pierre de Paris into an

experience marked by the natural

elements.

exhibit-like space inspired by

reflections of the surfaces and a

modern art galleries.

double lighting system, composed

Rose granite and Plexiglas

by narrow luminous strips inserted

elements and bronze railings give

The new store concept, which

in the flooring and by a magnetic

the space an extremely

was conceived and curated by

modular LED system.

sophisticated and contemporary

architect Fabio Ferrillo in respect

look. The entirely customized

of the original essence of the

The lighting system was designed

furnishings also include steel

interior, covers 270 square

by the architect and developed

display cabinets, colored resin and

meters divided on two levels

with Flos to provide direct lighting

cement display consoles, and black

between the ground and first

throughout the space but also

matelassé leather modular

floors, which are visually

enhance surfaces directly.

sofas.

FABIO FERRILLO X MOSCHINO In the interior of the Rue Saint-HonorĂŠ store, these unexpected presences are inserted in the space like genuine works of art evoking the imagery and iconography of the fashion house.

INTERIOR DESIGN

From the ground floor, dedicated

impact of the collection and

Fabio Ferrillo developed his unique

to accessories, the presentation of

simultaneously contextualizes the

style in the most relevant interior

the collections continues to the

brand's amazing artistic spirit

design offices at first in Milan and

represented by oversized objects

then in Paris, specialized in the

like the ones seen in the boutiques

design of luxury interiors and

of New York and Milan.

commercial spaces for prestigious

first floor through a spacious display area with ready-to-wear lines.

Italian brands.

Next to the balcony over-looking the ground floor is a private lounge with sliding pocket doors and two

In the interior of the Rue SaintHonoré store, these unexpected

After gaining experience in France,

presences are inserted in the

Fabio came back to Milan in 2010

space like genuine works of art

to establish interior and product

evoking the imagery and

design studio OFF Arch, focused on

iconography of the fashion house.

the sectors of luxury fashion retail,

Reproducing the shopping bag or

hospitality, institutional and

pump, this new version

residential interiors.

fitting rooms decorated with luxurious pale blue rugs and adjustable mirrors framed by a narrow strip of light.

The exclusive customer experience in the Moschino gallery store

dematerializes them into

transports the visitor into an

translucent silhouettes redefined

exciting and engaging dimension

by narrow luminous lines.

that accentuates the aesthetic

GLIB

FRANKO

DESTIG AWARD WINNER

Painting is the main genre of Franko’s creativity as it brings him some aesthetic pleasure. His work is fragmentary and experimental giving him the freedom to paint what he wants with no boundaries or limitations.

Tell us about yourself and background.

I was born to a family of artists, so art was always close. I always had a lot of paper, paint and free time. The first artistic institution was an art school, but as far as I remember I did not like it very much and did not finish it. In 2000 I entered the Department of Monumental Painting at Kosiv Institute of Decorative Arts. The institute is located in a mountainous town and that caused my love for travelling and mountains. In 2005 I entered the Department of Painting Restoration of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, where I got my Master's Degree. In fact, I wanted to get into the Department of Painting, but I did not pass the examination, so I chose the Department of Painting Restoration, which differed a little in its program. In some time, I had an opportunity to transfer to the Department of Painting, but it seemed to me that it was completely inappropriate, in my department I saw some freedom in creative terms not biased by the professor's policy.

GLIB FRANKO AWARD WINNER 2018

Tell us about your work.

I work with such rather classical artistic practices as painting and graphics, balancing the boundaries between the abstract and plot lines of contemplation of natural landscapes and everyday situations.

As a restorer of paintings, I have a deep understanding of the essence of the material with which I work, and I use it in my works. I strive for the expressiveness and self-sufficiency of form and color, leaving the possibility of the viewer's personal interpretation.

I often experiment and observe the process, introducing in my painting elements of the drawing, graphics or even prints.

I'm experimenting with the basics and material, combining various techniques, or just spreading the paint.

What makes your work and approach unique.

The fact that I do it! )) In art, I always try to follow my own vision, my interests and passion, even if they are temporary. I studied at the academy methods and tools that help in creative expression. And of course, I do not want to limit myself to any one genre / style for the sake of deceptive recognizability. Finding a good approach, or creating a successful piece of work, of course, I want to work on it again, to develop the theme. However, I do not want to dwell on this stage, but I want to go on, experiment, and find new ways of creative expression.

What are your sources of inspiration?

The process, the creative process, is the greatest source of inspiration, the driving force for which you wake up in the morning. This is a kind of magic action, a kind of meditation to which you definitely want to come back to again and again.

Usually it is in the process of creativity that new ideas and methods of solving certain tasks and ideas come.

I cannot help mentioning travelling, trips and walks. Direct communication with nature is precisely the infinite source of energy that does not cease to inspire us, to give new insights, ideas and forms of expression.

DESTIG AWARD WINNER Why is your work a good investment?

In my opinion, investing in art is always a good investment.

Especially if you invest in art not as a commodity, but as a living thing, in harmony with your inner world.

Finally what differs between a work of art and the masterful work? The artist constantly travels along the edge while the master goes on an equal and safe path, I am not afraid of the risk of being unclear, therefore, I always go ahead of my artistic practice.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

I do not even know how to answer, there were a lot of achievements, and they were all important to me, because they were a definite summary of the traveled path.

These are exhibitions, competitions, honors, grants and sales.

For example, the victory in the "New Ukrainian Landscape" contest and selling all six of my works at the competitive exhibition was a huge boost in the beginning of my creative career. Immediately after graduation, I won a competition for the post of a teacher at the Academy of Arts. In 2014, I got to "Gaude Polonia" program of the Polish Minister of Culture, it was a turning point for me, because in addition to art, I was engaged in restoration and teaching activities, which did not correspond to my internal interests.

A few works have been purchased by the Polish Museum of the Folk Movement for their collection, and a large number of my works are in private collections in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Vietnam, England and the United States.

What you are passionate about?

In fact, I am interested in the world in which we live and how we interact with it, interested in the processes taking place at the level of energy, and the cause of the consequential connection.

As I already said, I adore travelling, I like to go to the mountains, especially on my own.

Of course travelling with family or friends is exciting, it's always a new bright impression, and in travelling alone there is something special, it's another kind of meditation, a way of knowing yourself.

GLIB FRANKO AWARD WINNER 2018

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

materials for the continuation of the project in

To date, I have implemented a number of projects,

every trip. Each project work is my abstract vision

among which I want to distinguish three of the

of a particular location. I use geographic

largest, which were exhibited in different cities of

coordinates for titles to indicate the places where

Ukraine. Each project includes a series of works,

the work was created or started. I experiment

combined by one theme.

with the material, observe the process, in the

My first big series was the project - "Park

process I can apply several layers of paint, fold,

Fragments" which was devoted to the energy of

unfold or tear. I allow the environment (rain, wind)

space, it was a series of landscapes, where I

to interfere. This is a draft of the balance of

portray not so much visible and really existing

opposites and values, a certain "golden" way.

objects, but the interaction of space with them.

The possibility of posting works from this series in

It was introduced in the OntoArtGallery in Kyiv. The

the public space of a modern hotel in Colorado is

prints from this series, in collaboration with ArtLink,

being considered now.

were used to decorate a cruise ship.

Another interesting project for me was a series of

Tell us about where you are based.

works "Blossom" on which I worked for almost three

I live and work in Ukraine in Khmelnytskyi.

years, it was a kind of picturesque study of the

This is quite an interesting city with a large

natural process of blossoming, where the central

number of art objects that have gained world

characters are the blooming plants. The show of

recognition. It's a pity that the city does not notice

this series has already taken place in Khmelnytskyi

them, but it is a reality of Ukrainian attitude to art.

Art Museum.

In the end, it is a young developing city with

I was so enthralled with this topic that I partly

almost 600 years of history, and with incredibly

continued it in the project "Botanicum", which

beautiful surroundings.

focuses on the emotional background more than the plants themselves, it is rather the visualization of the inner world in the form of portrait images of plants. This project was presented in the art gallery "Art na Mur" (Engl. “Art on the Wall”) in Ivano-Frankivsk.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I plan to participate in ArtLink exhibition projects, and shortly there will be an exhibition of my project, which is a kind of self-exploring "Antipodes, balance, walk on the golden line" in the gallery "Promprylad renovation"- "Assortment room".

I started the project during one of the trips in the Carpathian mountains (where I really like to go with my wife and daughter), after which, I took the

GLIB FRANKO

WWW.SAATCHIART.COM/GLIBFRANKO

JOE

GADREAU

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

"I was born and raised in Baltimore Md. and have resided in the Laurel area for the last 18 years. At an early age I learned I could draw and was greatly influenced by the legendary comic book artist, Jack Kirby."

Tell us about yourself and background.

I was born (12-24-1955) and raised in Baltimore Md. and have resided in the Laurel area for the last 20 years. At an early age I learned I could draw and was greatly influenced by the legendary comic book artist, Jack Kirby. I loved his double page spreads, which you can see in numerous of my fantasy paintings. When I discovered the grandfather of Fantasy art, Frank Frazetta, I had to learn to paint. I studied for 6 months in group sessions under a very talented female artist who taught me the basics of how to paint in oils.

Tell us about your work.

My work displays my incredible imagination and many of my fantasy paintings illustrate the manuscripts I have written (5 in all). Along with the fantasy art, last year I decided to start painting landscapes, seascapes and wildlife which enabled me to display my unique color application. I have honed my craft over the years and recently explored new boundaries in painting. I put no limits on myself or my abilities and proud to proclaim myself a true artist!

What makes your work and approach unique?

I feel that never having formal art education, it wasn’t drummed into my head this is the way you have to. I approach each painting differently and like to blend colors on the canvas. My colors are like no one elses, colors that no one has seen before. My composition is strong and I create great distance even in a painting as small as 8X10.

JOE GADREAU

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

I do not do any preliminary sketches, I sketch in

What are you passionate about?

paint and have often changed my original concept

I love being outside, I spend as much time at the

for the painting. A painting I did of “Thor” began

swimming pool in the summer as I can.

as 18X24 panel and grew into 6 panels and an

I am passionate about music, wanted to be a

48X54 masterpiece. I have developed some

musician, I play the guitar.

techniques that are unique, like placing a piece of

One of major goals is to share my Young/Adult

Plexiglas in front of a painting, then painting on

books (2 complete novels with 4 others in various

the Plexiglas to create a 3D effect. Also I have

stages) about the adventures of Far-up-Fred in

matted paintings, then used the center piece to

Tear Drop Land with the world.

create doors that when opened reveal the painting within.

Tell us about some projects you have delivered.

Why is your work a good investment?

I designed a CD cover for a local band, “Black

I believe my work is unique and I paint a lot from

Widow U.S.A.” They were my customers at Ledo

my imagination. Along with my manuscripts, 2

Pizza Laurel, It was by chance I found out they

books of poetry and 3 screenplays, it is just a

were in a band and needed cover art.

matter of time before someone realizes how

I wrote a young/adult children’s book, “The

talented I am.

Adventures of Whiney Erin in Tear Drop Land” and also painted the cover. It was published years ago

Tell us about some of your achievements.

by a local company.

I was runner up 2 years in a row in the Science/ Fiction cover art contests. I have been part of

Share with us your upcoming projects.

group shows and have hosted solo shows on my

I continue to display my work at “Olive on Main in

own. I have written 3 screenplays, all have

Laurel Md., “Ledo Pizza Laurel” and “Sullivan’s

received recommends, placed in the quarter and

Steak and Beverage Restaurant.”

semi finals of contests and even had an agent

I will have a solo show in October at “More than

from Lionsgate Films read a horror screenplay and

Java Cafe” and a solo show next June at Ranazul

said it was a well written elaborate script that

Restaurant. I will be part of group shows at the

crossed genres like no one else.

“Columbia Art Center” in October and “The Chesapeake Arts Center in November. All venues

What are your sources of inspiration?

are in Maryland.

As mentioned earlier I was greatly influenced by Jack Kirby and Frank Fazetta. My writings inspire

Tell us about where you are based.

me, especially my favorite character Far-up-Fred;

I am now based in Laurel Md. A wonderful city

a 3 foot tall lovable fearless bodyguard always

with many privately owned Mom and Pops shops

getting in trouble and in his mind he has never

and business and a Historic Main Street.

known defeat. Also I love music, listen whenever I

I have enjoyed a pleasant living experience and a

paint and now my greatest inspiration comes from

steady job in Laurel for the past 20 years and I am

my biggest fan and the love of my life Lauren. If it

well known throughout the community.

wasn’t for her I might have stopped painting altogether.

JOE GADREAU

WWW.JGADREAU.ARTSPAN.COM

CLINTON

HELMSÂ

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Clinton Helms is an award winning African American fine artist and Illustrator; who specializes in landscape, urban cityscapes, portraits, historical, and aviation art paintings in oils or acrylic.

Tell us about yourself and background.

I was born in southern Virginia in 1959, the youngest of twelve children. My father now deceased was a farmer, World War II Army Veteran, and Automotive technician. My mother was a house maker and later a factory worker now retired. I started drawing and painting at an early age. After high school I attended Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and left to go into the military.

I graduated twenty years later in 1999 with a BFA degree in Illustration. In 2001, I retired from the United States Army Reserves with over twenty years of service to become a full time artist.

In 2007, I received my MFA degree in Fine Art from Marywood University.

CLINTON HELMS

Tell us about your work.

I create what some people in the

What makes your work and approach unique?

Why is your work a good investment?

art world would call a realistic/

I like to create a scene that draws

I believe that classical

classical representational style of

people in and move them around

representational paintings are a

paintings exploring mostly

making them feel like they are a

unique genre that has a timeless

contemporary themes of today’s

part of the painting. I always start

value and is a recording of history

society, the world, and the events

with a detailed pencil drawing

in our times. People are always

that shape our history.

working from the darkest value

drawn to well-painted landscapes,

My goal as an artist is to create a

tone to the lightest tone. This

urban cityscapes, and portraits

memorable moment in time using

technique allows me to create a

because they are more than

oils or acrylic paint while trying to

visual tonal effect that helps in the

paintings; they are recordings of

master light, and shadows like the

painting process to follow. The

our history that engages the viewer

Old Masters’ and various Artists

drawing is sealed with fixative spay

by providing a psychological insight

from the Golden Age of

and covered with orange acrylic

into the beauty of the world.

