'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 ]

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 graduated form Brighton University, the London born and Brighton based Rosanna Webster shared with us her lovely collages, photographs and illustrations. The colorful, rough and grainy and sometimes twisted works, with multiple layers and film projections all looks very promising for a 23 year old!… [ Continue reading ]

Today we visited Casper Reijnders, the man behind the famous Amsterdam club Jimmy Woo, in his house for our upcoming Journal de Nîmes. His house is like a 'wunderkammer', packed with the most unique and bizarre objects. It reminded me on Agent Gallery Chicago, a shop and gallery packed with strange curiosities, beautiful prints and vintage objects. This is probably one of my favorites: A collage by Christopher Ilth. It would fit Casper's house without a doubt... [ 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 ]

Last week we met talented creatives and reviewed their portfolio’s at the Blend New Talent Night. We were very excited to meet such passionate and talented people and so we left Pakhuis de Zwijger with a fresh dose of inspiration. Our favorite was definitely last years graduate from… [ Continue reading ]