Over the past decade the relationship between the visual arts and olfaction has moved beyond the boundaries of teasing, humorous and entertaining, to an expansive and distinct contemplation. [...] Olfactory Art is a contemporary modality of expression in which creators intentionally engage a very unique human sense in their practice – that of smell.

— From Olfactory Art: A New Genre at Psychology Today, with many thanks to Jennifer for the link!

Go to Source

Stuff recycled out of circuit boards cannot be categorized as luxurious or opulent and hence usually fails to find a mention on Luxurylaunches. But since there are exceptions to every rule, let’s take a look at Theo Kamecke’s work of art. The artist has garnered attention for recycling vintage electronic circuit boards into outstanding chests, sculptures and boxes. Making use of a technique called marquetry, the artist has glamorized his creations such that they have found their way into art galleries. Costing anywhere from a few thousand to many thousand dollars , Kamecke’s clients include famous director James Cameron and Swiss surrealist H.R. Giger. Highlight of his creations is the Digital Jukebox. Recycled out of electronic elements and shaping it back into a functional electronic piece of art is stunning. The artist has installed a music system inside the jukebox for himself and also commissioned a few musicians to record the bass lines from some of his favorite songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Roll over to know about his exclusive creations…
Though many cabinets and chests claim a large section of his collection, the Nefertiti cabinet is honored as his most complex piece.

Ra is his creation that ended up with Hollywood director James Cameron. It is shaped out especially for the gods to dwell in!

Each creation is meticulously crafted by hand and hence is 100% exclusive!

[Wired]
Go to Source

The Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools which is all set to open in LA next month, is sure to be featured in every expensive school list ever compiled by Forbes. Dubbed as the crème de la crème of “Taj Mahal” schools, the K-12 campus has an eye-popping price tag of $578 million making it the nation’s most expensive public school ever. Add to this its historic significance as the former Ambassador Hotel where the Democratic presidential contender was assassinated in 1968 and you know that this school is sure to go down in history. The school which is expected to house 4,200 students will boast of state of the art facilities and amenities, including fine art murals, a marble memorial depicting the complex’s namesake, a manicured public park, a state-of-the-art swimming pool and preservation of pieces of the original hotel. The Los Angeles Unified School District which has emerged as the mogul of Taj Mahals is definitely the most perfect home for this upcoming complex.
Although the school has generated mixed responses from the community, many experts say it’s not all flourish and that children learn better in more pleasant surroundings. Thus, this school with its fine architecture and interiors will ensure the students enjoy studying in only the best of surroundings. The RFK site involved 15 years of litigation with historic preservationists and Donald Trump, who wanted to build the world’s tallest building there. Methane mitigation cost $33 million and the district paid $15 million preserving historic features, including a wall of the famed Cocoanut Grove nightclub and turning the Paul Williams-designed coffee shop into a faculty lounge.

Sure to become a landmark of LA, this school is definitely a class apart.

[AJC]
Go to Source

It’s not rare for masterpieces to be stolen, but it is rare for them to be recovered! And this time Van Gogh fans can rejoice and be relieved as a stolen painting worth $50 million was recovered at a Cairo airport. Two Italian bandits were caught by the airport security as they were trying to flee the country. The painting in contention was flicked from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo.
Known as “Poppy Flowers” or the “Vase with Flowers” the one foot high and one foot wide painting depicts yellow and red flowers and was painted by the illustrated artist in 1887, three years before he committed suicide. This is the second time that a Van Gogh art has been stolen, it happened for the first time in 1974, but the art was recovered a decade later.

[NYDailynews]
Go to Source

The fall of Lehman Brothers in 2008 triggered the global economic downfall. And the company rose to fame for the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. However if you intend to own a piece of this ex- banking powerhouse, then here’s your chance. The following month, art works that belonged to the British and European offices of Lehman Brothers will go under the hammer. Interested folks can bid for works of Lucian Freud, Gary Hume, a sign that adorned the company’s offices in London’s Canary Wharf financial district along with post-war and contemporary pieces, maritime pictures and sporting works of art. The 2 million pounds ($3.18 million) expected from this auction will be used to pay back creditors. To observe the second anniversary of the administrations, the sale is also dated on September 29 at Christie’s auction house. It is also reported that ‘a similar sale of 450 contemporary art works owned by Lehman in the United States is due to be held on September 25 and could raise $10 million.’

