We’ve known our friend Sergei Sviatchenko for many years, ever since he first reached out to us when we posted about his Close Up And Private in 2009. Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch via the internet. And despite being close to meeting a few times, we had never actually met in person. However, at the end of last summer, we finally found a great reason to collaborate—and as a result, meet in person for the first time. Over the past few months, we worked together remotely on a project that repurposes three years' worth of publicly available imagery we created, allowing Sergei to give it a second life, by creating new imagery with more lasting power—or at least make it part of his incredible oeuvre—while also marking the beginning of a new chapter for us, once again.

But first, to learn more about the artist (and architect) behind the collage imagery and to provide some context on how he became the person he is today, last Thursday we sat down with Sergei in the Cristel Ballroom Gallery, where we would later that day launch our project in Amsterdam. We discussed the different aspects of his career, which spans many decades and took him from Ukraine to Denmark in 1990. Fast forward to later years, when his career received another enormous boost with the emergence of the blogosphere. All the way to now, at the respectable age of 72, with our friend showing no signs of slowing down. [ Continue reading ]

At the end of October SCHLEBRÜGGE.EDITOR published the first monograph to focus exclusively on the prolific collage output of our friend Sergei Sviatchenko. Edited by Rick Poynor, whose essay provides an engaging critical overview, it gathers Sviatchenko’s most significant work from the past 10 years and shows little seen collages from his early years in Ukraine before he moved in 1990 to live and work in Denmark.

The severe reductiveness of Sviatchenko’s image manipulation sets his collages apart. Works from his long-running 'Less' series consist of only two or three elements floating on a jarringly bright background. The fewer fragments he allows himself to work with, the more crucial the acts of selection, excision and montage become. Depthless backdrops deny his collage constructions a sense of location and push them forward as graphically sculptural objects. The swift cuts that Sviatchenko makes into his source pictures give them angular new outlines that can verge on abstraction. The elegantly designed monograph is illustrated with 165 images, selected to bring out salient themes in Sviatchenko’s continuing development, which has made him one of our favorite collage artists since we discovered his work. [ Continue reading ]

We have been following the very talented Sergei Sviatchenko, born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and now based in Denmark, since he stepped into the limelight about five years ago. This starting point was the foundation of Close Up and Private in 2009, Sergei's online art project in which he shared his collage-like photographic vision on style. The project quickly rose to fame due to both the unique aesthetic he created and Sergei’s impeccable personal style.

Building on the foundation of Close Up and Private, Sergei recently decided to take his endeavors a step further with a new concept that features continuing collaborations with an international range of heritage brands and skilled craftsmen. Named Private Classicist, the new project aims to create a solid range of classic menswear items that push the boundaries of current minimalist fashion, all while championing the classic style that Sergei himself embodies through his work.

Having been highly inspired by Sergei for all these years, today we’re excited to share some of the questions we asked him to learn more about what inspires a master like him. [ Continue reading ]

'Everything goes right and left if you want it' is the title of the first publication on Sergei Sviatchenko, the good man behind Close Up and Private. The Berlin-based publisher Gestalten released this beautiful book featuring Sviatchenko's modern collages and keen eye on colour. "In the world of contemporary art, Sviatchenko is a provocateur. He draws on and harnesses all of the cultural tides he has experienced in 40 years of image-making. Sviatchenko’s oeuvre spans the known and the unimaginable. It cuts through the boundaries of traditional and contemporary visuals to merge pop culture with politics, personal memory with collective histories, and architecture and science with the logic of dreams." [ Continue reading ]

Photography and art connoisseur Roderick van der Lee was kind enough to write an introduction for our ANOTHER CANVAS collaboration with Sergei Sviatchenko. Inspired by the fundamental question behind the project, he shared his insights in an essay where he offers his perspective on how images have come to move through culture at the highest possible speed, but not without losing their ability to impact it, one way or another! [ Continue reading ]

What is the residual value of an image shared on the internet in today’s volatile visual culture? This fundamental question served as the starting point for our collaboration with contemporary artist and architect Sergei Sviatchenko, known for his pioneering work in collage—a partnership more than ten years in the making. After producing numerous images while working in-house for Atelier Munro over the past three years, we found ourselves questioning: What truly remains of this work once the images are no longer actively used? And what have people actually seen and will even be remembered? To explore this, we invited Sergei to use our publicly available earlier work as the foundation for a new series of art. For which photography and art expert Roderick van der Lee wrote the introductory essay. [ Continue reading ]

Some shots from the launch of our collaboration with Sergei Sviatchenko; ANOTHER CANVAS, which took place at the Cristel Ballroom Gallery in Amsterdam. A massive thank you for everyone that came out. And an even bigger thank you to Sergei and Roderick for the collaboration on this project that marks the beginning of many new chapters. In the words of Sergei; it is rare to feel a sense of belonging when working with people who are of like minds — this project did just that on different levels. [ Continue reading ]