Illustration. I am able to achieve

paint. When completely dry, I start

I try to create paintings that speak

this by using the technique

the painting by working from

a universal language and

of starting with a good

background to foreground. I work

communicate feelings and ideals

foundational drawing as the basis

primarily in Oils on gessoed mdf

that will last a life-time. I care a lot

for my paintings.

panels or canvas.

about the longevity of my works

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

and use only premium quality

when five of my paintings were

color harmonies and exquisite

archival materials and time-tested

placed in pertinent collection of the

detail that sometimes contain

techniques.

United States Air Force Art

hidden messages. When I’m in the

Collections.

classroom or working in the studio,

Tell us about some of your achievements.

I talk about what makes me stop to

Like most visual artists, I would like

What are your sources of inspiration?

to hope that my major

I draw inspiration primarily from

capture similar emotions in the

achievements are yet to come, but

some of the great artists and

viewer.

I’ve had a few moments that made

artworks of the past. I am hugely

me and my family proud.

fascinated by the works of Norman

What are you passionate about?

One happened in 2015 when I was

Rockwell, N.C.Wyeth, Edward

I am very passionate about how

awarded 1st Place Winner of the

Hopper, John Singer Sargent,

artists are viewed in today’s

Landscape with Life Category in

Thomas S. Buechner, and Burton

society. When I was a young child

the American Art Awards

Silverman. I love how these artists

my dream was to someday become

Competition in California USA.,

are able to capture the viewers’

an artist. I am fortunate to have

placing my work in the same

attention in a painting by carefully

had very good art teachers and the

league with many great artists

orchestrating lights and shadows in

support from family and friends to

from around the world that I have

their work to tell the story. I am

follow my dreams. I am often told

admired for years. Another

inspired by their masterful

by some of my students that their

memorable moment was in 2012

brushwork, graceful lines, subtle

parents or someone else in the

look at certain paintings, and I try to create works that can potentially

CLINTON HELMS

family did not think they should

following year as one of six east

Colonial Beach, Virginia. I would

choose art as a career because

coast artists to document the British

love to someday do commissioned

most artists never make a decent

Prime Minister; David Cameron visit

paintings, shows, and painting

living and that most will never gain

to Washington DC., to attend a

workshops worldwide.

recognition or fame until after

March Madness college basketball

death.

game with President Barack Obama.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

Tell us about where you are based.

I live in the western tip of

One of the most fascinating

Share with us your upcoming projects.

projects came during my senior

I am currently in a group exhibition

Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William

year in college at Virginia

Art Show with the Colonial Beach

Gooch, 1st Baronet of England.

Commonwealth School of the

Artists’ Guild in Virginia, where I

It is stepped in Colonial history and

Arts, when one of my professors

have received an Honorable

nestled between the Blue Ridge

and mentors selected me for a

Mention Art Award for one of two

Mountains, Charlottesville, and

paid commission to paint a large

painting in the show. Four months

Richmond Virginia.

historical painting for pertinent

ago, I had a solo exhibition of

The history of the area is amazing

display in the Army Transportation

twenty-six paintings at the

and a beautiful place to live and

Corps Museum in Hampton,

University of Virginia Hospital in

Plain-Air paint.

Virginia depicting a scene from

Charlottesville, Virginia. I am

I have been a resident of the county

Americas’ First Foreign War.

currently working on paintings for

for the past nine years since my

In 2009 I joined the LA Society of

an upcoming solo exhibition in May

marriage to Ella B. Helms, who was

Illustrators and was selected the

of 2019 at Dockside Reality in

born and grew up in the county.

Goochland County, Virginia which was founded in 1728 and named for

CLINTON HELMS

WWW.CANDEARTSSTUDIOS.COM

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JAMES

R

JOY

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

"My goal is to create a haunting image, that will resonate with the viewer in a deeply emotional and spiritual way. To find some truth in mood and feeling that will link us together."

Tell us about where you are based, I'm based in Chicago, one of the great cities of the world!

What makes your work and approach unique?

Tell us about yourself and background.

I never went to art school or took an art class. I'm

My name is James R. Joy. I was born in Chicago in

a self-taught which I believe allows me a great

1966, and have lived in this great city ever since.

deal of freedom in my expression and originality

I'm a self taught artist who began drawing at age

in my technique. I have not been bogged down

ten, and painting with watercolor around age 25.

with art school theories and therefore can focus purely on conveying the mood of the piece.

Tell us about your work.

I'm a watercolor painter. I enjoy doing figurative

Why is your work a good investment?

works, landscapes and city scapes. But no matter

My work, although personal to me, is universal in

what the subject is, I always try to create a

it's themes. And therefore everyone can relate,

haunting image that at it's core finds truth in mood

and it's also simply well done art which will stand

and emotion. With the purpose of making a deeply

the test of time and be popular long after I'm

profound connection with the viewer.

gone.

"I BELIEVE ART IN ALL IT'S FORMS IS OUR TRUE SALVATION AS A SPECIES. IT'S THE LIGHT IN A SOMETIMES DARK WORLD."

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us about some of your achievements.

I currently have a painting on display at the Kentucky Watercolor Society annual exhibition in Louisville. I've had two successful solo exhibitions at the Saltcreek gallery in Brookfield, Il. I'm a member of The 119TH STREET ARTISTS and display my work in their group shows at Cornerstone Gallery in Whiting, In... And I do commision work.

What are your sources of inspiration?

I'm inspired by the every day life that surrounds me, and I find great inspiration in other art forms like music and literature, film and photography.

What are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about the healing power of artistic expression and it's important role in society. I believe art in all it's forms is our true salvation as a species. It's the light in a sometimes dark world.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

Just this past August I hosted "Music to My Eyes", a 119TH STREET ARTISTS all music themed art show featuring live performances from several local musicians. It was big success. Last year I was commissioned by musician Phil Angotti to do the art for his solo album, "Such Stories". I was also commissioned by Chicago Jazz Guitarist Tony Richard's to do several watercolors of his favorite jazz musicians. The paintings were very well received.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I have a group show coming up next month with The 119TH STREET ARTISTS, "The Oliver Brown Exhibition", at Cornerstone Gallery. In November, I'll be doing a series of plein air watercolor paintings in Monticello, In. And I'm also currently working on a watercolor graphic novel which I'm also writing.

JAMES R JOY

WWW.JJOY.ARTSPAN.COM

DORONI

LANGÂ

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

A self-taught glass artist living on Vancouver Island. Coming from an urban environment in Montreal, she became totally captivated by the rich, lush island landscape of the west coast.

Tell us about yourself and background.

I started my life as a dancer, embracing the joy of movement, flow and energy. Now as an artist I am always trying to translate that into glass. Early on, I was fascinated by the perceived dichotomy between sciences & maths and fine arts. My university studies began in fine arts but I was soon drawn to maths and sciences; attracted by the play of being able to give structure to the world of abstract concepts. While teaching statistics and calculus, I so enjoyed working with students, I found myself drawn to the study of psychology and counselling and spent the majority of my career working withÂ

DORONI LANG

children and families. I realized

trees and florals that can stand

around me. I am drawn to

that as I navigated the years of my

alone or be hung. These works are

challenges and glass is an exciting

life, I kept coming back to art as a

created with thousands of pieces

and at times puzzling medium to

of cut glass which are layered and

work in. In many ways it mirrors

means of grounding me through the joys and challenges of life.

Amazing teachers, family and friends along the way inspired me, starting me on this journey. I have worked in many mediums but it is glass that has riveted me.

Tell us about your work.

I do large and mid-sized abstract vessels and forms that echo the movement, power and colours of

fused repeatedly to get a textured and dimensional feel.

Another area I enjoy is casting glass using a lost wax technique.

This method allows me to create solid, three dimensional forms such as a majestic polar bear in crystal

nature; you can only do so much to it, before it simply shatters or collapses due to extremes of heat and pressure.

As such, I find it is critical to work with the glass, respecting the limits of its structure but also pushing through perceived boundaries.

glass or a vibrant seahorse in ocean blues.

I blend casting methods with traditional fusing and am constantly trying to invent new ways of seeing

in shades of blues, greens and

What makes your work and approach unique?

violets, reflect the energies of the

I think what makes my work

waters and are made in multiple

different is that I am always trying

threatened creatures in Hawaii, I

firings over many days.

to push boundaries and find new

wanted to capture their magical

I also do rich, textural landscapes,

ways of creating what I see

and enchanting qualities in glass.

the seas and oceans. These pieces

and creating. An example of this is a Seahorse Series. After watching these incredibly beautiful and

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

I found a way of blending glass

It’s very much like life… and for me

and movement into my glass.

with phosphorescent powder so it

personally, it allows both sides of

The lush thickness of the leaves in

would be translucent in the

my personality, creative and

the forest, the smooth and solid

daytime, reflective in the evening

technical, some play time.

rocks, the depths and rush of the

(or in low light) and phosphorescent (glow in the dark) at night.

waters, are all rendered into the

Tell us about where you are based.

medium of glass.

Vancouver Island has some of the

I live and work on Vancouver Island

most beautiful gardens anywhere,

What draws you to glass?

in British Columbia, Canada. It is a

so florals are also one of my

Working in glass by its nature is an

place teaming with natural beauty

favourite themes.

incredible blend of both science

in its forests, ocean and mountains.

I want to invoke in the viewer, the

and aesthetics.

Coming from an urban environment

feelings and sensations that I have

With glass, you can have this

in Montreal, this region took my

from these landscapes and

beautiful vision in your mind of

breath away. It also gave me the

seascapes.

what you want to create but the

inspiration and resolve to create

The creatures that reside in these

physical properties of glass as you

pieces that reflect the beauty and

environments are also captivating

heat it to temperatures of over

fragility of the area.

for me…whether it is the power and

1800 degrees Fahrenheit, will

resilience of a polar bear or the

not. As the artist, you have to

What are your sources of inspiration?

navigate between those structural

Most of my pieces evolve from my

limits and your creative desires.

surroundings. I love putting texture

determine whether it is possible or

delicacy and grace of a seahorse, I want to translate those characteristics into glass.

DORONI LANG Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

There have been a number of earthquakes recently that have brought tremendous loss of life, land and property.

I wanted to design a piece that spoke to the power, fragility and essence of the earth we live on.

I created the Cracked Earth Series in glass.

These pieces are made of cuts of various sized bronze iridescent glass embedded with amber and gold crystals and fused together to represent the crust of the earth and its core.

The Cracked Earth Series have sold world wide, have been featured in a decorator magazine.

They hold a special place in my heart.

Why is your work a good investment?

Glass is always a good investment.

These pieces have a vibrancy and energy and can stand alone or elegantly compliment paintings and sculptures.

I am humbled and proud to be in local and international galleries and have my pieces in private and corporate collections worldwide.

DORONI LANG

WWW.DORONILANG.COM

CHANGYEON

LEE

DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018

"I cultivate technology as a solace for human spirituality in a form of new media arts."

Tell us about yourself and background.

I am an New York City based award-winning artist and director of studio god’s gift. I live and carry out my artistic practices in New York City; Las Vegas; Seoul.

I achieved my Master’s degree in New Media Arts (ITP) at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with full years grants, and received National Scholarships from South Korea's Government.

As a Data Artist/Net-Artist and Kinetic Media Artist, I cultivate technology as a solace for human spirituality in a form of new media arts.

Tell us about your work.

Using mechanical components and flowers permanently preserved by myself, I[studio god’s gift] transplant ‘breathing,’ the most basic phenomenon of life, into physical object in an

What makes your work and approach unique?

Why is your work a good investment?

My artistic practices are directed

"my gift is my breath. take this

towards investigating the potential

breath. to you, my god's gift.” To

of New Media Art as a “metaphor”

your beloving ones, present “A

for the establishment of a belief

Thousand Breaths,” a breathing

system to overcome the basic

object with your unique respiration

fears of humans.

pattern data as a metaphor of

Unlike the concern shown in the

perpetuity of your existence

novel “1984” by George Orwell, I

against the transitory nature of

intend to demonstrate that

life. Present “A Thousand Breaths”

technology is not focused in the

at STUDIOGODSGIFT.COM

confrontational relationship with humans for destroying humanity.

aesthetics of ‘motion amidst rest.’

My works are articulating ‘breathing’ as a metaphor for the perpetuity of existence consoling the transitory nature of life.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

I inquire into the possibility of

In 2018, I won the grand-prix artist

technology as an new spiritual tool

from IYAA, and I am selected as a

for the consolation of humans,

participating artist in the 2018

relieving them of their universal

SCOPE Miami Beach Art Fair in

fears.

the United States.

CHANGYEON LEE AWARD WINNER 2018

Recent displays of my work include exhibitions at

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

the Museum of Moving Image New York;

"Are We Being Fucking Serious?" - Net Art / Data

Interactive Corp(IAC) at Chelsea in New York

Visualization on 183,947 Global Terrorism Data

City; Doosan Gallery at Chelsea in New York

Since 1980 “183,947” is the number of terrorist

City; Schwules Museum Berlin; 150th Memorial

attacks on earth since 1980, the year that John

Day of the Civil War of United States New York;

Lennon was murdered.

Gwanghwamun plaza/square, Seoul Metropolitan Government, among others.

I invite all the dreamers, like me and you, and Mr. & Mrs. Lennon, to this website at

What are your sources of inspiration?

AREWEBEINGFUCKINGSERIOUS.NET

My work, “A Thousand Breaths,” is initiated from a poem written by myself.

I have exhibited film rolls that I took from the 183,947 locations of terrorism attacks, since 1980.

at the end of everything, beginning of everything

As a data artist who wants to ‘imagine’ with other

becomes distinct.

dreamers like Mr. & Mrs. Lennon and you, I intend to maintain this website forever with annual

it was my breath. While i was waiting for the

database updates on yearly occurred terrorism

arrival of my end, this thought occurred to me;

attacks.

I want to hand my breath to my you.

the world being with you was a field all in flowers. Wandering in our field, I have prepared to inbreathe eternal full of life into the scenery of us. It was the only thing I would, should, could do before someday, the end of everything, arrives from somewhere, at sometime, or sadly by some other people, not by ourselves.

even though I have already been aware that this world is not correct, my reason to live, to survive always, it was you.

to my you, I want to present this. the thing that i will keep until the end of my everything.

my gift is my breath. take this breath. you, my god’s gift.

DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018

What are you passionate about?

The Letters To A Young Poet from Rainer Maria Rilke arrived to me some time ago.

“confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. must I write?

