Arts and Culture
Bespoke home libraries
An Ipad can hold a million a books, and with the Internet you have the world’s content at your fingertips but it still isn’t quite the same as sifting through stacks of literary classics or historical milestones.
Anyone can have a few nice bookshelves put into his study, but what makes a library is the content. And while “browsing” is now similarly a word used in the online sense, it is more leisurely when you can actually walk through and touch the content all relating to a specific topic – though you may not exactly know what you’re looking for, it is the act of browsing books through bookshelves that has a...
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Featuring Open Book – meet the man behind private members’ club The...
But aside from his successful endeavours and business ventures, who is Ronald Ndoro really? And more importantly, what has the journey been like for a man who continues to wear many hats in an industry known for its numerous pitfalls. Like opening a book, The Sybarite sat down with Ronald Ndoro in one of The Library’s many eclectic rooms for an intimate conversation to explore the many adventurous and artistic voyages that ultimately led him to create a private members’ club. With an insatiable appetite for books, it seemed almost eerily fitting that after his mum’s charity shop in Holloway Street closed down, the plethora of leftover books would come to good use for his project so much so that it became the starting point for the concept of The Library. Covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, patrons can easily reach out and grab a volume from every possible genre and indulge in a bit of reading whilst sipping a beverage from a drinks menu that presents itself as varied as the literary selection.
Featuring How to give Glastonbury a dusting of luxury this year
As one of summer's biggest Greenfield music and performing arts festivals, style is all the rage, even more so when it comes to finding accommodation that is just as tasteful. Much like the dazzling Coachella Festival in the Colorado Dessert, where they too offer exclusive campsites (and services) in the form of Safari Tents, it’s no surprise that Glastonbury has further amplified its variety of on-site accommodation with attractive extras to go along with it. Whether you’re looking to revel in the festivities or have your family in tow or maybe you prefer to indulge in the festival in style - well, this huge tented city is filled with options for the festivalgoer. Our mission is to discover how to appreciate Glastonbury in ultra comfort and style – take for example The Popup Hotel which offers a reserved site replete with security, private parking, spa, exquisite food bars, concierge service and a host of room types depending on the person’s preferences, and what’s more, the site is located a mere few minutes walk from Gate D.
Featuring The summer of Love at winterwell Festival
The swinging sixties is still known as the coolest decade – and you’re lucky enough to be invited there for one day only this summer. Winterwell Festival is back for its ninth year in its new location of Yarnton Manor, a beautiful seventeenth century stately home in Oxfordshire, with the theme of The Summer of 1967. On Saturday 29th August, Yarnton Manor will swing open its doors to revellers for a whirlwind weekend of festivities. Experience gourmet food and immersive theatre as well as submersing yourself in the history of the manor, exploring the secret sunken garden and the historic long gallery; treading in the footsteps of the likes of Charles I and John Betjeman, previous guests of Yarnton. Sign up for life drawing classes, race ferrets (if that’s your thing) or check into a massage tent if it’s pampering you’re after. As the sun lowers, the noise levels will rise, with live bands and headline DJs taking to various stages in the grounds, followed by an extraordinary fireworks display to take you through to dawn.
Letitia Casta, Parisienne Par excellence for Cointreau
Through history Cointreau has been close to women as they explore their creativity, embodying in many ways the free spirit of La Parisienne, the Parisian woman. As Creative Director of the House of Cointreau, Casta’s very first goal is to inspire women and dare them to be themselves, celebrating Cointreau’s signature art de vivre. For her first project Casta has chosen to celebrate Louisa Cointreau, due to her pivotal role for the House and her encouragement toward women to explore their creative side. “It’s the fragility of a women that touches me. Today we want to be too strong, today we want to be too perfect, and I think it’s completely wrong. We have to be in love with our femininity and this is the message I want to get across.” said Casta, whose project also involves selecting female artists from all over the world to share their own twist on life. This will happen both through a series of ‘webisodes’, each an opportunity to freely exchange ideas, but also creative evenings inspired by the Cointreau Cafe’ Society.
Featuring David Adjaye At Haus Der Kunst
“Form, Heft, Material,” displays miniature replicas of his biggest designs, alongside other contemporary objects. Taking a modernised and graphical approach, some might see his works as a reflection of the future. What appears to be simple has the power to make us question what architecture will become. Another form of art? Using an array of materials and complex ideas, he introduces us to new shapes and forms, while avoiding the use of barriers, allowing everyone an insight into his carefully constructed engineering. The exhibition runs until 31st May 2015 and hosts around 50 of Adjaye’s built projects.
Featuring Highlights of the London Art Fair 2015
Situated at the Business Design Centre in Islington, the UK’s premier fair for modern and contemporary British art housed 128 exhibitors from across the world, and played host to an exciting programme of exhibitions, films, talks and performances. As well as the inaugural Art Projects Artist Award, highlights this year included The Art Projects Film Programme, which took place in a purpose-built screening room curated by art journalist Pryle Behrman. The Art Projects also showcased a refreshing selection of contemporary and up-and-coming artists and installations. This year the fair provided a space entirely dedicated to photography. For their award-winning annual ‘Masters of Photography’ project, luxury spirit The Macallan partnered with famed photographer Mario Testino. There was even a 20-minute whisky tasting master class for visitors to enjoy. Other special events included a novel reading from Maeve Rendle exploring the curious relationship between freedom of thought and literal inspiration, and a Master Class in the Art of Interiors with Jade Thomson, Feature Editor at LuxDeco.
Featuring David Williams-Ellis: “The biggest joy as an artist is to...
“I absolutely adore the human figure,” exclaims David. “I want to make pieces that hit you in the pit of the stomach, that stops and arrests you.” The sculptor has certainly succeeded with this in his latest exhibition, ELEMENTAL, his first major one in London in a decade. We sit surrounded by his stunning pieces, girls who are twirling around; their bodies and movements shaped by wind and rain; stretching for something beyond sight, or comfortably enclosed within themselves. The so called “umbrella girls” lean in one direction while being safely held in the negative space around them by their umbrellas. It is a strikingly unique way of portraying female energy, their sheer beauty breathtaking. “I can tell when I'm making something good by a deep emotional feeling. I forget everything and reach a state of bliss - it's totally instinctive. I can't explain it,” says David, “other than the adrenaline high and feeling of being completely drained of energy afterwards,” he adds. David takes a few moments before carefully answering my questions.
Featuring The 57th Annual Venice Biennale Art Festival
The 57th International Venice Biennale Art Exhibition, titled VIVA ARTE VIVA, will be curated by Christine Macel and organised by La Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta. The exhibition will include 86 National Participations in the historic Pavilions at the Giardini, at the Arsenale and in the historic city centre of Venice. Three countries will be participating for the first time: Antigua and Barbuda, Kiribati, Nigeria. The Italian Pavilion at the Tese delle Vergini in the Arsenale, sponsored and promoted by the Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo, Direzione Generale Arte e Architettura Contemporanee e Periferie Urbane, will be curated this year by Cecilia Alemani. Take a look at our three must-see exhibition picks for the Biennale below… In partnership with The Farkash Gallery, Israeli artist Ariela Wertheimer will be making her debut at the Venice Biennale art festival. This will be the artist's first time showcasing her work at the world-renowned art exhibition in Venice.