Picasso, Kandinsky, Pollock, Pissarro. They are the revolutionaries whose distinct styles and unwavering compulsion for creation shaped modern art as we know it. In celebration of its 80th anniversary, the Guggenheim Foundation is exhibiting more than 170 modern works by these geniuses and more, from the most iconic to the less familiar.
Velvet nights. Bill Henson has a way with light, with the manipulation of shadow and the ambiguity of landscapes. He takes the ordinary and makes it ethereal through his lens – a master of the dark arts and the avid documenter of the human condition for the last 40 years.
They say a portrait offers a glimpse into the secret lives of the subjects. William Eggleston’s intimate photography does this and more, asserting him as a pioneer of colour photography.
An homage to an icon. ModeMuseum’s exhibition, Margiela – The Hermès Years, will display Margiela’s collections from 1997 to 2003 for the first time – exploring the relationship between Hermès and Margiela’s eponymous label through photography and the most iconic of garments.
Move your body. The Australian Ballet’s new, electric performance, Faster, showcases the sheer athleticism of ballet dancers with a triple bill from three of the country’s top contemporary choreographers.
Voodoo folklore, Créole superstition and ritual celebration – New Orleans is a must-visit. On the cusp of the city’s downtown core, you’ll find Ace Hotel New Orleans, the newest addition to this achingly cool hotel family.
Come together. British designer and fashion icon Vivienne Westwood has never been afraid to speak her mind, often channelling her personal and political activism into her vibrant collections. Her latest project, Get A Life, is a curated exhibition of Westwood’s collections, art and campaign work aimed at spotlighting environmental issues in China.
Take me to my beach. A decade after opening her first store in Melbourne, accessory designer Lucy Folk is bringing her unique perspective on design to Bondi Beach with the launch of her boutique, Playa by Lucy Folk.
Viewing Michael Zagaris’ photographic oeuvre is like stumbling upon a box of rare records at a neighbourhood garage sale. His work, much of which has remained unseen until now, captures some of the most influential musicians of our time including the likes of Bob Dylan, Blondie, the Sex Pistols, Eric Clapton, Lou Reed, Patti Smith and more. It was the 70s and, for Zagaris, San Francisco was the place to be. Billed as one of the last great unseen rock archives, Michael Zagaris: Total Excess is now on view at New York’s Milk Gallery through December 18.
Full bloom. What started as an experiment with the concept of still-life photography has blossomed into Vase – a creative collaboration between photographer Adam Bryce, art director Josie Steenhart and floral stylist Lucy Houghton.
Once a much-loved karaoke bar, the iconic neighbourhood space in New York’s Chinatown has undergone a warm yet minimal transformation that goes by the name of Lalito. With chef Gerardo Gonzalez at the helm, along with his Australian partners Ben dos Remedios and Mateusz Lilpop, Gonzalez brings together a menu packed with Mexican American fare inflected with standout flavours from around the globe.
A meeting of the minds between Lauren Cassar, founder of local design label Mirador, and photographer and RUSSH regular Victoria Zschommler has resulted in At Land, At Bloom – a pop-up exhibition and store space in Sydney’s Paddington.
Immerse yourself. Leather ateliers Fleet Ilya create ultra covetable pieces bridging high fashion and eroticism. To showcase their ready-to-wear accessories, home décor and leather art, Fleet Ilya has taken over an industrial space in Dalston, London, for an interactive brand experience, with a selection of installations and new pieces available to purchase. The pop-up will run ’til November 30 from 4pm to 8pm daily, so get on down there while you can.
The way you do anything is the way you do everything. Model and artist Kid Plotnikova knows this to be true. When she’s not in front of the lens or behind a canvas, you will find her immersed in the city’s diverse culture at any one of her favourite spots.
On what is already the most anticipated day of the working week, the National Gallery of Victoria has launched Friday Nights at the NGV, a musical roster of local and international performers to complement the gallery’s two major exhibitions, David Hockney: Current and Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists. Sydney-based indie five-piece and RUSSH favourites, Dappled Cities, will take to the stage in the Great Hall this Friday, December 2, to offer a taste of their forthcoming album as well as a few old favourites; a slice of those sweeping melodies, vocal harmonies and 70s beats that captured us from their first single.
The quiet observer. Self-taught photographer Elizabeth Looker’s captures convey a deep relationship with her subject, as though she’s known and waited for them, and this moment, for years.
Let there be light. Photographer Derek Henderson joined forces with ManiaMania to capture the label’s coveted crystal collection.
Everything is illuminated. Japanese contemporary artist Tatsuo Miyajima presents the first major retrospective of his art in the Southern Hemisphere at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. The exhibition will span key works across his impressive career, including sculptural works, room-scale installations and performance films. Step into the light.
On the rise. The platform that launched the likes of Alexander Wang and Hood by Air, MADE brings its fresh brand of culture to Sydney for the first time this weekend. MADE Sydney presented by Mercedes-Benz will fuse fashion, art, music and skate for a weekend of showings, pop-up retail venues, DJ sets from the likes of Pelvis and Otis Prinz, the premier of The High Life: Slim Aarons and luxury Parisian streetwear label Faith Connexion’s runway show.
With pop art scenes and those iconic swimming pools – artist David Hockney’s influence has travelled far beyond his discipline and into the realms of fashion, film and our cultural makeup.
