The Secret Gardens – Damien Hirst
With colour at the heart of everything we do, we look beyond the obvious for ideas and this month art, interiors, design and travel have been providing endless inspiration for the future.
The UK Guardian recently commented that the Frieze art show is ‘a corporate gathering full of artists’ drab, desperate attempts to get bought by clueless rich collectors that has domesticated contemporary art and thus killed it.” There is no doubt that observing the extreme wealth of some of the “collectors” can feel a little nauseating – but they do have great outfits. Stealth wealth and quiet luxury aside, we still we still managed to find lots of inspiration, particularly around colour.
The Guardian really didn’t like Damien Hirst’s latest work The Secret Gardens calling it “bad, flat and unimaginative.” But Senior Colour Editor Laura felt it provided a joyous burst of colour and respite from the rainy grey London weather.
Danielle Mckinney’s portaits
We also loved Danielle Mckinney’s exploration of portraiture, color, and composition, capturing solitary female protagonists in moments of leisure in dream-like domestic interiors.
Dreamland – Sophie von Hellerman
Margate-based German artist Sophie von Hellermann, created an incredible space aptly titled “Dreamland” inspired by Margate’s iconic funfair of the same name. The vibrant, colourful paintings feature the promise of thrill-seeking adventures, along with a sense of eeriness and melancholy.
Studio Rens
We also visited Dutch Design Week, which is always alive with innovative new ideas and inspirational colour. Subscribers can look out for our full DDW report coming soon.
Studio Rens are always a highlight and this year they showcased their collaboration with lino manufacturers Tarkett to reveal the hidden potential of linoleum.
Wies van den Maagdenberg
Meanwhile, Wies van den Maagdenberg explored ways to upcycle discarded vinyl flooring.
Huis Sonneveld
After Dutch Design Week, Trend Editor Vienna visited Huis Sonneveld in Rotterdam. Situated on the edge of Museum Park in central Rotterdam, Sonnveld is one of the best preserved houses in the Dutch Functionalists style – know as NieuweBouwen style in the Netherlands. The villa, designed in the early 1930’s by the architectural firm Brinkman and Van der Vlugt, is furnished head-to-toe in modernist chrome furniture, coloured glass, colour-blocked linoleum and carpets, all in contrasting retro shades of orange, brown, soft yellow, lime greens, red and turquoise.
The Colour Café – YesColours
This year Decorex welcomed the Colour Café, designed and built by paint brand Yes Colours. The space focused on colourful and sustainable design, showcasing the positive impact of colour within interiors. Featuring a rainbow archway walkway, as well as curated rooms which brought together a mix of inspiring colour-focused homeware brands including Granite + Smoke, Floor Story and Houseof.
Trip images from Mumbai
And lastly, Sales Director Jodie, Design Director Catherine and I went on a whirlwind visit to Mumbai. Essentially a work trip, we still managed to fit in some shopping and a visit to the flower market. In these days of homogenised global retail it was incredibly refreshing to be subjected to such unique aesthetics and stunning colour combinations. We can’t wait to go back.
