When Los Angeles Is A Man. A Short Film For Louis Vuitton By Jean-Claude Thibaut.

This is the second short film in a series on cities around the world for Louis Vuitton, using gender as a lens to interpret each city's identity.





above: stills from Jean-Claude Thibaut's When L.A. Is A Man

Directed and written by Jean-Claude Thibaut, the film has some very beautiful scenes of Los Angeles (as in the stills above), despite being accompanied by a voice over of which I am not a big fan (excerpt shown below).

“From the hill, suspended above the starry skyline, L.A. appeared to me as a whole.

He’s a lonely and secretive player, blazing and unrefined, dedicating himself to his dreams - and incidentally ours - with a disconcerting ease.

He has the nerve and imagination of one who has nothing to lose, always walking a tightrope. His weaknesses are concealed.

Untouched by criticism, L.A. works in faith and finds his way to a new era, the one he imagines being his own future. The burning ease of his achievements has something of prodigality and childishness. Each scene of his life is the most important. L.A. is fated to be young forever, eternal. He walks through the night, striding along, indolent while unrestrained, with the style of a gifted kid.

In my mind a far-fetched idea is growing slowly: it seems L.A. gave me this blind confidence to turn things into art, without ever looking back. L.A. drove me where I have never been before.”

I do think the direction is wonderful, even though I exactly don't love the casting and the copy. But it's a lovely look at LA. What do you think?


info and video courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Wonderful Saul Bass Inspired Video For Louis Vuitton 2012 Summer Belt Collection.

As a huge fan of Saul Bass, I was thrilled to come across lovely animated piece of web content for Louis Vuitton. Directed by illustrator/animator Jo Ratcliffe, this fabulous Saul Bass-inspired animated video is promoting the luxury brand's 2012 Summer Belt Collection.





LV describes the project as follows:
As the major point of focus on a human silhouette accentuating the waist, belts could be considered the most essential accessory. They were decorative and mainly associated with the military in past days. However, as a fashion item in modern times, men started wearing belts in the 1920s as trouser waists fell to a lower line. Louis Vuitton has been making belts since the 1930s as both a fashion accessory and necessary yet basic addition to trousers. Here artist Jo Ratcliffe showcases Louis Vuitton’s latest collection in this Saul Bass detective style animation. Fasten your belts!

Credits
Director: Jo Ratcliffe
Animation and Production: Minivegas
Music Supervisor: Rebeca Ann Toledo, Dust Music Supervision of Norway

Louis Vuitton

Creative License. Comparing Michael Kalish's Works With The Original Art That Inspired Him.

above: a composite of Banksy's Flower Thrower with the license plate version by Michael Kalish

There are actually several artists out who have found creative ways to "up-cycle" license plates from automobiles. One of the most respected and well-known, is artist Michael Kalish.

His impressive repertoire of work contains imagery of American culture - from flags and automobiles to portraits of entertainers such as Johnny Cash. But in the pieces I am sharing with you in this post, he's taken modern, pop and urban art by well-known artists and recreated them in his style using metal license plates.



At first glance, these works of artists Banksy, Warhol, Tom Wesselman, Murakami, Keith Haring, Shephard Fairey and Roy Lichtenstein look like the original pieces until you get closer and see that they've been crafted from metal license plates.

I'm going to share with you both Michael Kalish's creations along with the original pieces that inspired him.

Roy Lichtenstein's Girl With hair Ribbon by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Roy Lichtenstein:


Andy Warhol's Marilyn by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Andy Warhol:


Tom Wesselman's Beautiful Bedroom Kate by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Tom Wesselman:


Banksy's Flower Thrower by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Banksy:


Shepard Fairey's Obama by Michael Kalish:

The original Obama art by Shepard Fairey:


Takashi Murakami's Louis Vuitton Pattern by Michael Kalish:

detail:

The original by Takashi Murakami:


Dog, Baby and other Keith Haring icons by Michael Kalish:

dog close-up:

The original by Keith Haring:


About the Artist:


Michael Kalish is an internationally acclaimed artist and sculptor who has a natural ability to transform ordinary objects into extraordinary works of art.