After introducing the CUAP shirt in December of 2014, this month our good friend Sergei Sviatchenko has introduced a new addition to the collection of his Private Classicist label, slowly evolving into a complete range of products created from the roots of his signature Close Up And Private art/style platform. Sergei found another perfect like-minded partner - sharing a sincere passion for modern classics and clean aesthetics - in the Danish accessories specialist Mismo. A company which has been a favorite of ours since we first encountered their beautiful products in 2009, and we have been appreciating their output for years, making it a dream collaboration. A very limited capsule collection of 25 pieces of 2 designs, created by Sergei and Mismo out of one of the most iconic styles by Mismo; the M/S Shopper. The Mismo staple piece was adorned with a photography and a collage artwork in signature Close Up And Private style, applied on an incredible Blue/Black and a Grey/Cuoio version, individually embossed with numbers. We can't wait for more incredible Private Classicist pieces. [ Continue reading ]

In August of this year our friend Sergei Sviatchenko took his Close Up And Private project, which we've appreciated from the very beginning, to a new level by starting Private Classicist. The new label which roots deeply in the vision created through Close Up And Private aims to create a solid range of classic menswear items that verges on pushing the boundaries of current minimalist fashion towards the classic style championed by Sergei himself and his work by collaborating with an international rage of heritage brands and skilled craftsmen. When Private Classicist was introduced at the last Copenhagen Fashion Week, Sergei created a tie and belt. Last week the third staple piece was released in the form of a limited edition t-shirt marked undeniably with the letters CUAP in kobalt blue or white. Inspired by the shirt worn by Paul McCartney on the cover of the US edition of the HELP album and on the other hand Teruyoshi Hayashida's 'Take Ivy' photo trip through Ivy League universities in 1965, the t-shirt forms another elegant step towards a complete Private Classicist wardrobe. [ Continue reading ]

We are still inspired by the book named 'The Age of Collage' which was published by Gestalten a year ago. The book is a striking documentation of today’s continued appetite for destructive construction found in the art of collage. Showcasing outstanding current artwork and artists, the book also takes an insightful behind-the-scenes look at those working with this interdisciplinary and cross-media approach. The collages featured in this book are influenced by illustration, painting, and photography and play with elements of abstraction, constructivism, surrealism, and dada. Referencing scientific images, pop culture, and erotica, they reflect humanity’s collective visual memory and context. Among the featured artists are the highly talented Ashkan Honarvar and our friend, multitalent Sergei Sviatchenko. [ Continue reading ]

Once again our friend Sergei Sviatchenko returns with a very interesting project. After starting Close Up and Private in 2009 as an online art project in which he shared his collage-like photographic vision on style, it quickly rose to fame for both this created aesthetic as Sergei's own impeccable style, which gained him personally a lot of rightful attention. Based on this fundament of Close Up and Private, Sergei now decided to take his endeavors one step further, in a concept which features continuing collaborations with an international rage of heritage brands and skilled craftsmen. With the new project, named Private Classicist, Sergei aims to create a solid range of classic menswear items that verges on pushing the boundaries of current minimalist fashion towards the classic style championed by Sergei himself and his work. [ Continue reading ]

There's a new magazine, and this time not a paper one, but a beautifully designed online publication. Please welcome the first issue of the Swedish online magazine Suit Up or Die. A magazine dedicated to style, sharing 'a look at how fashion, art and aesthetics are being transformed by the online revolution'. A magazine sharing new impressions and ideas, visual, intellectual and spiritual for the ones who knows that to relieve boredom you have to love what you do or do what you love... We like that very much! [ Continue reading ]

Costume National asked Sergei Sviatchenko from Close Up & Private to give his take on the Autumn/Winter '11/'12 collection. The result is "The Beetles News". In a mix of photography and collage the style is inspired on a concert back in 1965 from The Beatles in Milano. An inspiring mix of classic style and minimalism. As Ennio Capasa describes it: "In Sergei's work I see many of Costume National's characteristics: simplicity, attention to detail, pop style and minimalism". Be sure to check the CoNSCIOUS video project as well - pretty amazing! [ Continue reading ]

Just like Sergei Sviatchenko I believe a pair of proper Khaki’s belong to every mans wardrobe. But until last week my one was filled with denim only. Dockers was so kind to give me a pair of the new Alpha… [ Continue reading ]

Sergei Sviatchenko from Close Up and Private shares his Etiquette for the Modern Classicist for Vs. Magazine in this nice video feature. ‘A man with a beard and a strong face is trustworthy.’ Trust the Classics, just that!… [ Continue reading ]

Our friend Sergei Sviatchenko from Close up and Private is rocking big time. He collaborated with media artist Noriko Okaku (resulting in this lovely animated collage movie), was announced the Best Dressed Man of Denmark and did a wonderful collaboration London based writer, stylist and creative director Jason Jules, the man behind the blog Garmsville. [ Continue reading ]

Just came across this wonderful project called CLOSE UP AND PRIVATE by artist Sergei Sviatchenko. In this project he's capturing the spirit of modern style, as seen through the subtle shades of the individual. Great inspiration! [ Continue reading ]