And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must", then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your whole life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse.”

Yes. I must write. I must try to say what I see and feel: Perpetuity against Transitoriness, Imagine against Violence, and The Sun Also Rises against Regret.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I will present my “A Thousand Breaths” kinetic sculpture series at SCOPE Miami Beach Art Fair, one of the biggest contemporary art fair in the world this coming December 2018.

Also, I am participating in another International Contemporary Art Fair, called Artrooms, with A Thousand Breaths Series, this October 2018.

Tell us about where you are based.

I reside and create in New York City, Las Vegas, and Seoul. I also exist in cyber space wandering for my Data-Art / Net-Art creations.

Visit and wander with me at: STUDIOGODSGIFT.COM

CHANGYEON LEE

WWW.STUDIOGODSGIFT.COM

JONAS

LERICHEÂ

INVITATION TO ANÂ INWARD JOURNEY

Larger than life The scenarios I create go far beyond the individual or the anecdotal. My aim is not merely to create an aesthetically appealing photo, but to create something larger than life. That is why I transform individual models into dramatic, iconic figures that tap into a deeper level of experience, melancholy and mortality. The real quest, however, is to discover true inner beauty, mysterious beauty for the viewer to gradually unravel.

JONAS LERICHE

Authenticity and artificiality

Photography is just a medium

Invitation to an inward journey

Even at a young age I was

Transforming emotions, intentional

After years as a fashion

fascinated by the beauty of

or unconscious ideas into gripping

photographer, I felt an emptiness,

nature, and it has exerted an

images: this is what matters to me.

and something calling me. It was

elemental pull on me ever since.

Constructing my photographs layer

time to take the journey inward, to

This authentic experience stands

by layer, with meticulous attention

transform. Photography was the

in shrill contrast with the world in

to detail, I compose my vision of

only way for me to make this

which I have lived and worked for

beauty. Taking the actual photo is

journey. Delving into the rich layers

the last decade, a world

but the final stage of a long,

in my photographs enables me to

dominated by mere appearance,

deliberate process, punctuated by

connect with deeper layers in

social media posturing and

flashes of inspiration. This is why I

myself. My authentic self. It is a

superficiality. The driving force

consider myself an art director first,

dramatic, ongoing and even vital

behind my work is the desire to

and then a photographer.

process. My ultimate wish is that

inject the rawness of nature into

my Art works will also awaken my

the seamless, controlled

viewers to a process of

perfection of my photographs in

reconnection with the essential.

order to undermine the facile gaze of viewers unaccustomed to scratching any deeper than the surface.

leriche.be

KEVIN

MARTY

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us about yourself and background.

For my most recent work I create very large

I am from Seattle, WA, and currently live in

(Giclee) prints- some 15-20 feet wide- using a 36

Southern California with my wife and 3-year-old

megapixel Nikon D810 to create panoramas with

son. I finished my MFA in Photography through the

excellent detail, and stitch them together with

Savannah College of Art and Design during 2017.

Photoshop. The dominant subject of these prints

I also earned my M.S. in Geology during 1994 at

is landscapes/seascapes.

the University of New Orleans, and B.S. in Geology

Prior to my MFA work, I created many images

during 1991 at Central Washington University (in

while working as a photojournalist. I used a

Washington State).

mixture of film and digital cameras, traditional

For the past 14 years I have worked as a geology

darkroom and Photoshop methods, to complete

professor at a community college in Southern

my assignments. In general, my work is about

California. Prior to that I worked federal

investigating the natural world for its beauty and

government jobs and as a photojournalist in

meaning in our lives.

Southern California.

*The Salton Sea is a mistake, formed when a levy burst along the Colorado River over 100 years ago

Tell us about your work.

For my MFA thesis work, I created images using two of the oldest photographic printing methods: salt prints and cyanotypes. I aimed to show the intersection of science and art; the balance of chemicals, water and light that are central to both photography and the sustenance of life.

The subject for my thesis work is the Salton Sea, California’s largest lake that is degrading and evaporating away from drought, water transfers and neglect. I strive to capture the beauty and complexity of this place- its fleeting moments and the traces of accelerated entropy- to show what is lost to time. The salt prints reference preservation, and the process itself is a literal nod to the chemical composition of the sea and signifies its remains or trace as evaporation lowers sea level and exposes crystalline shorelines. Unpredictable spotting signifies deterioration from the human touch* and links the sea to the lab and art to science. The cyanotype photograms (showing, for example, bones and feathers of dead birds and fish that litter the shoreline) document trace “fossils” and reveal blueprints that function as visual remainders.

"THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE AND ART; THE BALANCE OF CHEMICALS, WATER AND LIGHT THAT ARE CENTRAL TO BOTH PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE."Â

KEVIN MARTY TOP ARTIST 2018 What makes your work and approach unique?

For my MFA work, it’s an approach used by the first photographers who found a way to fix an image on paper and create the first negatives; it is uncommon for photographers to use these methods today.

In a world saturated with images from a wide variety of devices, I take a few steps back to the darkroom, and to camera-less prints when I make photograms.

There is satisfaction in being involved in every step of the process to create a very unique print. While I do create digital negatives, there is technique involved in creating the optimum contrast/density of these negatives for the “printing-out” process. I brush the chemicals such as salt solution and silver nitrate on watercolour paper and together with the digital negative, expose it to sunlight and burn in the image that is then developed and fixed in the darkroom for a print.

Also for my MFA work and current work I create very large (Giclee) prints as described above.

My approach is one of investigation and inquiry; passion and inspiration; science and art: I observe and sometimes intervene with natural processes and features, and nature will reveal itself and do everything but push the shutter of my next photograph.

Why is your work a good investment?

The process to create salt prints and cyanotypes produce nice archival quality prints that create a historical or nostalgic quality whether the print is made today or is a couple centuries old (I can apply these methods to a client’s digital images if requested although the quality would depend on the original image and file size).

The large Giclee prints, including panoramas, are very detailed and excellent archival quality.

While the Giclee/digital and film prints are relatively easy to reproduce (but can be limited to a series), the salt prints/cyanotypes are one of a kind.

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us about some of your achievements.

Completed my MFA in Photography, 2017 (Savannah College of Art and Design); thesis show at a gallery (Tiendique) in El Centro, Ca (2017); exhibition during 2018 at the Juanita Salazar Lowe Art Gallery, Imperial Valley College, Imperial CA; Showed work during 2016 at the Maryland

My cyanotype work is inspired by

Federation of Art Circle Gallery.

the work of Botanist Anna Atkins.

What are you passionate about?

For my work as a photojournalist,

I am also inspired by the work of

I am passionate about hiking,

several images were published in

Susan Derges who creates

backpacking, and the light of

magazines and major newspapers

photograms of river water (by

storms; the struggle at the Salton

(such as Popular Science;

submerging the printing paper).

Sea, hidden lakes of the Sierra

Christian Science Monitor and Los

The natural world is my overall

Nevada Mountains, the desolation

Angeles Times). Many images

inspiration.

of Death Valley and tectonics of

picked up on the Associated Press

Geology and art inspire me to

the Pacific Northwest. I like the

wire and used by media.

experiment and produce work

view from the trail and backroads.

emphasizing the art in science (or

I am not an environmentalist per

the science in art). Landscapes/

se, but believe in many

seascapes have their natural

environmental causes and

The landscape photography of

beauty from the interactions of

preservation of national parks.

Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell

solids, liquids and gases through

I also believe in altering the land-

were my early inspiration. Later,

forces of continual change.

scape through the Earth work

and through my MFA work, I

The consequences of these forces,

interventions of artists such as

became inspired by the Earth Art

such as mountains and weather,

Smithson, Heizer and Goldsworthy;

Movement and conceptual

are captured at various moments

and through the science of mining

photography of the 60s and 70s.

of construction and destruction; of

to extract energy and mineral

The Earth art, for example, of

renewal and entropy.

resources while exposing episodes

Robert Smithson, Michael Heizer

I am inspired to investigate this

of the Earth’s history. I am also

and Andy Goldsworthy- I love their

with my camera and inquire into

passionate about social programs

style of intervening with nature, or

the meaning of these moments for

in place to help people; that

recreating it for their idea of how

a better understanding of our

everyone is equal and should be

is should or could be.

world.

treated that way.

What are your sources of inspiration?

KEVIN MARTY TOP ARTIST 2018

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I am continuing my work on creating very large prints using panoramic techniques on a variety of themes, mostly related to nature.

Tell us about where you are based.

I am currently based in Imperial Valley, CA, about 100 miles east of San Diego, Ca., and in the rain shadow of the Peninsular Ranges.

The latitude and mountains create a harsh desert environment where temperatures are over 100 degrees for several months of the year.

Features here include California’s largest lake (the Salton Sea); the Imperial Sand Dunes (the location of much filming); numerous desert ranges; a large gold mine and geothermal plants.

Southern California’s light can be amazing!

KEVIN MARTY

WWW.KEVINMARTYPHOTOGRAPHY.ARTSPAN.COM

PHILIP

NOYED

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

"I utilize digital design and contemporary printing technology to create color and light art using abstract photographs mounted on acrylic, fused on glass, or acrylic tubes to create LED light installations."

Tell us about your work.

My art is on the edge of technological advancements spanning printing, lighting, photography, video, mirrors, 3D glasses viewing paintings and virtual reality. I create art experiences that place the viewer in the art.

Tell us about yourself and background.

I want the art to have a sense of awe and

I am the consummate explorer. I am from

inspiration that both challenge viewers to see

Minnesota, majored in Asian Studies at Hamline

anew while creating a sense of surprise and

University. I lived in Japan for three years learning

delight while in the experience. I use colors

ceramics, calligraphy and Noh theatre. I also

knowing that they have a psychological and

studied photography and film making and created

physiological effect on people.

experimental films. I have been on the cutting edge of digital design as a Creative Director. My art

What makes your work and approach unique?

career spans ceramics, geometric abstraction oil

We are immersed in an ocean of images. I reject

paintings, blur motion photography to create

the world where the rectangular image is a

geometric images lit by lights, projections of

representational gateway into a “reality.” I create

moving images and light installations.

art experiences focused on perception – 2D, 3D,

PHILIP NOYED TOP ARTIST 2018

light, color – as colourful geometric photographic

power of color and where viewers are central to

shapes on the wall, as mobiles lit by natural light,

the experience. I want to create art experiences

as photographic sculptures, as large-scale light

that surprise, delight and bring a sense of awe to

experiential forms, as experimental light videos/

all people.

projections and as virtual reality experiences where viewers enter an art universe. It’s about

What are you passionate about?

interacting directly with the art as a

I am passionate about … the ways art heals

transformational experience.

people in many ways.

Creating art to find a visual way to express

Why is your work a good investment?

feelings. Using art to shine a light on experiences

We live at a point in time. My art is on the cutting

that help illuminate a cause. Experiencing art in a

edge of 21st century art technology focused on

way that brings a sense of awe and wonder and

human experience and perception. The multi-

enlightenment through exposure.

media art I create awakens curiosity and

Public art providing broad communities with

challenges perception – 3D paintings, geometric

something more inspirational than functional

photo sculptures, dancing light projections, light

architecture. Art in hospitals reducing stress and

sculptures, translucent mobiles – all expanding

providing meditative areas for both patients and

what art can be. As I have seen already, all will

medical staff. Art heals.

increase in value as they are more widely known.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

I created installations at the Minneapolis – St. Paul

Major achievements include being commissioned

Airport. The 50’ long “Leap of Joy” was meant to

to create two large-scale art installations at the

convey the sense of joy and magic of travel and

Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport, create

moving forward with life. “The Aurora Borealis”

the Rainbow Pyramid Light Experience for the

brings the colors of the Northern Lights to life in

Northern Spark Festival and being a featured light

the airport. “L’Etoile du Nord” or “Star of the North”

artist at Art Miami. I won the Exposure Award in

is meant as a beacon to say that anybody of any

the Ultra Color Collection and my image was

race, religion, sexual persuasion or nationality is

presented at the Muse du Louvre. I have been

welcome in Minnesota.

featured in TV shows, radio shows, magazine and newspaper articles and art websites … and, of

Share with us your upcoming projects.

course, the DESTIG Top 20 Artists of 2018 award.

I’m planning to build the Rainbow Pyramid for the Bahrain Light Festival in 2019.

What are your sources of inspiration?

I’m also working many new exciting projects. A

Art and technology are rapidly changing. I am

large-scale light installation called The Rainbow

inspired by new ways to create light and color

Sonata. New 3D paintings and geometric

experiences and love being on the leading edge of

illumination photographic sculptures and mobiles.

exploration and creation. I love color theory and

A new video based on light dancing on water that

the fact that color affects people psychologically

I’m editing now. And, I’m working on a new Virtual

and physically. As an artist, I create knowing the

Reality installation.

Tell us about where you are based.

I’m based in the bold north: Minneapolis, Minnesota. The unique aspect of Minnesota is that we enjoy a vibrant art, music, theater, film and digital design scene. We have world class printing technology, lighting technology and acrylic and metal fabrication capabilities. We have great museums and galleries showcasing contemporary art and fascinating historical art. The community supports the arts vigorously creating many opportunities for artists.

PHILIP NOYED

WWW.PHILIPNOYED.COM

STAJ

OLSON-IGNEOUS

DESTIG AWARD WINNER

"Igneous is the pursuit of leading creative design in heated luxury concrete freestanding soaking tubs. Our fiery passion and rock solid techniques create the highest quality pieces for a luxurious relaxation experience. We hand-sculpt functional art pieces in a world of monotony."

Tell us about yourself and background.

I need something worth doing, because I find not doing things right to be intolerable. Â So, if my plan is to do it right, it must be worth pouring myself into. It cannot be a mundane reproduction or regurgitation, simple and easy might kill me. Simple and easy would probably be the hardest thing I ever tried to make myself do since it would be so insincere. If other people can do it better, why dedicate my time to it? I applaud them for their gifts, while searching for my own challenges and relevancy. Â

STAJ OLSON AWARD WINNER 2018

Tell us about your work.

I have come to a happy truce. Everything left is

Once I have a worthy target, design (a sexy word

what was always meant to be. A wonderful

for my concrete engineering) begins. These are the

collaboration between medium and artist, it will

greatest days for me, challenging my own straw

become anything I ask of it but concrete will

men, fleshing away anything that isn’t nailed down

always have terms and conditions, it leads me to

or doesn’t fight back. It’s a joy ride to chase the

the correct conclusions I just have to be willing to

dragon, holding onto its tail and not giving up until

finish strong and stick with it to that very last

it is tired. In each functional art piece I create, my

moment. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

private satisfaction is to argue with the concrete about what will remain.