The subjects of Kalish’s work reference a broad sampling of American culture, from the all-American pastime of baseball and the morning cup of Java to portraits of popular, political and cultural icons.

His signature medium, the license plate, embraces his ideal of Americana with his own contemporary sophistication, curiosity and distinctive style. Many of his unique sculptures have found permanent parking spots in a number of Hollywood homes.

Over the past 15 years, Kalish has garnered national and international press exposure as well as solo shows and representation in galleries around the world. He has been the feature of stories in publications from the NY Times and People to Art in America and USA Today, as well as TV appearances on CBS Sunday Morning and CNN’s “To the Top.” realize marks an entrance into a new medium of work for Kalish, publicly installed monuments.

Michael Kalish

Drowning In Brands. Underwater Rosae Still Life Logo Series by Alexander James.

A series of identifiable and popular brand logos comprised of red roses and photographed underwater using the subtle light distortions of the water's own energy. From Louis Vuitton to Nike, the rose logos were captured 'in camera' without the use of post production, either traditional or digital.

Apple:


By taking the red roses, a symbol of unrelenting love, and juxtaposing against a deep dark void, London based photographer Alexander James is making a social commentary on how we ourselves are drowning in a society dominated by a reverence towards branding and celebrity.

Chanel:

McDonalds:

Louis Vuitton:

Mercedes Benz:

Gucci:

Nike:

Volkswagon:

Yves Saint-Laurent:

Fendi:

Givenchy:

images courtesy of the artist and Distil Ennui Studio

About Alexander's work practice in his own words:
"My photographs are always presented ‘as-shot’ without post production either traditional or digital. It is this dedication to ‘in camera’ purity that establishes a predominant focal point for my practice.

The quality of the work and the purity of the process is paramount, distilling elements out with the use of deep blacks; hoping to convey rich layers of meaning in what at first appear deceptively simple images.

Distil Ennui; def... to extract the essence and beauty of life to appease world weariness."

Alexander James is represented by Pertwee Anderson & Gold

Lego Wars: Pop Culture Meets Luxury Brands In Chromogenic Prints by Dale May.

above: V3PO Louis Vuitton by Dale May

Photographer Dale May's LEGO WARS at the Samuel Owen Gallery are a collection of photo that combine popular culture with commercial imagery and luxury brands. LEGO Star Wars minifigs juxtaposed against Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Tory Burch logos - even set against the famous Tiffany Robin's Egg Blue, are produced as chromogenic prints and face mounted to archival acrylic backed with aluminum. The pieces are large (with the square images available as 24" x 24" and 48" x 48" and the rectangular images measuring 24" x 48") and prices start at $2400 for the limited edition prints.

Coco Vader:

Chewy Burch:


Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Dale's people, fashion and advertising photography because I find them too digitally composed, somewhat cliché and a little forced, but in the case of these, that style works. These also illustrate an eye for composition I don't as readily see in his other work.

Tiffany Trout and Tiffany Trooper:

Baby Boba:

Stormtroopers:

Chrome Trooper and X-Ray Trooper:

X-Ray Trooper LightBox:

Rebel Pilot:

Obi Wan Saber and Darth Vader Saber:


The Samuel Owen Gallery describes the series as follows:
The LEGO WARS series is a photographic study of popular culture, commercial advertising and nostalgia. As an adult, Dale May revisits these tiny plastic Lego toys and photographs them in a way that returns them to the epic importance they once had as a child, reminding us why we needed to collect every single piece.

Trooper Mob:

Biker Scouts:

Royal Guard:

Yoda (front):

Yoda (back):

Helmet pile:

Rainbow Coalition:


Iconic, nostalgic, yet timeless, the artist brings a new look to a subject that’s common place. Dale leaves nothing to chance, not only is the work impeccably crafted and well thought out but the material he has chosen to produce the Lego Wars series was no accident. Dale felt that the entire piece of art should resemble the high polished glossiness of the subject itself. Crafted in archival acrylic and backed with aluminum dibond, the work is given a look not unlike the plastic Star Wars Lego or something in Darth Vader’s home, the Death Star itself!

Once made from molded plastic, standing just over an inch, and in danger of being stepped on, these characters now stand tall, speak to us and demand attention!

You can purchase the prints here.