BENAH BOOK CLUB | LES FRANCAISES

Welcome to Benah Bookclub. Where we explore books we love, own or admire and celebrate independent and interesting publishers, books stores and sites. Owning beautiful books is one of the great joys in life. 
Print is not dead, just more luxurious!

Publisher : Rizzoli
Artist/Author : Sonia Sieff

Editor: Patrick Remy

Pages: 96 pages

Cover: Hardcover

Publication Date: Feb 28th 2017

Language: English/French

With Paris and its interiors as a frequent backdrop, Sonia Sieff gives readers an intimate portrait of some of France’s most recognizable faces. From fashion models to writers and ballet dancers, Sieff captures the distinct personality of each while also depicting a unique sense of place. Beautifully staged and artfully shot, this book focuses on Sieff's fascination with the female form.

 

With more than 150 stunning photographs of Sieff’s subjects in Paris, in their homes, on the shores of Normandy, and in the gardens of Champagne, Les Francaises exhibits Sieff’s undeniable ability to capture the beauty of the female form while at once offering an intimate glimpse into the world these women inhabit. 

Read more about Sonia here

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ART | MIRAGE BY DOUG AITKEN

In collaboration with the Desert X Art Festival, 16 artist's have installed striking artworks across the arid landscape of the Coachella Valley just outside of Palm Springs. American artist Doug Aitken’s top to bottom mirrored house would have to be our favourite.

The Mirage sculpture is modelled on a ranch-style suburban American house but is composed of 100% mirrored surfaces reflecting the surroundings and camouflaging the structure.

Aitken reconfigured the idea of the suburban home by removing its inhabitants and their possessions. He has done away with the doors and windows so the structure is not private or secure. Inside, the reflective surfaces create a kaleidoscopic effect intended to evoke confusion rather than comfort.

"Mirage distills the recognisable and repetitious suburban home into the essence of its lines, reflecting and disappearing into the vast western landscape," - Doug Aitken

Desert X opened 25 February 2017 and runs until 30 April 2017

Aitken's Mirage will remain in place until 31 October 2017

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BENAH BOOK CLUB | GESTALTEN

Welcome to Benah Bookclub. Where we explore books we love, own or admire and celebrate independent and interesting publishers, books stores and sites. Owning beautiful books is one of the great joys in life. 
Print is not dead, just more luxurious!

Publisher/Copyright : GESTALTEN

Speciality: Design, Lifestyle, illustration, architecture, Fashion, Photography, travel, art, & children's

Founded: Berlin 1995

Sold internationally

Today we spot light one of our favourite publishers, Gestalten. 

Best known for some of the most beautiful visual books on the market, they have really made a name for themselves with their travel, lifestyle & children's books. This is the go to place for the perfect adventure publication for the men in your life.

They also keep extremely good company by producing all the Monocle Travel and lifestyle Guide Series in both book and video form. We all know that Berlin is a hub for creativity so its extremely rare to visit the site without adding at least 10 books to our wish list. 

Buy Gestalten Books Locally HERE

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ART | NUDE

In a partnership between Tate, London and the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney, Nude: art from the Tate collection presents over 100 major representations of the nude, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and prints by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Lucian Freud, Henri Matisse, Sarah Lucas, Marlene Dumas and Louise Bourgeois.

 Femme 2007 | Louise Bourgeois

At the heart of the show lies the world’s most famous image of erotic love, Auguste Rodin’s sculpture The kiss 1901-04. Never before has this work from Tate’s collection left Europe.

Showing now until Feb 5th 2017 at the Art Gallery of NSW

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ART | ALEXIS ARNOLD

Alexis Arnold's practise is material and process drive. She utilises sculpture, installations and mixed media 2-D art to create a dialogue around time, transformation and perception. Her crystallised book series is so so beautiful. Fragile yet strong at the same time. Frozen in time, words locked in a crystal tomb.

McSweeny's 39

13 x 8 x 8 inches, 2015

Hugh Johnson’s Story of Wine

10.5 x 9 x 10.75 inches, 2016

“The crystals remove the text and solidify the books into aesthetic, non-functional objects. These pieces are transformed into artifacts or geologic specimens imbued with the history of time, use, and memory. The crystals and book shapes spark a sense of wonder akin to a great piece of literature.”  

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EXHIBITION | China Heights 'Works On Paper'

Need something for the art lover or maybe just a special gift for yourself? Then check out China Heights new exhibition Works On Paper 2015. The annual showcase features 43 Australian & international artists and opens 11th December.

Kyle Montgomery 'Clouded Thoughts'. Original work on paper 2015.

$400.00 / Sold Out

Anthony Lister 'Untitled Portrait 1'. Original work on paper 2015.

$650.00

Gemma O'Brien 'Not That Kind of Hurl'. Original work on paper 2015.

$550.00

Sean Wadey 'So Below'. Original work on paper 2015.