Why is your work a good investment?

I have invested my life in learning the best industry

What makes your work and approach unique?

practices known. I have applied years to R&D in

Concrete is amazing. It holds onto its true nature

this field to discern the limitations and potential.

and will not allow its character to be erased, only

I approach every task as a fiduciary for the end

enhanced. Stubbornly I erase every mark or flaw

user. Finishing strong is an obsession, a key

that looks man made to me. This wonderful fight

component of who I am. Everything I make is not

brings out the best qualities of the concrete. When

finished until it is heirloom or legacy quality that

changes can no longer be made, the concrete and

can affect the lives of my patrons for generations.

DESTIG AWARD WINNER Tell us about some of your achievements.

I have discovered methods and means that allowed me to create “luxury concrete”. Luxury concrete, while living and embracing life is extremely resilient and difficult to damage. It is able to be maintained as is for generations. It can be as thin as 1/8 of an inch and I am pleased to have been able to innovatively incorporate many new advanced technologies. I have been blessed to be supported, welcomed and appreciated by those far above my starting point.

What are your sources of inspiration?

provide a path for myself and

The result is magnetic, when visitors

The concrete inspires me, the way

others to be genuine and

glimpse this private space from the

Bruce Lee advocates “be water my

considerate. I desire to create a

entryway they cease speaking and

friend” and lists the qualities of

corporate culture that encourages

just walk towards it and start

water I bleed grey. No matter how

those around me to be themselves

touching it. To have created

much time I spend with concrete it’s

and provide their unique skills to

something that calls so strongly to

potential still exceeds me, it

improving others lives.

people is the highest compliment of

encourages me to dream more, imagine more and attempt more.

I deeply enjoy manipulating human

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

my efforts.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

interaction with light, water and

The first free standing shower I

sound.

created was an act of faith by my

I debuted my newly incorporated

patrons over 6 years ago. Their faith

Bluetooth sound systems at

What are you passionate about?

in me was transformative. They

WestEdge Design Fair in Santa

I am passionate about people,

shared a desire for me to recreate

Monica California. My displays

finding places I can make

a slot canyon where they had fallen

allowed visitors to see, feel and

improvements to their lives. I believe

in love when they were children.

hear these innovations personally.

we all exist with unique skill sets

From the stereo typical napkin

Everything about my craft beyond

meant to better the lives around us.

sketch to the final unveiling the

the aesthetics is challenging to

I am hurt by the concept of

masterpiece was exactly what they

convey when not in person. I deeply

“sheeple” telling everyone to

wanted because they were allowed

enjoy introducing everyone to

conform and be the same, deny

to walk the course with me for 28

unimagined improvements, and

their true gifts. I deeply desire to

days from tear out to first shower.

nearly unlimited potential.

Tell us about where you are based.

My private studio is at my home in a high mountain valley near Bozeman Montana . . .it is transcendent. A wooded hillside, babbling stream with multiple waterfalls providing the music of life and an expansive grassy meadow. Day or night just stepping outside is a salve to whatever I am facing. Having the opportunity to be present in my family’s daily life, picnics or hikes at lunch with them is unashamedly the number one “why� for what I do now.

STAJ OLSON - IGNEOUS

WWW.IGNEOUSBATH.COM

MOTIFS ALL OVER @ GALERIE VIA PARIS

In French, the motif is «that which sets in motion» lines and thoughts.

The word itself evokes both a reason for action as well as the subject of pictorial work, the graphic ornament decorating a frieze or material. The motif is the offspring of creation »

EXHIBITION SPOTLIGHT

From the 20th of September to

The VIA and Nelly Rodi’s

Carré, Moustache, Ambiance

the 4th of December 2018 the

exploration of motifs is delivered

Dressing, Koché, Tarek Benaoum…

VIA will present a commission of

under 5 themes: Frenetic Florals,

Nelly Rodi with original

Typo Manifesto, Stunning Sketch,

In French, the motif is

scenography by Döppel Studio

Chromatic Luminescence and

sets in motion

showcasing a 360° view of motifs

Expressive Geometries. 5 creative

The word itself evokes both a

and furniture. An exhibition

universes each illustrated with a

reason for action as well as the

aimed at decrypting the

selection of pieces from the best

subject of pictorial work, the

resurgence of patterns, the

French contemporary creative

graphic ornament decorating a

invasion of floral or geometric

studios and editors. Notably, you

frieze or material. The motif is the

forms from clothes to wallpaper,

will find the Ronin Chair edited by

offspring of creation

as well as the unavoidable

La Chance, the interactive

the Parisian prospective agency.

presence of drawing, from

installation Aura Inside garment by

It is a cross-disciplinary lifestyle

materials to the structure of the

Clara Daguin, the Mursi coffee

subject illustrating the break down

furniture itself.

table by Piergil Fourquié for the

of borders between the furniture,

Gosserez Gallery, the Copies

interior architecture and fashion

The exhibition presents the motif

Originales from studio 5.5 or the

sectors, thanks to French

as an alphabet with which space

Cinetism Shelf by Charles

savoir-faire and the creativity of

is built, with which a message is

Kalpakian for the BSL Gallery as

designers.

conveyed.

well as others such as Cuir au

«that which

» lines and thoughts.

» summarizes

MOTIFS ALL OVER The exhibition presents the motif as an alphabet with which space is built, with which a message is conveyed.

OLIVER

PERRY

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

The English artist Oliver Perry proposes a language composed of outbursts of extreme creativity which permit him to produce works of intense figurative richness.

Tell us about yourself and background.

I started painting and sculpting quite young, being imprisoned in a cold draughty English boarding school, my one means of escape was to spend my evenings in the art block, I was quite prolific, doing everything; photography, ceramics, painting, sculpture. Anything to avoid the tyranny of the boarding house. I used to spend hours there.

My father worked in the oil industry so I was fortunate to travel the world as a kid, so I got to experience all sorts of different cultures, and at that age you just soak up information. After school I managed to argue my way out of a place at The Slade, but didn’t let that stop me. I’ve been working on my painting ever since.

Tell us about your work.

My work is in two and a half distinct styles. A figurative approach, an abstract line and I’m now embarking on a 3D painting escapade that is in its infancy, but

having shown it to a few people in

Golden Section/Ratio while

the know, the response has been

elements of the Laws of Vibration

favourable. The different styles

make up the remaining philosophy.

feed of each other, and you can

They are two elements that the

see the lineage through all the

brain resonate with. Colour is also

work. There’s a constant fight

massively important and colour

between geometric structure and

theory was fundamental in my art

free flowing organic application of

education. It is key to making a

paint. It has elements of cubism,

body of work harmonise, let alone

an underlying hint of abstract

individual paintings. Once you

expressionism all held together

have the basis of the painting

with a dash surrealism.

down, that’s when you can start to break the rules, working into the

What makes your work and approach unique?

painting over and over, letting it evolve naturally. It becomes an

There is an element of science to

interesting juxtaposition between

my work, the base structure

the control of the geometric

adheres to the principals of the

shapes and the evolution of ideas.

OLIVER PERRY TOP ARTIST 2018

Why is your work a good investment.

What are you passionate about?

Over the last few years I’ve won the American art

Away from painting I also have a love of

Awards on a number of occasions, it’s voted for by

photography, but again keeping it as abstract as

the top 25 U.S. galleries, so they must see

possible, it’s amazing the shapes and textures

something in my work. I’m represented by a gallery

that are all around us, it’s just a different way of

in New York of the back of it. I also represented

seeing them. Next to that the state of the planet

Britain at the Florence Biennale, and have shown in

is a great concern to me, as with so many of us.

Florence after that. I’ve also shown at a number of

I avoid anything with palm oil in it in respect to

other galleries in Europe. Hopefully I’m building a

the plight of the orangutans, I love the majesty of

decent following. With the new 3D pieces I’m

elephants, and fear for their survival, in both

making I think I’m on to something really original,

cases here, you look into their eyes and see such

and a number of art professionals I’ve shown the

amazing beauty and understanding. I can't

prototypes to have agreed. And finding something

believe people can go about killing them for

truly original is a rarity in the art world. I just need

pleasure. But then again we’re happy to kill each

to produce more now.

other on a whim so it’s hardly surprising. I also avoid plastic wherever possible, people say, oh its

Tell us about some of your achievements.

Having exhibited across Europe and the US, I’m happy to announce that I have some very well-travelled paintings, I just wish that I could have followed them around myself. Being shown by the Opera Gallery in two different countries was amazing, representing Britain at the Florence Biennale and meeting and discussing my work with Tim Marlow was a revelation, but just being in the position to sell my work to people and receiving their feedback, and how my painting effects them emotionally is unbelievable. You never quite believe it’s happening. It’s all rather humbling.

What are your sources of inspiration?

Inspiration comes from everywhere, as an artist you study everything, be it how other artist apply paint to the way shadows work in the trees or how the sun works on the clouds. But there are obvious references to cubism in my work. As a kid I also spent a long time looking at sculpture, and I think this can be seen in all my work, even the more abstract stuff, I think it’s important that you can imagine yourself walking through the canvases.

only one straw or one bottle, but when it’s eight

"ONCE YOU HAVE THE BASIS OF THE PAINTING DOWN, THAT’S WHEN YOU CAN START TO BREAK THE RULES, WORKING INTO THE PAINTING OVER AND OVER, LETTING IT EVOLVE NATURALLY."

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

billion people saying that, its quite a lot of crap thrown out. If we all make little changes, big things can happen. Other than that, good food, fine wine and great company are essential elements to surviving the quite solitary life of a painter.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

Over the last 5-10 years, it has all been one project, just different elements to it. Thoughts and ideas bleed into one, it becomes a natural progression. I never go about planning for one distinct goal, it’s all evolutionary, and I’ve been lucky that along this journey I’ve been selected to show my work at home and abroad.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I’m currently going off on a slight tangent to the abstract work I’ve been doing, the painting will consist of an underlying photorealistic image, but then a frenetic abstract outburst will dominate the canvas.

In the preliminary paintings they almost look vandalised. It’s an interesting way to continue the theme of control and disorder found in my other work.

With more space and time, the continuing development of the 3D paintings is revealing some exciting results, new materials and experimentation driving the process forward.

Tell us about where you are based.

I live and work on the banks of the mighty Thames.

Far enough away from London to allow me to concentrate, while being near enough to enjoy all the fruits the Big Smoke can provide when it takes my fancy. We have a lovely, eclectic bunch of neighbours here, rubbing shoulders with the Clooneys, Jimmy Page and Uri Geller there must be something creative in the water round here. Our local exhibitions often see them paying a visit, and my last show in the village gave me the opportunity to chat with PM Theresa May and her husband about the merits of abstract art.

OLIVER PERRY

WWW.OLLIEPERRY.COM

MAIRA

REINBERGS

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018 Tell us about yourself and background.

Tell us about your work.

I was born in Riga, Latvia. As a small girl I loved to

My paintings are explorations of colour and line.

dance (I still do) and did piles and piles of drawings.

I strive to capture their illusiveness, subtleties and

Summers I spent in the country at my grandfather’s.

mysteries. Often music influences my work; lines and

There I was given total freedom to roam the

colour variations express movement, continuity.

beautiful meadows, fields of rye, the apple orchard,

My life had had its share of turbulence and sadness

the river bank. Maybe that is why I became an artist

– maybe that is why I want my paintings to express

– being so much by myself, immersed in the beauty

harmony, beauty, serenity.

of nature. During WWII my family had to flee and we left our homeland and the people we loved. We

What makes your work and approach unique?

sought refuge in Germany – there we lived in 8

I do not follow trends in art, but stay with my own

different camps for “Displaced Persons”. In 1951 we

soothing vision. The art critic for the Lake Placid

emigrated to the United States and settled in

News put it very succinctly: “If there is purpose to

Boston. After receiving a BFA from Massachusetts

her work, it is to wash away with a stroke of her

College and I began working as commercial artist,

brush all that is ugly, cacophonic and strident, and

did freelance illustrations and painted as much as I

all that would anger the soul. She succeeds

could. Due to my husband’s job, we relocated four

admirably”

times: from sunny California, (where our daughter

In the past I worked with oils, watercolours, fabric

was born) to a rural area of Massachusetts, to wintry

dyes, hot paraffin. In 2005 I developed my present

Lake Placid, NY. Since 1980 we live in Attleboro, MA.

technique, which I think is quite unique. I handprint

MAIRA REINBERGS

or paint on muslin. Then I cut out the interesting pieces, arrange them in a way that pleases me and adhere them to canvas or panel. This technique allows me to create effects that I could not achieve otherwise, and it also introduces a chance element. It is a time consuming process, but I love it.

Why is your work a good investment?

The purchase of one of my paintings is an investment in beauty and serenity. Many of my collectors have told me that they look at my paintings frequently,

I just have to paint. I love living

nature, and I get to experience all

with my works, and the people

the seasons through my windows.

who own my paintings also love

I do not paint nature directly, I

them.

observe and then paint the

sometimes even daily, and every time it lifts their spirits. Years ago I took part in a National Exhibition called “Images that Heal”.

Indeed, beauty heals.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

My creative process happens slowly and deliberately. Therefore each completed painting is an achievement and pleasure.

Also, I have juggled my artistic career with family responsibilities and other very long interruptions.

Nevertheless I always come back.

essence, sometimes much later.

What are your sources of inspiration?

What are you passionate about?

Colour, lines, music.

The sea - after a trip to the Greek

I notice lines everywhere on

islands, which to me were

sidewalks, streets, tree branches,

spectacular, I did some sketches of

reeds in ponds etc.

the sea. I still think of them as my

Music - medieval religious music,

“little masterpieces”.

baroque composers, ethnic music,

Dancing - Greek dancing, belly

opera, Latvian folk songs. The right

dancing and many others.

music puts me in another world.

music. Music is in all my paintings.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

Colour, mostly from nature - I

I used to create stage sets for

absorb colour with my whole

plays and Latvian events, such as

being. My studio is surrounded by

poetry readings etc. The stage

I simply cannot paint without

"I DO NOT PAINT NATURE DIRECTLY, I OBSERVE AND THEN PAINT THE ESSENCE, SOMETIMES MUCH LATER."

