• Alex Israel, Self Portrait (Dodgers), 2014‒2015. Photo credit: Joshua White

    Cut-outs

    Written by Art & Culture

    Alex Israel’s art explores the visual iconography of everything Hollywood - celebrity cult, clichés, and the illusion of the American dream. The Los Angeles based artist inhabits the roles of filmmaker, talk-show host and eyewear designer with ease and has often used film studio props as his material. Cut-outs of his own profile wearing sunglasses in bright pastel hues is a recurring motif blending the worlds of art, fashion, marketing and entertainment in a reflection of our current times.

    Israel earned his BA at Yale and received his MFA from the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Fine Arts. His work has been acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, Centre Pompidou, Guggenheim Museum, Astrup Fearnley Museet, and Moderna Museet Stockholm among others.

    Cut-outs by Alex Israel opens Sep 23 at Hospitalet Stockholm. The exhibition is presented by Carl Kostyal.

    Alex Israel, Wave Grid, 2021

  • photography Anton Stenander
    fashion Isabell Ejdeholm

    makeup and hair Martina Dahlqvist

    model Nova R

    all clothing Elin Westling

    An Interview with Elin Westling and Anton Stenander

    Written by Filippa Gustafsson by Sandra Myhrberg

    Back in the beginning of May, when spring no longer feels like an illusion, the self-taught photographer Anton Stenander, 27, captured the creations of designer Elin Westling, 25, on mm film, using an analogue camera.

    Westling's collection “Gathering surroundings” inspired Stenander to find a contrast to the designs to arouse curiosity. The outcome is a beautiful balance  between the flowy, soft styles and the harshness of the gravel mountain.

    As we discuss how to capture a beautiful, eye-catching image without reducing the object in focus, Stenander lets the inspiration take the lead.
    “It is important to me that the design stays in focus, at the same time I want it feels inspiring. Here, nature meets nature in a dramatic but clear way.”

    Elin Westling has just gotten her bachelor's degree in fashion design at the University of Textiles in Borås. The project is inspired by the artist Georgia O'Keeffe's artwork, and how she took inspiration from her own surroundings.
    “Her art has a sensual simplicity with soft lines and a close feeling to nature. I, therefore, took inspiration from my own surroundings, which resulted in me starting to collect seashells and through my fabric drawers to use the materials I had not previously seen potential in. To make the material more interesting, I chose to dye the fabrics, the rust red is dyed with reactive colors and the light yellow is plant dyed with tansy collected from a ditch near my home.”

    Westling's vision was to highlight how beautiful simplicity can be when it gives more openness to details. The color and material choices go hand in hand with the natural seashells, and the red threads break off as a soft contrast to the materials. The dresses are designed with an emphasis on simplicity, to let the details shine.
    “What was special for me in this project was that I didn't sketch anything before, but worked with my hands first directly with the material. I learned how important it is to trust one's vision because the process was very open.”
    What was important for Westling to capture through the camera lens was the feeling she had looking for during the design process.
    “I wanted there to be softness and calmness in the images. Seashells are fragile, and the colours of the dresses also contribute to a certain fragility.
    Placing them in an environment with piles of gravel gave it a nice contrast.”

    Westling imagines the pieces to be worn for a special occasion.
    “When the wearer wants to feel a closeness to nature and the power that nature can give you.”

  • images courtesy of Nootka

    An Interview with Lisa Olsson, Founder of NOOTKA

    Written by Decirée Josefsson by Sandra Myhrberg

    Outside the tunnel vision of blinding city lights.

    “The constant development and excitement to be bold and confident is a statement of Nootka”

    Nootka is a Swedish based jewelry brand with an inspiring design that manifests the shining raw beauty of nature. With high enthusiasm in sustainability, humble resistance in relation to the fast fashion market which is experiencing strong growth, they are a leading light for generations to come. To reduce their environmental impact all of their items are handcrafted in Stockholm, using recycled 925 silver. Moreover, they are breaking the traditional ways of designing by not producing collections based upon seasons. Proving that their jewelry is timeless and can be worn over again. Longevity is the sentiment behind every unique piece which ensures long lasting memories to be created together with Nootka.

    What’s captivating about jewelry from your point of view?
    Unaffected by era there's an ageless beauty with an intricate personal value. Recurrently connected to a deeper association as an extended arm and version of self. Compared to a garment of clothing that easily is exchanged throughout seasons. Statement pieces seem to be lasting and worn more stable throughout time, instead of an asset for replacement.

    In what ways is Nootka working to be sustainable?
    To avoid duplicating structures we do not produce new items every fourth season. However, that does not by definition mean that a company has to keep up the tempo to be relevant. Because of what our customers have demanded I’ve for example chosen to restock the chunky ring into the latest collection. Showing that fashion doesn't need to develop in symbioses with speed to be relevant.

    How do you wear your jewelry?
    I wear them as if it was a piece of me rather than an object and it gives me confidence. Heels for example can redefine the overall impression of one's appearance and frame of mind. For me, it’s the tiniest detail of silver that completes the whole look and sets the mood for the day.

    To pursue a dream takes courage and patience, could you guide us through the different stages of creating Nootka?
    I have always felt the need to be creative for my soul to fully experience happiness. In my early years, I did a lot of needlework and it felt almost like an individual right to do such. When the idea of Nootka first came across, it started out with a millions of questions to answer to fully understand the whole process. How do I craft jewelry? Moreover, run a business and create a brand out of it? While scouting and browsing ideas, later on I felt that I gained enough knowledge to dare to try. To never know exactly what the outcome might turn out to be,
    makes it even more interesting to always keep on going. If I would've known before, how many fires needed to be extinguished along the way, I might not have taken as many risks along the way, ending up at this stage of the journey where I am today. I’m grateful that I believed in myself and always kept on going.

    Where do you find inspiration?
    As for others, it’s easy to get stuck with tunnel vision in the blinding city lights of our society. I, therefore, turn to nature to remind myself to look up from the mass and stay present in that exact moment. Nootka-Sound is a beautiful postcard-like district in Canada and has been a great baseline for both the name and the design of the brand. Rather than a specific object, the energy of nature is more what’s behind the inspiration for my artwork. The details in structure rather than material.


    Do you have a place where you go to re-boost your energy?
    I’m originally from Malmö and my parents have a cabin in the countryside close to Skåne. Even if I don’t visit often enough, that place, which I call home, deeply calms my soul in stressful and hectic periods of life. Sometimes I hardly notice when working. During those times I often turn to this place to reset my energy and stay present for that time being.

    Would you consider yourself free in your creativity?
    I feel young in this project, constantly trying to not be too concerned about the future. Instead, take care of the light-hearted playfulness occurring in those moments of creating. The constant development and excitement to be bold and confident is a statement of Nootka, which I hope won’t get lost along the way. As I mentioned before one never knows exactly how the outcome might turn out to be, which makes it even more interesting to always keep on going.

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