$660.00

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ART | ELI CRAVEN

Eli Craven is super cool. Her art works are super cool. Part collage, part sculpture, what's not to love right? And you know how much we love collage.We especially love her series entitled 'Screen Lovers'

One Head

'This project started with my discovery of the book "Screen Lovers" by Anne Billson, (Conran Octopus/St Martin's Press, 1988). The images within the book's pages are of romantic, sexually charged film stills throughout movie history. As I looked through them, I really wanted to see them come together, touch lips, make love, whatever comes next, so I followed my instinct and started folding them into one another' - Eli Craven

Light Couple

Uniforms

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BENAH BOOK CLUB | STRANGE PLANTS : COLLECTOR'S EDITION

Welcome to Benah Bookclub. Where we explore books we love, own or admire and celebrate independent and interesting publishers, books stores and sites. Owning beautiful books is one of the great joys in life. Print is not dead, just more luxurious!

 Strange Plants Collector's Edition

Publisher/Copyright : Zioxla
Editor : Zio Baritaux

Design : Folch Studio

Pages: Strange Plants II 148 pages

Cover: Custom card stock slipcase

Publication Date: September 2015

Language: English

The Strange Plants Collector's Edition includes the award-winning Strange Plants, Strange Plants II, and is a celebration of plants in contemporary art. The two books feature the work of 55 artists—from oozing paintings of rotting cacti to eerie, mesmeric photos of the leafy kudzu vine—and discusses the role plants play in the artists’ personal lives. Each artist’s work is accompanied by an insightful article or interview that delves deeper into the relationships between plants and people.

Designed by Folch Studio, an award-winning design house in Barcelona, which also developed Apartamento magazine, the Collector's Edition was printed in a limited run and will not be printed again. Lucky for us we managed to get ourselves a copy before it sold out.

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ART | ISABEL YELLIN

One's interest in art is deeply personal. You may be drawn to something that another is repelled by or vice versa. Love it or hate it, you don't really need a reason. Art just needs to make you feel something. The most important thing is to let yourself be lead by emotional. Maybe the meaning will come later, maybe it wont?

In this world we need to keep surrounding ourselves with art. In our Art series we will introduce you to some artists we have discovered and love.

Artist : Isabell Yellin

Born : New York City 1987

Currently Resides : London UK

Born and raised in New York, Yellin moved to London in 2013 to pursue an MFA in painting at the Royal College of Art.  Having just completed her second solo show at Vigo Gallery, her new works occupy a space between painting and sculpture. They are begging to be touched, fondled almost. Is it soft? Is it hard? You don't really know until you are up close. And you really need to get up close to see it for all its simple complexity. Much like us humans I suppose?

“They’re skin and bone, but they’re synthetic, the fake version of it. They’re body-like, but they’re also completely foreign. They’re square and rectangle like a painting should be, but they’re also sculptural. They contradict themselves. They’re uncomfortable.” - Isabell Yellin

 

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BENAH LOVES | THE ACADEMY NEW YORK

Instagram account The Academy New York and it's many siblings are probably some our all time favourite feeds. Across music, art, and film (to come), there is always something in their collection of found images that will inspire and humor. If you aren't following them all, get to it now! They also so some damn good merch that is nearly always sold out.

Recently they have collaborated with BIG HUGS by CDR on images that will just make you feel warm, fuzzy and a little nostalgic. Everyone loves a good hug right??

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ART | DIVINE PORTALS

We have been fans of Kyle Montgomery's since way back, and we are lucky to have two of his Mary's in our collection along with some earlier works. A resident artist of China Heights, Montgomery's work is captivating and spiritually beautiful.

And now the time has come for you to own one too. But be quick, DIVINE PORTALS opens tonight at Mild Manners in Melbourne. With almost 1/2 the pieces sold already, before the doors have opened, it will surely sell out.

The Crystal Mary - is an intentional collision of two separate beliefs in physical form, it combines religion and spirituality to create the ultimate icon. 

View the full catalogue here

Presented in association with Mild Manners Gallery

RVCA Corner Gallery, 82 Stanley St, Collingwood, Victoria

Opens Friday October 23, 6-8pm 

Exhibition continues until November 8.

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ART | TYRRELL WINSTON

There is just something about Tyrrell Winston. I've never met him, never spoken or crossed paths. But I'm strangely drawn to his art in the same way I love Ariel Schmidts illustrations.

Maybe it's the notion of 'One mans trash is another treasure' and that the imperfect is just so much more interesting than the shiny brand new?

You can not help but wonder and speculate the who, what and where these sordid and sensational objects traveled before landing in the hands of Mr Winston and his on going #neighborhoodarchaeology project.

All images via @TyrrellWinston

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BENAH LOVES | SKETCH

You would have seen images of this pink dream in your feed and day dreamt of sinking into its lush interior whilst procuring the perfect instagram post. But, did you know that this is but one space within a vortex of an interior triumph?

Sketch, located in London, opened in 2002 and by its own words is a complex and unique site. Conceived by French master chef Pierre Gagnaire and restauranteur Mazouz, Sketch combines so much into its 5 spaces that you could spend a whole week, just discovering the food, art and atmosphere.

The Gallery, as the pink room is named, is just spectacular.  With art lining the walls and uniforms by Richard Nicoll, it just doesn't get any cooler.

Enjoy lunch with an Artist, Michelin starred cuisine, posh afternoon tea or go all out at get married at 

sketch

9 Conduit Street

London W1S 2XG

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