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

sets allowed me to explore large formats.

Sometimes I would incorporate my large paintings into them, or my small ones were projected onto the screen.

I avoid shows with themes. The one exception is a painting I did for an exhibit with a theme “Possessions, Prized and Otherwise”. I decided to paint my grandfather of whom I have very beautiful and painful memories. Painful because he chose to stay behind when we left Latvia.

I incorporated a photograph of him in the painting, surrounded by sunlit meadows, waterlilies in the river, basically my childhood. It was a very difficult and cathartic process for me. This painting won a significant prize.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I will be exhibiting three paintings at the Baltic Centennial Celebrations in Boston.

Besides that I will be continuing my autumn series with “Ode to Autumn #5” and many more. I feel that my best work is still to come.

Tell us about where you are based.

I live in Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is partway between two vibrant arts communities: Providence, Rhode Island, 30 minutes away and Boston, Massachusetts, which takes an hour to reach. Attleboro itself is a quiet residential town, a very convenient place to live, safe place to ride my bicycle. I do this summer evenings to enjoy the sunset - the many coloured clouds. We will probably stay here because my daughter, son in law and granddaughter live only an hour away and because here is my studio which my husband built for me.

MAIRA REINBERGS

WWW.MAIRA-ART.COM

JENNY

RICHTER

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

"I am not here to participate but to transcript.

Therefor my most familiar state of being is solitude. To feel secluded is my most cherished and painful frequency."

Over the years I branched out and acquired many trades- a sculptor of wood, glass and elements (snow and sand) which gave me a solid understanding of proportions space and the geometry of beauty, a contractor specialized in

Tell us about yourself and background.

decorative plasters and ornamental façade

I was born in East Germany and while I belong to

restorations which taught me to be of service

the last generation that has an active memory of

with humility and discipline as well as a highly

growing up in Communist Germany, I am glad it

trained hypnotherapist which gives me the ability

only lasted through my early childhood until it got

to disable the perception filter of my mind and

broken down by The People. I value freedom and

connect to my subconscious as well as our

independence over everything. It is an interesting

collective consciousness.

experience to see a system that crept into every aspect of daily life fall apart.

This rather unusual multilayered set of skills now serves as my foundation to create art pieces that

I spent my wild years in post-unification Berlin when the city was an adventure playground for the Creatives, the Misfits and the Idealists. We had everything except for money. While Berlin marked the only time and place in my life where and when I felt truly at home I disconnected when I moved to a valley in the Dolomite Mountains/ Northern Italy to study wood carving. I now follow my former teachers on social platforms as they exhibit their amazing work worldwide. They are the best.

I briefly studied with Odd Nerdrum who at the time I considered the last master and only person worth learning from. My time with him was short but I learned so much. I met my Philly husband in Berlin when he hired me to recreate art deco- ornaments for a façade renovation he oversaw. We have that project documented on our website: oldeworldcraft.com

So I came over to the States and moved in with my #1 man in Philadelphia in Germantown- of all places. I was born a painter as creating paintings is my true expression.

go further than being a visual product.

JENNY RICHTER TOP ARTIST 2018 Tell us about your work.

My work simultaneously seeks and provides understanding. My pieces are little messages from our collective to ourselves created through me. I tap into my personal core to deliver images that tell a universal story. I hope for people who see my images to recognize something familiar, a fraction of their memory of their deeper nature to be triggered.

What makes your work and approach unique?

I have arrived at a point in my life where I no longer am consumed by pointless beliefs, patterns or desires that still seem attractive in our society. I understand that I solely exist to observe, create and ultimately remember. This gives me and my work value and meaning.

Why is your work a good investment?

In these times where we experience an overwhelming flood of noise and imagery it is important to emphasize and value content. Â We all seek value and we feel the need to proof our own. It can be seductive to do so through external accessories. Instead we need to value our humanness over everything. We are vulnerable creatures of infinite potential. My work is a contribution and an element of our Zeitgeist. It plugs into the current segment of our timeline but exists beyond it. When you invest in a piece of art it is important to evaluate the piece beyond its current time, it has to be strong enough to stand beside pieces of the past and the future.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

My website www.jennyrichter.com is a sufficient reference for my creations and projects. What I really feel is an accomplishment though is the clarity and independence I have gained through years of solitude.

I could not have shared my work at an earlier point as I would have gotten attached to the need of being validated by others. I am also proud that my husbandÂ

"WE NEED TO VALUE OUR HUMANNESS OVER EVERYTHING. WE ARE VULNERABLE CREATURES OF INFINITE POTENTIAL."

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

and I have created a solid life foundation for our best creation2 little Padawans- while we both came from broken families and started with nothing. Raising kids means your focus shifts from being the center of your own universe to constantly prioritizing another being. So instead of living in the creative flow I have to micro-organize and live with a tight schedule. As someone who highly values independence, alone time and pondering about the bigger things this is hard and I am proud I am doing it.

What are your sources of inspiration?

My ideas spawn inside my head and then take on a life of their own. I got this line of images in my head that are waiting for their turn. Because I have a very finite amount of time available raising 2 young kids I constantly need to prioritize. Some images have been waiting for years, others squeeze in and give me this urge so they get bumped up and turned into an art piece right away. It can be a teensy moment or feeling that triggers an entire image creation and I often have to catch up on fully grasping its meaning myself.

What are you passionate about?

why we are afraid of our own sovereignty.

I see our civilization standing at a

Why do we prefer to outsource our

decisive dividing point of power

personal power by handing over

distribution. The proclivity how we

our responsibilities? Why authorize

transfer power within the macro

our religious leaders to hold power

structures of our society lies within

over our own spiritual journey or

the micro tendency to transfer our

commission doctors to be in full

personal power. Politically we are

charge of our healing journey?

witnessing a tuck a war between

Why do we determine our worth by

corporate capability to claim and

our material amassment or our

distribute resources while creating

lovability by how much we (or our

dependency versus a movement of

social media avatars) are being

social activism working towards a

validated by others?

humane and fair distribution of

The biggest power we possess is

resources creating an upgraded

our attention. What we pay

society of unbound individuals.

attention to we validate.

Personally I am convinced that our

That is why I hope my artwork

monopolized power hierarchies

contributes a little part to bringing

will eventually fail because they

more attention to the vast nature

aren’t viable and therefor will no

of our being, to trigger self-

longer serve us. However an

reflection and focus onto the

upgrade to a society of sovereign

magic of our reality.

individuals starts with questioning

Thank you for Your attention

�

JENNY RICHTER

WWW.JENNYRICHTER.COM

HASTI

SARDASHTI

DESTIG AWARD WINNER

Making art is for her an attempt to stay in the here and now - a vital practice to maintain stability, calm and fluidity. Making art is having a home, where she can connect to the most genuine of her existence.

Tell us about yourself and background.

I was born in Tehran (Iran) during the 1960s. I was 14 when the Iranian revolution started and like many young people in my generation I was also an active part of it. I believe this event had a very crucial

ect of the rest of my life. After so many years, there is still a strong feeling there like being ready to

e

pack and run at any time as things can change rapidly from one day to other. I feel like I have only my toes on the ground rather having both my feet on the ground!Â

HASTI SARDASHTI

I left my country in 1984, forced by the situation and on my parents wish ending up in Germany.

I found me there with a high amount of depression and guilt towards the country and people I left behind who stayed and had to

ght for their lives

there. The ‘Migration, Survival & Guilt” series can be seen as an attempt to express my feelings of survivor guilt which has been hunting me all through my adult life.

rst ‘approved’

Tell us about your work.

I would turn the image in my head

From the time the

Describing my art is for me like

from 2D to 3D, observing it from

image arrives on the canvas till the

describing a part of my body that I

di

end, this process of changing and

cannot see! like my nose for

searching for a meaning for it or

developing will continue.

example, I know it is there and it is a

something could

part of me, I see a shade of it when I

outside world.

fferent angels, while I keep t the image in

Somehow I see myself as a kind of tree maybe a fruit tree and see the process of my image making as the

look inward but I actually cannot see it as I can see the other side of my

I would search online for symbolic

process of the organic develop

body like my hands for example!

meanings of things I see in my

-ment of a fruit: from the time the

head, or searching pictures online

tree blossoms over to the time the

t the part of the

My work starts with a strong image in

which would

unripe fruit gradually rips up until

my head. Me or parts of me seem to

image etc. I then might print and

the fruit is ready to be separated

be always somehow the centre of

look at these pictures and involve

from the tree. However for me

the image either as itself or as an

these in my original image.

unlike with the ripe fruit, the process of development and growth are

observer.

In this process I will keep re -

never ending with my images.

This initial image will develop over a

arranging the image in my head till

period of time which might take from

I feel the time is ripe to bring it on

For me once my image is presented

a week, to a month or even to over a

the canvas. I will then do some

to the audience it will start a never

year. During this time the image

simple sketches or doing some

ending process of becoming more

continues to grow and develop in my

measurements in traditional ways

alive, more interactive, or maybe

head.

in order to organise the process.

more interesting and mysterious.

DESTIG AWARD WINNER

What makes your work and approach unique?

I don't believe in uniqueness as such. I rather believe that the humans and their cultures are very much connected to one other.

I believe there are more things which are unknown to us than known. Maybe when the audience



of my work see a re ection of these unknown in themselves it will appear to them as unique which might not be unique at all.

Having said that, maybe me not following any particular genre or method and just doing what comes in my mind, might make the uniqueness.

Why is your work a good investment?

That is the question I need to ask

What are your sources of inspiration?

Tell us about where you are based.

You!

It is all me! me and my inner world

I am based in London/UK the

and how I feel and see things

city I could call ‘Home’ after leaving

around me!

my country in 1984.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

rst

Despite all the political and social

I never thought that I can be there

What are you passionate about?

changes the country has been

where I am now considering the

I am passionate about humanity,

through in the last few years which

long and unusual way I went so far

justice, nature and all the beauty

has been also a

in my life. I never thought that my

which is surrounding us.

can not imagine at the moment to

art works are going to be seen or

ffecting my city, I

live anywhere else.

ever I have achieved so far like any

Share with us your upcoming projects.

acceptance for an art fair or

I was asked by a gallery to join their

environment like London where I

publication or this award, means to

Art Basel room at Aqua art Miami

can be invisible and do what I am

me as a huge achievement, I am

during the upcoming Art Basel

best at which is 'observing’!

very thankful to.

Miami this December.

liked by professionals. Hence what

I need to have a vibrant, lively, imperfectly odd or strange big city

HASTI SARDASHTI

WWW.HASTISARDASHTI.COM

COLLABORATION

L’ATLAS X SECRET D’ATELIER Street artist l’Atlas imagines a graphic collection for

The distinctive and innovative perception of this

Secret d’Atelier (the first French luxury floor design

artist’s typography inspired Secret d’Atelier to

house).

associate with him for the design of this brand new parquet collection.

This unconventional designer very keen on writing and calligraphy mirrors this particular interest into

Genuinely smart and offbeat, la collection L’Atlas

his work by his own typography, the final goal being

will

to frame a universal language by merging geometric

touch but also in more traditional interiors to which

shapes with abstract art.

it will add a scent of originality.

Works as graffiti and painted facades made him

The exquisite combination of classic parquet with

widely known; moreover Jules Dedet Granel gets

modern art makes it possible for Secret d’Atelier to

invited by famous brands and houses such as Perrier,

create an exotic and bold collection, in perfect

Agnès B. or Maison Guerlain to bring an alternative

harmony with the current trend.

touch to their collections or stores.

t perfectly in an urban interior bringing an arty

SAMIR MAZER - MOROCCAN CLAY TILES To draw a shape with repetition as its purpose. Samir Mazer is an artist who has chosen Moroccan clay tiles, their irregular and sensual surfaces, to create rhythmic patterns. “The repetition of shape and color upon a zellige tile is a musical exercise. It is like drawing a pixel, creating a module and then sampling it to make a track”.

An exercise that remains all too difficult and too discrete to be saved from frequent copies by big brands and creators lacking the foresight and mental skill to plan out the sequence of shapes in space.

Made in Fez ever since the 12th century for the quality of its clay and the ease with which it may be carved, the zellige compositions imagined by Samir Mazer and produced by Ateliers Zelij offer formats and pictorial compositions which break with the millenary codes of arabo-andalusian art.

Unless they are in fact a return to their very origin, to the essence of sacred geometry so valued by this culture?

“Preservation is insufficient for a culture to stay alive, it must also be reinvented. Samir is first and foremost an artist who wields the palette of enamels. Paul Klee made compositions with light forms. Samir Mazer makes zellige-paintings.

Kinetic or contemplative mural frescos” explains Salima Naji, architect and anthropologist.

SAM

SHEPARDSON

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

"I am constantly inspired to create pieces that reflect my interests in music, nature, and pop culture."

Tell us about yourself and background.

My name is Samantha Shepardson and I am 22 years old. I recently graduated from Colorado State University in May 2018 with a degree in graphic design. I grew up in Tustin, California and moved out to Colorado for school. I loved the

essence of their music into how I see them.

state so much that I decided to live here after college. Art has always been a huge part of my life- from the day I could hold a pencil I was drawing. I specialize in digital painting and illustration.

Tell us about your work.

I find the connection between the audio and visual interesting.

I started to make portraits of my favorite artists as a way to express how I felt after listening to a song/album by them.

I believe that when you create something it comes directly from your soul. So after listening to their work, I reinterpret the

Why is your work a good investment?

As I said before, I believe art

What makes your work and approach unique?

comes directly from the soul.

When I create something, I put all

My work is a direct reflection of

of my heart into it. Each one of my

what I feel. Creating helps me

pieces reveals something about

process my emotions. When I

myself in some way. When I create

create things, it is produced

art for other people, I take into

directly from my soul. Certain

account what message/feeling

colors invoke certain moods, and I

they are trying to convey and work

work directly with that. Especially

directly with that.

when I work while listening to

into the visual with the certain

Tell us about some of your achievements.

colors and compositions. When

My major art related

you look at my art you are looking

accomplishment would be

at how my brain processes things,

graduating with a degree in

and I think it’s pretty amazing that

Graphic Design from Colorado

I can show people that.

State University.

music, I can translate the audio

"CREATING ART HELPS CLEAR MY HEAD AND LETS ME PROCESS EMOTIONS THAT I CAN’T EXPRESS IN ANY OTHER WAY."

