LOOK INTO MY OWL

Atelier Van Lieshout is the name of the studio/workshop headed up by Joep van Lieshout. Since their beginning in 1995 the collective goal has been to build creative solutions for contemporary living. The current exhibition at the Tim Van Laere Gallery is a display of recent sculptural works and drawings.

The studio explores the ideaologies of both utopian and dystopian societies. Creations range from small machines to full blown self sufficient communal architecture.

Head over to the Atelier Van Lieshout website to see some of the architectural projects and their impressive workshop. The studio appears to be living the life they prescribe.

Atelier Van Lieshout
29 January – 14 March 2009
Tim Van Laere Gallery
Antwerp, Belgium

It is the final week to catch the Zaha Hadid exhibition at the Sonnabend Gallery in New York. Kenny Schachter/ROVE joined forces with the gallery to bring together this excellent show of sculptures, reliefs, hybrid design objects and paintings from one of the most prolific architects working today.

For more than thirty years Zaha Hadid has been creating architecture that has gotten the attention of her peers and neophytes alike. The organic forms that flow in the spaces she creates are recognizable and enduring. The designs are so radical that in our wildest dreams of the future they will still be considered contemporary.

Hadid has made a career of embracing new materials and technology. Her vigilant search for new forms combined with an experimental nature have allowed for an overspill of ideas into many media which have been assembled for this showing.

Zaha Hadid
1 November – 12 December 2008
Sonnabend Gallery
NYC

The Hammer Museum is currently showing a retrospect of the career of John Lautner. Several large scale models of key projects were created for the exhibit as well as digitally animated walkthroughs giving the audience a chance to “move” through the spaces. “Between Earth and Heaven” is also exhibiting archival drawings and production models that allow for a look into the creative process.

For nearly six decades Lautner amazed the public and professionals alike by producing incredibly unique and influential structures. His buildings have been settings in feature films including “The Big Lebowski”, “Body Double” and “Diamonds are Forever”. John Lautner didn’t believe that his work was futuristic, his opinion was that good architecture exits out of time. It’s certain that future generations will pause when confronted with his portfolio.

Between Earth and Heaven
The Architecture of John Lautner
13 July – 12 October 2008
Hammer Museum
Los Angeles

It’s time to cash in those frequent flier miles and head out to Heathrow. On October 9th, The Saatchi Gallery is opening one of the largest contemporary art museums in the world. The Saatchi has partnered with Phillips De Pury & Company to make this 70,000 sq. ft. dream a reality. The new headquarters will open with the show, “The Triumph of Painting”.
This latest endeavor is another sign that the center of the contemporary art world is changing. It’s not about money, it’s about effort and the refusal to wallow in complacency. Have a look at The Saatchi Gallery’s innovative website and you will understand.

These images were pulled from the virtual tour of the new space.

The Saatchi Gallery
The Duke of York’s HQ
opens 9 October 2008
King’s Road, London

The Ring House by TNA architects was constructed in rural Tokyo. The home has a compelling impact inside and out that takes full advantage of the environment at the site. The exterior disappears into the woods while the 360 degree views from the interior conjure the forest home.
The idea of living in a home indistinguishable from one’s neighbor is swiftly becoming outmoded. Currently, architecture like “The Ring House” may be reserved for the wealthy but never fear, a day is coming that the people will demand competent design in their dwellings. After all, keeping it real is so 1990’s.

Thanks to Sasha for the tip.