Category: Photography

Alongside working as a chiropractor in Lugann-Switzerland, Stefano Gardel travels the world with a camera in his hands. His focus lies on photographing dynamic views of urban and natural environments, enhancing the contrasts in colours and shapes of a landscape.

In his most recent series ‘Neon Desert’, the Milan-born photographer presents hypnotic images of the lunar desert, illuminated by the pink glow of sunset. Following his usual technical approach of over-saturation and an increased sharpness of intricate elements within the frame, Gardel confuses a viewer’s expectations of the desert’s real life appearance. Instead, the landscape is metallic and industrial, resonating with his photographs of bright city lights and the neon street signs of Times Square.

Rome-based artist Micaela Lattanzio’s project “Fragmenta” centres on the fragmentation of female identity.

Each work in the ongoing series, which the artist began in 2013, is created through meticulous manual cropping which transforms female faces into “an intricate mosaic that deconstructs the iconographic material of departure,” according to a statement on the artist’s work. The latest set of works in the series explores the degradation of women’s rights due to political and social discrimination. Lattanzio’s works are on show at Royal Caribbean Art Collection, MAAM, The Museum of Elsewhere in Rome and Miami’s Ca’ D’Oro Gallery.

Located in the historic center of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Barcelona, this modern residence is a rehabilitation of an old and dilapidated house. The new building was developed by Spanish architect’s office DATAAE in 2016 and is based on the original composition, volume and structure of the house.

Some components of the interior as well as the staircases were reconstructed to gain enough space for floor to ceiling windows that allow sufficient natural light within the premises. The new construction is characterized by the use of wood, contrasting with the original stone walls both in the interior and exterior. The kitchen and living room are located in the ground floor where the original wooden beams are still preserved, while the first floor features a bedroom, a home office as well as a bathroom. To maintain as much as possible of the original building, only the elements that have lost their structural capacity were modified. This provokes a strong contrast between the old and the modern, emphasizing the simplicity of the traditional architecture.

US-born, London-based photographer Glen Erler’s “Family Tree” series depicts poetic mementos infused with sun-soaked, bittersweet nostalgia.

Taken in attempt to recreate memories of peaceful moments of solitude, the series explores the themes of family, memories and the fragility of life. In a poignant statement about his work, which Erler decided to end after the death of his father, the photographer explains, “As time passes, it is our memories that take us from one place to the next. They carry us through with laughter or tears and all of which falls in between…This body of work has brought me closer to my family, even if for fleeting moments. It has removed us from our daily routine and thought process and into another world.” The complete works were published in a monograph by Kerher Verlag.

Based in Savannah, Georgia, USA, designer and recent graduate Eny Lee Parker creates refined, considered ceramics and furniture that work together in harmony.

From minimal pot holders and vases, bulbous clay pots propping up glass tabletops and elegant chairs, Parker’s designs are notable for their tactility and eye-catching forms. “The purpose of her designs is to explore the human need/want,” reads a statement on the artist’s website. “Her fascination with the mind and behavior of people leads to objects that echo humanity in character, emotions and even physicality.” Keep an eye on her latest work – which has been featured in the likes of Wallpaper and Design Sponge – by following her on Instagram.

Based in Mexico City and Berlin, Mexican artist Damián Ortega creates powerful visual metaphors with his disassembled and suspended art installations. His artworks are inspired by a wide range of trivial objects, from pick-axes to bricks, rubbish bins and tortillas, described as a “mischievous process of transformation and dysfunction.”

One of his most celebrated works titled “Cosmic Thing” (2002), shows a disassembled Volkswagen Beetle, suspended from wires in mid-air in the manner of a mechanic’s instruction manual. The result is a fragmented object that offers a new perspective of the car first developed in Nazi Germany which was later produced en masse in Mexico. Through his work, Damián Ortega discusses specific economic, aesthetic and cultural situations and how regional culture affects commodity consumption. He began his career as a political cartoonist and his art has the intellectual rigour and sense of playfulness, causing an association with his previous occupation. Ortega’s works highlight the hidden poetry of everyday objects as well as their social and political complexity.

All images © Damián Ortega

South African architecture studio SAOTA built “OVD 919“, a sensational mansion in a unique natural environment with a 360 degree view over Bantry Bay, Clifton and the mountains. The family residence measures more than 2000 square meters and lies at the foot of the mountains known as Lion Head.

The projects was completed in 2014 and won at 2016 A+Awards in the category Private House XL. One of the challenges was the sloping ground. Therefore the architects had to build a platform and created a layering floor plan which permits different living experiences at various spaces. The main living areas, the master bedroom, the terrace, the garden and the pool are elevated to the upper level. The house also holds a coffee bar and an open kitchen. Sections of external walls of the houses can slide all the way to completely merge the inside with the outside. A glazed elevator links the garage in the basement with the other levels of the villa. Moreover a concrete staircase with wooden panels leads through the building. The interior is decorated with wooden accents designed by Studio Parkington. Other characteristics are exposed concrete surfaces, large rugs and carpets.

Reminding of Mies van der Rohe’s iconic pavilion in Barcelona, ‘Rose House‘ is a project of a minimalist residence hidden in the Ukrainian mountains.

The project was prepared by Sergey Makhno Architects, Ukrainian studio based in Kyiv. The studio has released the renderings, made with the use of such programs as 3DS Max and Corona Renderer. The images show the structure made of concrete, weathering steel and glass. With a delightfully stylish pool on the courtyard, accompanied by an intriguing statue, the project carries out a sophisticated yet non-obvious architectural profile. The house was thought as an escape for the client, a businessman living in a big metropolis, who would like to getaway from the bustling city from time to time. The project’s name, ‘Red Rose’, is a reference to the reaction of steel cladding to the natural environment, resulting in an elegant, mysterious tone of red.