SAM SHEPARDSON TOP ARTIST 2018

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to gain a degree in the thing I am most passionate about in my life, and I am looking forward to utilizing the skills I learned there for the rest of my life.

What are your sources of inspiration?

The main source of inspiration behind my work are the musical artists themselves. When a song or an album speaks to me, I use my art as a vessel for how the music reaches me. In a way, creating portraits of music artists helps me connect to them beyond just listening to their work.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about hip-hop, design, and mental health. I find it interesting how much mental health affects the creative process, and how creativity can help process emotions.

I always encourage the creative process in all forms, as I believe it’s healthy to produce art.

Creating art helps clear my head and lets me process emotions that I can’t express in any other way.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

Around a year ago when I made one of my pieces, “Yeezy’s Last Supper”, I posted a sketch to a Facebook fan group I’m in that is dedicated to Kanye, called Kanye Kanyeposting™. I asked the group to help me choose Kanye’s disciples. It was a really cool way to get me involved in the music community on Facebook and get a lot of people to work on the same project. I gained a lot of connections this way and it was super fun to interact with so many people to create a piece like this.

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I’m starting a series where I reinterpret the covers of my favorite albums based on my reactions to them and how I relate to them. Along with making an alternative album cover, I would write a little review to accompany the piece that explains how I felt about the music, the artist, and why I made the cover. I am hoping this series will help me learn how to be more intent and articulate with my ideas.

Tell us about where you are based.

I am based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

I moved out here to attend college, and I fell in love with the town and continued to live here. This town is special to me because even though it’s fairly large, it feels like a small town because of how friendly people are to each other here. This town thrives off of the community, and as such embraces the arts.

The downtown area is covered in murals and installations from local artists. Live music is a huge part of the Fort Collins culture, and as such local bands are given room to grow with opportunity. Living here has made me come out of my shell and become a much more confident and independent person, and as such has made me more bold and confident in my art.

SAM SHEPARDSON

WWW.SSHEPARDSON.ARTSPAN.COM

TEJBIR

SINGH

DESTIG AWARD WINNER Urban landscapes, landscapes using markers & sketch pens with watercolours, oils on canvas & soft pastels with occasional portraits & abstracts.

TEJBIR SINGH AWARD WINNER 2018

Tell us about yourself and background.

treatment. My works are realistic in nature with a

I am an architect by profession and have been

touch of surrealism.

based in Bahrain since 1998. My father was a

I generally like detailing my subjects minutely with

pioneer of Distance Education while my mother

markers and sketch pens.

was a teacher/vocalist. My wife is in the field of

I use mixed media like soft pastels, water colours

training and we have a daughter and a son.

and oils.

By nature I am an easy going, god fearing person, strong, a believer in traditional values and love my

What makes your work and approach unique?

family. I am very fond of music, sports and

I love to capture the beauty that surrounds us

travelling.

everywhere so almost everyone can relate to them and that’s how I want it to be.

Tell us about your work.

What makes my approach unique is the attention

My works draw upon inspiration from my

I pay to detailing, I like mixing mediums like water

surroundings and feature subjects like landscapes,

colours, soft pastels and oils with usage of

still-life, urban landscapes and occasionally

markers and sketch pens. I also tend to pick

abstracts. The architect and artist in me generally

unique subjects like imprints in the sand or views

overlap in the choice of subjects as well as their

from the window of a plane etc.

DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018

Why is your work a good investment?

My works are a celebration of the beauty that surround us all wherever we go and would be equally at home in an office or a residential environment.

People of all generations/ regions/ professions can relate to them.

I feel they would never be out-dated.

I have an eye for detailing which features prominently in my works and this appeals to most people.

While the Urban Landscapes would appeal to the common man as well as lovers of architecture and heritage; night scapes, sand prints, abstracts etc would appeal to people who might prefer different and unique subjects.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

My most major achievement has been that despite not being a full time artist, I have been given this award.

In March 2018: my painting Rest @ Piccadilly was chosen as one of the 10 finalists for the ART BOX annual exhibition in New York.

I held my first solo exhibition in London in August this year.

A few years back, prints of my paintings were selected by the Minister of Culture for sale at Bahrain National Museum Gift Shop.

What are your sources of inspiration?

My surroundings inspire me. They could be in the form of the play of light and shadows, night scapes, prints in the sand, views from the window of an aeroplane, sunsets, still objects and quite prominently views of streets, plazas and buildings that I walk and drive past every day as well as places I travel to.

Architectural Heritage and Urban Landscapes are also a major source of Inspiration. Basically I see beauty around me and want to capture it.

DESTIG AWARD WINNER 2018

What are you passionate about?

Tell us about where you are based.

I am passionate about Heritage and feel strongly

I have been based in a beautiful small island-

about its preservation which in Europe is given so

country called Bahrain in the Middle East,

much importance. I wish the same could happen in

neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

India.

Bahrain is a liberal, tolerant Muslim country with

I am also passionate about the environment and

friendly people and an easy paced lifestyle.

would love to design buildings that optimize

It has people from all over the world working

energy usage, utilize solar energy, promote

there. It has a highly developed culture and

recycling and are adaptive to the climate.

tradition. It is famous for its Natural Pearls.

I am also a passionate sports lover and particularly

The Art scene is very exciting and promises a lot

so about Manchester United Football Club!

for the future. It was also the first country in the Middle East to host a Formula 1 race.

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

While designing an Italian restaurant in a resort in Bahrain, I proposed to the client to draw a mural with markers on a blank wall 8.5 m long.

After several discussions and due to practical reasons I ended up painting the mural in water colours then had a high resolution picture taken of it which was blown up and printed in Germany.

It now adorns the wall of the restaurant. It looks stunning.

I was also commissioned to do sports related artworks for a sports rehab clinic and art gallery two years ago.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

A few years back, a prominent out gallery in Manhattan, New York called Artifact Art Gallery saw my works on my website and approached me to exhibit at their premises.

As a result of that, my first solo Exhibition in the U.S.A will be held there from March 6th to 24th 2019. I am really excited about that and I am looking forward to it.

They have already exhibited some of my works at several Art fairs.

TEJBIR SINGH

WWW.TEJBIR.ARTSPAN.COM

HANNA

SUPETRAN

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Hanna is an Intuitive Artist. She paints with a sense and joy of freedom, freedom to express, freedom to explore, freedom to be and freedom to play.

Why is your work a good investment?

My artworks have been receiving consistent recognitions and awards for artistic excellence from different established art organizations and jurors from USA, Europe and Asia.

Tell us about yourself and background.

It validates the consistency of the quality of art I

I was a corporate executive turned full-time artist.

make, that each piece I create passed the

My childhood passion in art was ignited through a

international curators and jurors trained eyes and

series of fortunate events.

standards and were included in international/

A needed break from my decade long jet-setting

online exhibitions and shows.

corporate life gave me the time to slow down and

It also speaks of its global footprint/reach in

found myself painting again.

terms of marketability and appeal.

This was followed by commissioned works, an invitation to join a group exhibit as the new artist in one of the most reputable art galleries in the Philippines, where I was born and raised.

Passion ignited, I left the corporate world, flew to Florence, Italy and took an Intensive Visual Art course, which included Photography, Fresco, Contemporary Art Technique & Figure Drawing at the Accademia D’Arte Firenze, I came back to the Philippines and have been a full-time artist since.

Tell us about your work.

I paint intuitively and create expressive paintings using oil and acrylic in abstract form to celebrate life with all its twist and turns and love in all its shapes and forms.

My paintings are unapologetic, colourful and bold, thought-provoking, emotionally evocative and soothing to the soul.

My paintings’ impressions know no boundaries, an endless expedition in the vastness of space, fearlessly exploring the unknown, trusting and allowing each stroke to take its form and allowing each colour to speak to each other.

Each painting is a soul expedition, an expression of an intimate inward journey.

A journey my artworks invite people to embark on.

HANNA SUPETRAN TOP ARTIST 2018 Tell us about some of your achievements.

I received several international awards and recognitions from reputable and established art organizations and galleries, curators and jurors from USA, Europe and Asia.

In addition, I am a recipient of an International Prize Caravaggio – Great Master of Art Award, which will be held on Dec. 7, 2018 in Milan, Italy.

Here are the details of the awards and recognitions:

• Gallery Choice Award, 2018 ALL Colour International Art Competition - Contemporary Art Gallery Online, (USA) • Special Recognition Award, 2018 Patterns Art International Art Competition - Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Special Recognition Award, 8th Annual Open International Art Competition 2018 - Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Top Artists to Watch 2018, Collectors’ Edition ArtTour International Magazine, Summer 2018 • Special Recognition Award, 3rd Annual Abstract International Art Contest 2018 – Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • One of the 100 featured artists selected by a jury and featured her artworks called Beauty in Diversity and Strength in Diversity in Q2 2018 Edition of 1340 Art Magazine, an international art publication based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

• Special Merit Category (Seasons of Love), All Women’s Annual International Art Contest 2018 – Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Special Recognition Category (Strength in Diversity), All Women’s Annual International Art Contest 2018 – Light Space and Time Online Gallery, (USA) • Top 5 Artists 2017 – Artist.Singapore.com

"MY PAINTINGS ARE UNAPOLOGETIC, COLOURFUL AND BOLD, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, EMOTIONALLY EVOCATIVE AND SOOTHING TO THE SOUL."

What are your sources of inspiration?

A painting has the power to shift a feeling immediately as art speaks to the heart, it speaks straight to the soul. Knowing this, I am always inspired to create pieces, which revolve around the theme of light and love, of beauty and hope, of joy and bliss, of unity and peace. It is inspiring enough to know that through my artworks, I could assist to shift a disempowering emotion to an empowering feeling. Like what I always tell my friends that I will paint the world with love, one painting at a time.

Tell us about where you are based.

I am based in the Philippines. It is a stunningly beautiful country with amazing people.

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

I was sharing with one of my clients and collectors that the reason why I left the corporate world and became a full-time artist is the feeling of exhilaration I experience every time I paint.

He told me that the feeling of exhilaration is exactly what he feels every time he drives his sports car once a week and wishes he could do that every day but he has a demanding corporate day job.

He had this brilliant idea and asked me to paint and capture the “exhilarating speed” every time he drives his sports car in an abstract form. The painting is proudly displayed in his executive office.

Just a glance at the painting takes him back to that feeling of exhilaration without leaving his office.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I am currently preparing for my participation in a Digital Exhibit in New York come 2019 and my participation in the International Prize Caravaggio – Great Master of Art in Milan, Italy.

HANNA SUPETRAN

WWW.HANNASUPETRAN.ARTSPAN.COM

JENNIFER

TAYLOR

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

Known for her diversity to paint any subject, Jennifer is a prolific artist and teacher.

She calls herself a visionary impressionist, mainly because of her desire to add the 'feeling' of energy from life to her works.

Tell us about yourself and background.

Talking about myself is a constantly evolving matter. I am a poet, a writer, a teacher, an interpreter, but mostly a student of everything I see. My background begins at a small farm in a moderately sized town in North Alabama, US, where, as the youngest of three siblings, with a large gap in age, I was alone most of the time and had to find ways to entertain myself. I had a propensity towards drawing and sketching from imagination, as well as every horse I could find. I spent most of my days outside, riding horses, drawing, living in a make believe world. An art degree wasn’t supported, so I chose a

JENNIFER TAYLOR TOP ARTIST 2018

Business degree from the local university, but could not stop being an artist. After several years in the corporate world, I turned to painting.

I have mentored under some great teachers - some well-known- some not so well known. But each one, opened a new door and the evolution began.

Many would say I am self-taught, I do not believe in this term, someone is teaching us, even if I am only reading a book or studying a Sargent painting.

My Recent mentors were Scott Christensen, Quang Ho and Dennis Perrin.

Tell us about your work.

I believe I am a story-teller who uses a combination of energetic brush strokes and palette knife to reveal a plot. My work is fearless with loose intentional strokes and layers of thick paint. I love realism and impressionism and the concentrated effort to combine these in an energetic abstract approach is my goal. I paint mainly from life, either in my studio or on location. I do not limit myself to one subject.

But for the first 30 years of my life, I think I only drew and painted horses. I am a prolific and fast painter because life changes at a monumental speed and to “capture” the moment is a like riding a bull for 8 seconds.

What makes your work and approach unique?

My art is unique, because I am constantly experimenting and pushing the extremes of realism and impressionism, by painting the changing lights, or dying flowers, exagerating colors that may only exist as a breathe in the corner of a vase. Someone asked me once, when I was painting an alleyway (in pinkish colors) “Do you really see that color”, I replied, “ Yes, Don’t you?” I also push for accuracy, with quick purposeful shape making. It is almost like sculpting, but on a 2 D surface. I use Michael Harding paints, with intense color and the right amount of “sticky” to it. It took me several years

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

going through many brands of paint to find the perfect paint for me. I did this with all my supplies until the quality is where it is now.

Why is your work a good investment?

The price of my work has gone up 20% a year since 2010.

I have been winning awards since I went public in 2001.

My art was featured on the front cover of the nationally acclaimed magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur by the editor’s pick in March/April, 2018.

In 2017 I was chosen one of 11 Women to Watch in Southwest Art Magazine. I continue to grow and have national and international recognition.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

The front cover of the Fine Art Connoisseur would be a great achievement, it is like getting a top hit song on the radio for an artist.

I was nationwide known over night.

It also helped that I painted a chateau in France, the Chateau Orquevaux, where the owner, Ziggy Attias, has residencies for artists.

It has opened gallery doors for me and I am busier now than I have ever been in my career so far.

What are your sources of inspiration?

been criticized for, because “Who will collect that?” I told you I lived

Horses, Flowers, anything of beauty

in a story of make-believe growing

or energy. I want to hang a

up, I sometimes remember Alice in

beautiful piece of artwork in my

Wonderland, when painting my

home, and that is what I sell. If I do

recent tablescapes. Giving names

not find beauty in my own art, I

and character to teapots and

sand it down and repaint it. And If

spoons.

a piece doesnt sell, I try to improve

sander. I also love painting items

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

or themes of antiquity. Combining

I am just now arriving in a position

past and present.

of higher demand for my art for

it, if I can’t, it goes under the

shows and galleries. I have a solo

What are you passionate about?

show at a Botanical Garden in

Making things seem timeless.

Huntsville, Alabama where they are

I paint a lot of china, which I have

sporting 30 of my pieces of

JENNIFER TAYLOR TOP ARTIST 2018

artwork. This is my first year with galleries and I am prepping for 3 galleries this fall and winter.

