A Surreal Touch

Claude Lalanne – Butterflies, Bijoux & Objets, Louisa Guinness Gallery, First Floor, 45 Conduit Street, London W1, until 29th July 2016

Claude Lalanne, Jules et Jim, 2015, Small Sculptures, bronze and steel, 6.0 x 12.0 x 7.5 cm, edition of 40 courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

Claude Lalanne,
Jules et Jim, 2015,
Small Sculptures, bronze and steel, 6.0 x 12.0 x 7.5 cm, edition of 40
courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

This show celebrates some fifty years of output by the renowned designer Claude Lalanne, who is also known for the sculptural work created with her husband François-Xavier Lalanne.

Claude Lalanne, Flower Pin, 2015, Brooch, galvanised copper, 11.0 x 11.0 cm, unique, courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

Claude Lalanne,
Flower Pin, 2015,
Brooch, galvanised copper, 11.0 x 11.0 cm, unique,
courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

The works reveal a more personal, surreal side to the artist and reflect her friendships with Man Ray and Dali. Some of the works on show come from the artist’s private collection and there are also two works from the famous 1967 “Empreinte Series” on which she collaborated with Yves Saint Laurent.

Claude Lalanne, Mimosa, ca.1970, Necklace, polished bronze dore, 35.8 x 1.4 x 0.4 cm, edition of 250 courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

Claude Lalanne,
Mimosa, ca.1970,
Necklace, polished bronze dore, 35.8 x 1.4 x 0.4 cm, edition of 250
courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

http://www.louisaguinnessgallery.com

Claude Lalanne, Collier Groseilles, ca. 1980 - 2005, silver, diameter 12.3 cm, pod length 8.4 x 3.0 cm, unrealised Art Cural edition of 150, courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

Claude Lalanne,
Collier Groseilles, ca. 1980 – 2005,
silver, diameter 12.3 cm, pod length 8.4 x 3.0 cm, unrealised Art Cural edition of 150,
courtesy of the artist and Louisa Guinness Gallery,

GUY BOURDIN – 2 “TAKES”

Here is “take” 1

Guy Bourdin: Image Maker, Embankment Galleries, South Wing, Somerset House, London WC2, until 15th March 2015

Guy Bourdin  Vogue Paris, May 1970  © Guy Bourdin

Guy Bourdin
Vogue Paris, May 1970
© Guy Bourdin

In this show, the largest ever held in the UK, Guy Bourdin’s career as a fashion photographer is delineated from his early days as a protégé of the Surrealist photographer Man Ray to a master craftsman who photographed fashion for magazines such as Vogue Paris and brands like Charles Jourdan and Chanel creating a world both colourful and strange. This was achieved by making the product play the second leading part to the image.

Guy Bourdin British Vogue, September 1975  © Guy Bourdin

Guy Bourdin
British Vogue, September 1975
© Guy Bourdin

This is encapsulated through colour and black-and-white images and Super-8 films (he was among the pioneers of fashion film). As well as being a self-taught photographer he had always been a painter and a selection of paintings, sketches and working drawings illustrate how this helped his approach to his photographic images. A highlight of the exhibition is the 1979 Walking Legs’ campaign for Charles Jourdan which is being shown in full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This brings us to “take” 2

 

Guy Bourdin ‘Walking Legs’, Michael Hoppen Gallery, 3 Jubilee Place, London SW3, until 28th March 2015

Guy Bourdin  Charles Jourdan, 1979 © Guy Bourdin Estate. Courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Guy Bourdin
Charles Jourdan, 1979
© Guy Bourdin Estate. Courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

The gallery compliments the above show with this one focusing on the 1979 Charles Jourdan campaign. The locations were photographed on a car journey from London to Brighton – other than the locations all that can be seen is a pair of mannequin legs and Charles Jourdans’s creations.

 

 

www.somersethouse.org.uk

 

michaelhoppengallery.com