I probably have over 120 framed pieces of art, ready for purchase.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I am on a “tablescape” kick right now, producing the things you might see on a table after a wedding, or after a visit with a friend. I buy flowers every week and put fresh flowers on my table, which I use in my “tablescape”, I go to antique shops and sales to get the right trinkets and items that you could find on sophistiacted tables.

I am not one to paint only one series though. I am also working a steeplechase series, based on the Iroquois races in Nashville, Tennessee.

I get back passes to take my big camera and get some intense shots of horses jumping and running, and jockeys flying. It is going to be fantastic.

Tell us about where you are based.

I am based in Taft, Tennessee a small town of maybe 200 people. It is out in the countryside, no light pollution and I hear coyotes howling every night. I have horses, dogs, and cats (and a most supportive husband).

Our children have lives of their own, we have three. My studio is at the loft on the upper floor of our home. I can look down at the farm and the valley.

It is a beautiful, quiet place to explore my crazy ideas for painting.

JENNIFER TAYLOR

WWW.JENNIFERSTOTTLETAYLOR.COM

INNA

TIMOKHINA

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018 An artist-scientist with Siberian roots, who spent her formative years in New York City.

Painting has been her passion since childhood in Siberia where she received formal education in visual arts at the Novosibirsk Center for the Arts.

INNA TIMOKHINA TOP ARTIST 2018

Tell us about yourself and background.

objects, with particular focus on amplifying

I am an artist, scientist and inventor with a Ph.D. in

positive energies. I usually start with a small

Molecular Biology from Cornell University.

sketch, where a portrait, landscape or

Prior to my studies in Biology, I received a formal

abstraction has a unique “energy signature”.

education in visual arts with an emphasis on

Energy can manifest itself, for example, as a

transparent watercolor techniques. After spending

wave pattern, glowing light or accelerating

more than a decade as a biomedical scientist, I

particles, and my “energy signatures” usually

realized that the corporate environment was not a

contain these elements. After the initial “energy

good match for my creative personality and that

signature” is captured, I begin the innovative

the most exciting aspect of science was

process of “energy amplification”, described

inventorship. I also started to develop my “energy

separately. The resulting artwork has a modern,

capture” technique in art, and quickly became an

cheerful and glassy look, with vibrant colors,

internationally exhibiting artist, thanks to the

areas of transparency and self-glow effects.

generous support of my family and my art patrons.

What makes your work and approach unique.

Tell us about your work.

I developed an innovative approach of “positive

My art is a quest of identifying and visualizing

energy amplification”, using mixed media,

hidden energies behind familiar processes or

including fine silks, rare inks, resin and plexiglass.

DESTIG TOP ARTIST 2018

The “energy signatures” are transferred onto silks and I work out details with inks and create future areas of transparency by using a scalpel as a drawing tool.

Next, I create 3D elements, where silks are embedded into the resin and plexiglass and I continue with details on both sides of the plexiglass, using translucent colors, aluminum and glitter. The artworks become semi-translucent and resemble sparkling surface of water. This is inspired in part by the incredible beauty of Lake Zurich.

Why is your work a good investment?

Because of the nature of translucent, multilayered technique, my artworks can look somewhat different, depending on the light conditions and environments.

Under bright light, they can look more like sparkling surfaces of water, while under lower light, they have a stronger self-glow effect. Stained glass projections onto the wall can be enhanced, depending on the angle of light. Sometimes I can create 2-3 variations of the same energy signature, but of different sizes (and hence energy impacts) and color variations, which can be ideal for commission work. Plexiglass and resin make the works durable, easy maintenance and relatively light weight.

Tell us about some of your achievements.

I feel that my technique of “positive energy amplification” reached the next level this year, due to significantly enhanced transparency and vibrancy of colors. This is reflected in many joyful comments, received from clients and art lovers about my artworks this year, such as: “It makes my heart sing!”; “I love the way it glows!”; “I am so in love with what I saw today, and this is heaven!”; “Your artwork is so radiant, I feel charged with a positive mood!” and many other wonderful comments like this. And that’s how I know that the positive energy sharing is working!

INNA TIMOKHINA TOP ARTIST 2018

What are your sources of inspiration?

StArt Fair. Wally Gilbert is a recipient of the Nobel

I feel inspired to create artworks with calming,

Prize in Chemistry in 1980 for solving the mystery

harmonizing and uplifting effects on people.

of DNA sequencing, which drove the development

One special aspect is the therapeutic effect of

of biology as a gene-based science, culminating

light. According to MAYO Clinic’s website, light

in the Human Genome Project. My interpretation

therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked

of Wally’s abstract and vibrant digital art is that

to mood and sleep, easing seasonal affective

he uncovers hidden inner structures of objects

disorder (SAD) symptoms, and that using a light

through his creative artistic process. I believe that

therapy may also help with other types of

our Collaborative offers a very interesting

depression. Another inspiration is the harmonizing

perspective of art as a discovery process.

power of nature and it’s empowering and meditative influence on people.

Share with us your upcoming projects.

I hope that my art can help viewers to take a

One ongoing project is an exhibition with the

breather from everyday stresses, and have a

theme “Macro-cosmos meets Micro-cosmos” in

moment of inner harmony.

Zurich. The idea is to do this as a collaboration with Wally Gilbert, who never exhibited in Zurich

What are you passionate about?

and is interested in doing so.

I am passionate about the sustainability of our

Another upcoming project is “minimalist”

planet. It’s really alarming, how irresponsible we, as

collection of artworks of predominantly single

citizens of our planet, continue to behave towards

colors for an exhibition in Los Angeles, which is a

the environment, despite clear warning signs of

fun challenge.

climate destabilization and global pollution. I am a

Another exciting project is the creation of a

passionate opponent of war and believe that

“Happiness Bubble” in the format of small Curio

chronic warfare creates colossal, long lasting

booths – cabinets of curiosity at Design Miami,

damage not only on people and civilizations, but

which consists of sparkling plexiglass panels and

also by terrible poisoning of our environment, which

table tops, silk fabrics, printed mesh screens,

in my opinion is far greater than from civilian or

lamps and vases.

industrial causes. I cannot help but see the analogy between the detrimental effects of chronic disease

Tell us about where you are based.

on human health, and the chronic destruction and

I feel privileged to live in a small village, Zollikon,

poisoning of our planet and its inhabitants by wars.

located on the sunny side of lake Zurich, right

I hope that my message of positive energy sharing

next to the city. I can take advantage of the very

via my art can help reduce negative divisive

rich cultural life of Zurich and also enjoy the quiet

energies in the world and be a positive force for

village, where I can be creative. This is an

the noble cause of sustainability of our planet.

environment of majestic beauty, where one can see amazing effects of sunlight over the lake and

Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.

take many unique photographs. I am currently

One of the exciting recent projects was the

collecting material for a series of digital works

exhibition at gorgeous Saatchi Gallery space last

“100 Views of Lake Zurich” (inspired by “100 Views

year as “Wally Gilbert and Inka Collaborative” at

of Mount Fuji” by Hokusai).

INNA TIMOKHINA

WWW.INKAGALLERY.COM

ERIC

WILES

DESTIG AWARD WINNER

"As a world traveller at an early age the appreciation of natural beauty and the allure of man made objects sparked my creative. Photography allows me the opportunity to capture these moments in time and share this beauty through Still-Life and Fine-Art imaging."Â

ERIC WILES AWARD WINNER 2018

Tell us about yourself and background.

What makes your work and approach unique?

A self-taught contemporary photographic artist

As a photographer perception of the eye is what

from Chicago now residing in California, with a

makes my work unique and my approach to

background in Photo-Lithography. Starting in 2007

capturing what I think is a great photograph.

I began to construct my knowledge of photography

Whether discovering new exciting places or re-

and started Eric Wiles Photography in 2008.

imagining the familiar, each capture is different and motivates me to focus the subject’s beauty in

Tell us about your work.

my work.

A contemporary photographer and a landscape enthusiast is how I would describe my work, as it

Why is your work a good investment?

reflects the beautiful places and things we have on

My work is constantly evolving and the investment

our great planet. The creative process for me is

in a great piece of art work never diminishes.

one that is both automatic and emotional, creating

Since it will have an emotional and possible

my art is like being on a roller coaster with twists

sentimental value, an original piece of my work I

and turns. Photography, like life, is constant

feel will only increase in attachment.Â

movement, constant change, a visual documentary re-released.

DESTIG AWARD WINNER

Tell us about some of your achievements.

My inclusion and selection in a group exhibition at Musee de Louvre in 2009, DESTIG Artist of the year 2018, Top 20 Photographer 2015 and Top 60 Artists for multiple years by an award-winning art magazine.

Also having my work displayed in major commercial magazines and starting a photography business has been my most major achievements.

What are your sources of inspiration?

My main sources of inspiration are nature and very well designed man-made objects, as nature to me is unparalleled in beauty, diversity and design. I am

Tell us about where you are based.

What are you passionate about?

My passion lives with the environment and how so many different places can be so breathtakingly beautiful and need to be protected.

environmental impact and

I am based in Santa Clara Ca. in

awareness I also have worked

the heart of Silicon Valley where

with Vida on an art clothing and

the weather is great along with

accessory line made from

natural and human diversity.

sustainable all-natural materials.

This unique area is the world

Pacific Ocean and luscious forest

Share with us your upcoming projects.

and great minds.

Normally I’m invited and always

technology hub surrounded by the

also inspired by other artists and life itself

These projects focused on

participate in the major Art Fairs

Tell us about some projects you have delivered.

around the world including RED DOT, Art Expo NY. However, I am

My projects included a

taking time to travel and find new

collaboration with Art Arena NY

inspiration to introduce new work

digital exhibition, Art Tour

to my portfolio. Other scheduled

Magazines Artist for a Green

exhibitions are in Paris, Austria in

Planet exhibition, special Summer

Vienna, Cannes, Basel and

edition and Aesthetica Art

Montreux in 2019.

Magazine artist showcase.

ERIC WILES

WWW.EW-PHOTO.COM

SCULPTURE PARK WALDFRIEDEN

In Germany's Sculpture Park Waldfrieden, the perception of art is bound up with, and inseparable from, an experience of nature.

The Sculpture Park Waldfrieden lies above the Wupper valley in the Christbusch woodland between the town centers of Elberfeld and Barmen. It rises steadily over an area of twelve hectares (ca. 30 acres) up to one of the many wooded hills that surround the city of Wuppertal. Old leafy trees line the long serpentine road that leads to the park. Already here individual sculptures by Tony Cragg can be seen along the path’s embankments. The café comes into view at the last sharp bend in the road, located on the ground floor of a house built in rough masonry in 1914.

DESTIG TRAVEL FEATURE

An encounter with three dozen sculptures in nature stimulates our perceptions. The tour of the grounds brings together very different and quite complex forms of sculptural praxis. The sculptures by Anthony Cragg, Richard Deacon, Thomas Schßtte, Wilhelm Mundt, Norbert Kricke and others show a whole range of major positions on modernism and the present-day.

Different from a closed exhibition room, the Park confronts the work and the viewer with the fleeting phenomena of the day and the season. The mighty leafy umbrella of old trees combines with the park setting to a living, breathing terrain, which allows warmth and cold, wet and dry, leaf coloring and light reflections of the seasonal position of the sun to interact with the sculptures and impact their formal appearance.

SCULPTURE PARK WALDFRIEDEN

It was thanks to the private

structures and material substance

Foundation is also dedicated to

initiative of Tony Cragg, a British

were preserved to the greatest

research on, and the publication of,

sculptor living in Wuppertal, that

extent possible, thus keeping its

the subject of the fine arts.

the Sculpture Park was founded

historical dimension intact despite

In the Park, the perception of art is

and established. Thirty years after

the conversion of the park and

bound up with, and inseparable

Cragg took up his exhibition

buildings to accommodate their

from, an experience of nature.

activity, he began looking for a

new use. In 2008, the Sculpture

The special character of the

permanent site for presenting

Park was opened under the

Waldfrieden estate is marked by its

sculpture outdoors and discovered

auspices of the Cragg family’s

situation on a slope. The steep

the abandoned Waldfrieden

nonprofit foundation.

ascent above the narrow V-shaped

property, which he bought in 2006.

Wupper valley and a stony ground It houses a steadily growing

that discourages residential housing

collection of sculpture, including

resulted in the preservation of much

That very same year he began

examples from Tony Cragg’s own

inner-city forest. One step at a time,

redesigning the park grounds and

large oeuvre. All is accompanied by

the Cragg Foundation is expanding

the buildings that, after long years

changing exhibitions of

its collection of notable sculpture.

of vacancy, needed to be

internationally known artists,

The focus is on the modern and the

thoroughly renovated and

lectures on culture and the

contemporary; however the

modernized. In appreciation of

humanities, as well as concerts.

collection means to evolve beyond

the historical estate, its former

Beyond this, the Cragg

this.

DESTIG TRAVEL FEATURE Different from a closed exhibition room, the Park confronts the work and the viewer with the fleeting phenomena of the day and the season.

SPECIAL FEATURE

HIGHLIGHTS 1. Kent Stetson - The Art of Handbags. kentstetson.com

2. Hope and Hazard - A Comedy of Eros, Curated by Eric Fischl. hallartfoundation.org

3. Mohau Modisakeng - The body is indifferent to social changes, so it remembers. mohaumodisakengstudio.com

SPECIAL FEATUREÂ

HIGHLIGHTS 1. Nari Ward - Revealing the numerous emotions inherent within found everyday objects. nariwardstudio.com

2. Alex Da Corte - A rising star on the international art scene. alexdacorte.com

3. Edu Danesi - A cocktail, full of colour, sensuality, poetry, provocation and positivity. edudanesi.com

SPECIAL FEATURE

HIGHLIGHTS 1. Ed Templeton - "Anything" that illustrates the human existence. ed-templeton.com

2. Todd Klassy - Uniquely capturing the beauty of the American heartland. toddklassy.com

3. Reza - An Artist's Report of Peace and War. reza.photo

M R O F

M R O F

HOT PICK 1: Shadow Mirror by Aleksej Iskos for Handvark With Shadow, Aleksej Iskos enhances the

Aesthetic sustainability is key to all Handvark

wonderful mirror effect for Handvark.

products since 2016.

“What makes a mirror a mirror is not the

“In an effort to create furniture that will last

glass or the frame. It’s the very thin layer of

a lifetime, we have taken no shortcuts. We

amalgam behind the glass. Shadow Mirror

work with genuine marble, brass and aniline

reveals the true nature of the mirror. It’s a

leather – materials that will only become

magic object floating in space, making you

more beautiful over time. These materials

wonder like a child how it is possible that

are worked with care and dedication to

the whole world can be inside of it”.

embody the simplicity and applicability of our design. Design that above all stays true

– Aleksej Iskos

to the Nordic DNA that imbues HANDVÄRK.” synthetizes Emil Thorup, Handvark Founder & Designer.

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HOT PICK 2: Jia CollectionÂ

by Atelier de Troupe JIA, is a collection of lounge chairs, sofas

Based in Los Angeles, Atelier de Troupe is a

and tables for the modern home.

creative studio founded by former film-set designer Gabriel Abraham. Since 2011, he

Minimalist and yet opulent, the JIA are

has summarized the imaginary dĂŠcor of the

made of massive oak and fumed oak wood

20th century, creating lamps and furniture

and soft fabrics, as well as the use of

with an immediately evocative power.

travertine and oak for its coffee and side tables.

Atelier de Troupe conceives modern antiques with timeless charm, diving into the grammar of Bauhaus, of 60s Italian cinema or of French decorative spirit.

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HOT PICK 3: AND by Fabio Novembre for Vondom AND is a spatial concept, a volume that

"Since 1966, I’ve responded to those who

cuts through the air, creating emotional

call me Fabio Novembre. Since 1992, I’ve

turbulence for those who get swept up in it.

responded to those who also call me

AND is the result of two people looking at

“architect”. I cut out spaces in the vacuum

each other out of the corner of their eye, a

by blowing air bubbles, and I make gifts of

multiplication into the infinite that includes

sharpened pins so as to ensure I never put

anyone who simply wants to be there.

on airs. My lungs are imbued with the scent of places that I’ve breathed, and when I

AND is the reflection of the DNA of a

hyperventilate it’s only so I can remain in

generation that has embraced co-existence

apnea for a while. As though I were pollen, I

while denying tyranny.

let myself go with the wind, convinced I’m able to seduce everything that surrounds

AND: it’s time for conjunction.

me. I want to breathe till I choke. I want to love till I die." - Fabio Novembre

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HOT PICK 4: GRACE by Bertocci Design Division THE COLLECTION INSPIRED BY THE 1940s

Grace is the dynamic and adaptable line that can be highly personalized both from a

A retro reinterpretation of bathroom

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accessories looking back to the 40s but in a

to its numerous additional elements and

new and glamorous way.

accessories.

The collection is further enriched and

A collection of bathroom accessories

integrated by new irregular mirrors and wall

inspired by vintage lines but developed with

lights. An important, visible and significant

the nowadays technology and

wall attachment defines and characterizes

characterized by elegant and balanced

the entire line.

shapes.

All the accessories stand out for their squared shape, a remarkable feature that marks out the entire collection with lightness and versatility. Chrome or golden finish.

M R O F

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HOT PICK 5: Nordic Edition of Sela

by PP Møbler PP Møbler is launching the three legged

The cross continental collaboration is based

saddle stool Sela designed by Brazilian

on the idea of supporting sustainably

woodworking artist Ricardo Graham

managed forests by utilising the natural

Ferreira. Awarded for its use of alternative

diversity they have to offer. The sculpted

wood types from Brazil in 2015, until now

shape of the seat permits the presence of

Sela has been hand-carved by Ricardo in

knots and imperfections in the wood adding

his studio workshop close to Rio de Janeiro

character to each piece.

using tropical hardwood.

“It’s a real joy for us to emphasise the The new partnership with PP Møbler of

unique character and beauty of each piece

Denmark, makers of the iconic fine craft´s

of wood. With this stool we’ll enhance the

collection by Hans J. Wegner, allows Sela to

natural variations and imperfections and

reach a new audience, made in variations

make them become valuable”, explains

of woods native to the Nordic forests.

Kasper Pedersen, of PP Møbler.

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HOT PICK 6: ORNAMENTAL WallpaperÂ

by Mosaico+ A challenge beyond time:

shapes of the plant world and combines

Beyond pure and simple geometric motifs,

them with geometric and symbolic elements

inspired by the pleasing curved lines,

and references, for truly astonishing

colours, play on light and shapes of Nature,

decorative effects. Â

mosaic chips translate simple strokes into dynamic, undulating lines that expand their

Sinuous lines inspired by nature:Â

own repertoire and come to life, evolving

Onamental decorative modules stand out

naturally into original, flowing symmetrical

not only for their sinuous, natural lines

shapes that combine and simplify every

inspired by nature, with a predilection for

detail of plants and flowers.

plants and flowers, but also for their use of contrasting colours and surfaces, as they

Nature as a source of inspiration

juxtapose glossy and matt mosaics with

A new expressive language is created that

different levels of shine and colour.

exalts the curves inspired by the sinuous

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HOT PICK 7: Platform by Neri&Hu for De La Espada Inspired by Opium beds which have been in

De La Espada is industrial design with a

China since the Tang Dynasty, Platform is

warm heart, where luxury is expressed

perfect for lazy Sunday mornings with its

through tactile materials and obsessive

generous solid wood frame offering space

detailing.

for cups of tea and books.Â

"We focus on the key pieces of furniture for

Storage compartments include a solid brass

the home: a place to eat, a place to rest, a

drawer and a timber compartment beneath

place to sleep, and a place to work. Our

a fold out mirror.

dedicated factory in Northern Portugal

Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, is an

specialises in intelligent solid wood furniture

inter-disciplinary award-winning

craft steeped in tradition and innovation.

architectural design practice based in

Close partnerships with designers result in

Shanghai, China. Founded by Lyndon Neri

diverse yet aligned product families that are

and Rossana Hu, Neri&Hu works globally.

the building blocks for authentic interiors."

M R O F

M R O F

HOT PICK 8: MOLLE Collection by OfficinaCiani & Studio 63 Essential and elegant, the new outdoor

in the production and sale of lighting and

furniture collection MOLLE captures the

furniture in wrought iron, which has its

attention and fascinates through its clean

beginning in the historic company Emporio

and refined lines characterized by a

San Firenze, founded by Bruno Ciani in 1939.

decorative structure in iron, bent by hand, galvanized and powder-coated.Â

"Through our expertise and passion for manufacturing and processing wrought iron

Designed in different types of objects, the

and metals, our mission is to cultivate a

collection offers the pleasure of living

bond between the traditional Florentine

outdoor spaces with aesthetic sense and

craftsmanship and the search for a

personality.

contemporary design in order to develop unique and top-quality creations – all made

OFFICINACIANI is the recent evolution of the historical experience of the Ciani family

in Italy."

M R O F

M R O F

HOT PICK 9: MODULO Sideboard

by Studio Marfa MODULO opens up the possibility for the

Studio Marfa

user to select the desired cabinet elements.

"Our understanding of design is based on a

You can choose from modular elements and

conceptual approach. This means that we

configure the Sideboard to requirements.

provide a fundament for our designs to show

In this way the system can be determined in

their character through their formal

width, equipped with drawers, various

aesthetics and materials. By this, we want to

compartments, sliding and hinged doors,

inspire people to build a relationship to their

while the elements are colored in a

objects.

personal color scheme.

The aluminium frames form the vertical

We are - Florestan Schuberth and Janis

supports of the sideboard. They arrange the

Fromm - two design students from Hamburg,

elements irrespective of whether they are -

Germany. We founded Studio Marfa in 2015

open units or units closed by doors, drawers

as a platform to present our ideas and

or covers.

prototypes to the public."

M R O F

M R O F

HOT PICK 10: BAT Coquille d'oeuf by bibol bibol: a cooperative, fair and ecological.

During our traveling in Vietnam, our desire was essential a way to develop a fair trade

"At the end of the 70's, I, Little Moon, was 13

system: to present the know how of the

years old. A peasant girl, I left Vietnam

ancestral Vietnamese craftsmen in France.

alone for France. I studied and learnt

To combine tradition and durable

French. After 20 years of a professional

development, fair trade and economic

career in France, I decided to return to visit

growth for the Crafts people.

my home land, with my husband. Together we discovered the Vietnam countryside,

So we created bibol. bibol conceives and

from which I only had known my small

underlines the ecological & artisanal

village.

products in bamboo."

W.F.

JAMESÂ

IN THE HANDSTEPS OF MONET Many years ago, when I started out as a fine artist, I wanted to paint with pastel differently from all the traditionalist artists I've seen before. I always admired the oil paintings of Claude Monet... the way he painted in a loose fashion with colors that seemed to be brighter that the rest of his contemporaries. I decided to take that premise and create a pastel technique using radiant colors in a separated color technique but, with a little more concentration on drawing. It took me years to develop but I came up with a style and technique that was brighter and a little more refined... somewhere between Norman Rockwell and Claude Monet! Â

Years later, while reading a book about Monet, there were several paragraphs in it that described his technique... the way he applied color to a canvas and why he did it that way. To my complete shock and surprise, without knowing it, I was painting using the same color theories and way of applying paint to a surface as he did all those years ago. Discovering that I actually was thinking like Monet, my mentor, was the best and single most exciting thing that has ever happened to me as an artist; and that included winning the Silver Metal Award from both the American Watercolor Society and the Pastel Society of America! Knowing that I was painting exactly like the painter I truly admired meant a lot to me as an artist. After learning this, I suddenly realized that I was justified in painting the way I did all those years and I was indeed viable in the art community! There was no denying this!

W.F. JAMES

The painting above is a great example of my painting technique. It is the best designed pastel painting I've ever created. Usually, I have to move elements around or introduce others to create a painting that's pleasing to the eye and to create a nice design. This scene was perfect! I didn't change a thing. It was simply a matter of choosing just the right location to photograph this beautiful colonial house. Because of the use of repetitive directions of elements in this painting, the viewer's eye travels around the surface of the painting, which it should always subconsciously do. The pine tree, which is parallel to the right side of painting surface, leads your eye into the ground, which is parallel to the rain gutter. The ground leads to the blue shadow on the house, which is parallel to the shadow on the garage. Finally, the house shadow of trees finally leads your eye to the rain gutter and forms a complete circle on the painting surface! If you enlarge this image, you will notice that the strokes of color are loose and vibrant but define each element exactly.

IN THE HANDSTEPS OF MONET

This is an exercise in movement and complementary colors. I went to a popular water park in our area and noticed kids standing under a waterfall with all the beautiful patterns that were created as the water ran over them. I started taking photos. Back in my studio, I decided to tell a story by using three different shots of kids under the falls. Because of the girl holding up her arm and her eyes looking to her right at the boy, I made it appear as if she was flirting with him, as all thirteen year old kids do! To make the scene even more interesting, I used a complementary color scheme of blues and yellow with orange. This in turn, makes all the patterns created by the falling water come alive. By placing made shapes in the background consisting of bands of color, it resembles an abstract piece of work...only with realistic elements.

W.F. JAMES

For many years I traveled up to the state of Virginia to visit with my wife's parents and to roam through the country-side looking for references to photograph for paintings. This was one of my favorite scenes to photograph. I was amazed by the positioning of the shack, house and large tree in the foreground. I couldn't have arranged them any better. I've painted this location many times before using different media (pastel, oil and watercolor). This time, I wanted to try something different and unique. I decided to make all the colors in the painting light and muted. By having all the color the same value, something very interesting happens. Along with all that, to make it even more interesting, I used the complementary colors of blue and yellow. The yellow and green color of the tree makes it come forward and the blue of the mountain pushes the scene back and introduces depth. I consider this pastel a great success!

www.wfjamesstudio.artspan.com

WOODEN STORY Even our Grandfather, Grandfather Borowy knew

We created Wooden Story - land of toys.

the forest gives you joy. Our family business is three-generation old and no one really remembers

We say that the toys came to us from the forest, they

when exactly the first cordwoods were planned. But

smell of wood and you can stiII hear in them the

everybody remembers the year 1969, the year when

sound of wind. Grandpa Borowy, as our surname is

the first wooden toys were crafted... Grandpa loved

Borowy, was right saying that "creating for children

to create new things which were giving happiness.

brings happiness to adults".

Times have changed. And with them, expectations.

We know this feeling very well. We created Wooden

We had to forget about the toys and concentrate on

Story from love of nature, for happiness of children.

making details for creating furniture. Beautiful details. One thing remained the same - wood.

Inspired by nature, created by us... We create in

Wood has always been a part of our family.

beautiful, natural surroundings - the Beskidy

The talent of our Grandpa and his successors

Mountains. Our toys came to us from the forest...

allowed us successfully to attain foreign markets.

While playing with them, children become a

As time time passed by, our longing grew ... longing

significant part of this world in a very natural way.

for wooden toys. Yet again times have changed and

Ideas like recycling, environmental protection, the

wooden toys appeared in our manufacture -

beauty of trees and colours will be with them

happily welcomed by us and the kids.

throughout their entire life.

DESIGN FEATURE

Our toys improve senses, they are soft to the touch, they catch your eye with natural colours and they smell of wood.

With wooden blocks you can conjure the most amazing buildings. A walk with our wooden pram can turn into a beautiful story made up by your kid. Time spent with the Peace & Love Blocks® wooden blocks is a simple way to inspire a child with values like love, friendship, consciousness, joy... Freedom in creation stimulates inventiveness,

Joy and happiness of kids - it's so easy, so important. To make this joy and happiness complete, our toys are made of wood that comes from FSC certified suppliers.

They are made of the best, carefully selected wood and they are not poisoned with toxic paints or varnish. We use natural eco-certified paints to colour them.

That gives us the certainty, that your child will play with toys free of any harmful substances. Beeswax and botanical oils give them a soft polished finish. Wooden Story eco-friendly canvas bags and boxes are designed to be reused or easily recycle.

There is one more thing that makes our toys so special - they can be passed from generation to generation. We hope, that your grandchildren will discover their own Wooden Story in the toys of your children.

If so, forest, water, air and our whole planet will benefit from this. >> woodenstory.pl

CREATIVES WITHOUT BORDERS

DESTIG AWARDS 2018 The DESTIG Annual Awards have been created to shine the spotlight on deserving creatives that have contributed exceptional works to the fields of Art and Creative Culture. All winners will be promoted to the DESTIG audience through all it's channels and also to external audiences through promotion on social media, search engines and press releases.

To make a nomination or submission: DESTIG.COM