[Artdaily]
Go to Source

Origami like any other detailed form of art requires a lot of patience, eye for detail and loads of creativity thinking. But you need to be really good at it to make big money. Meet Jeffrey Nishinaka, a 52-year old Los Angeles based artist who used moulds paper based art with the right lighting to create amazing origami art work in 3D. While his art sells for anything between $1,530 and $25,490, his largest creation a 20 feet high, 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep tree set up complete with grass, leaves, birds and fishes earned him a whopping $ 101,985. More images after the jump.
This tree was crafted for the ANA Hotel Tokyo, Japan and was placed in the lobby as a part of their 5th anniversary celebrations. Apart from a lot of accolades and praise, the masterpiece also earned Nishinaka an award the Dimensional Illustrators Awards Show, New York, 1992.

[Papersculpture And Telegraph]
Go to Source

The war between the fashion houses has now officially reached new heights or worlds, literally. While the Devil may endorse Prada, the Virgin Mary has decided to flaunt the LV logo. Yes, it’s true guys, at a biennial exhibition of sacred art in Italy; a statue of the Virgin Mary is displayed donning Louis Vuitton. The veil covering the statue’s head features the French luxury brand’s trademark “LV” logo in golden letters. Francesco De Molfetta the brainchild behind this creation said he made this statue to “denounce a society based on the cult of appearance through the use of a brand that represents the search for ephemeral happiness.” The curator of the Giuseppe Bacci further explains this artwork by saying, “This new way of interpreting sacred art is along the lines of the famous work presented (in 1999 in Venice by Maurizio) Cattelan that showed a wax icon depicting Pope John Paul II being crushed by a meteor”.
The main aim of such artworks according to the curator is to hit the visitor’s unconscious. Well that is one thing we are sure this statue will definitely succeed in doing. The biennial is held at Isola del Gran Sasso in the central region of Abruzzo.

[Luxuo]
Go to Source

The smart people behind such games as Grand Theft Auto and Max Payne are moving into the book arena with a new set of luxury books from Rockstar Games.

The three-book collection has been dubbed Digital + Analogue: The Art and Science of Rockstar Games, and at $450 per set you can see why we’re calling this literature luxury.

The slip-cased monograph is being published by Steidl and will be released in August. It contains illustrations, production stills, ads, and more, plus additional bonus content on a CD/DVD.

Go to Source

Mont Blanc has celebrated many eminent personalities with limited edition fountain pens. The latest personality to receive this honor from the famed brand is Queen Elizabeth I. The reigning Queen of 16th century England will have her legacy celebrated with not one but two fountain pens dubbed the “Limited Edition Patron of Art Elizabeth I”. Like other exquisite offerings, this one too is exclusive being limited to 4810 fountain pens and a finer edition limited to 888 writing instruments. The newest pens in Mont Blanc’s Patron of Art edition are covered in lacquer modeled on the monarch’s royal garments. The cap features the Tudor Rose and the cross of the British Crown while the clip is topped with a synthetic green garnet cabochon.
One of Queen Elizabeth I’s motto’s “Video et taceo” (I see and say nothing) is engraved on the cap ring. The 4810 limited edition pens boast of a body and cap of black precious resin with gold-plated inlay while the finer edition of 888 is a 750 solid gold fountain pen with a red lacquered barrel and cap. What is more, the nib of this finer edition is made of 18k gold and features a bejeweled gold crown in which Elizabeth I ascended the throne in 1559.

A must-have for every collector, the “Limited Edition Patron of Art Elizabeth I” fountain pens from Mont Blanc, are truly a class apart.

[Luxist]
Go to Source

3D mania has gripped the entire world. The latest to join the 3D technology bandwagon is famed diamond brand DeBeers. DeBeers who is holding a special exhibition at their Isetan department store in Tokyo has decided to incorporate 3D technology for this unique expo titled, The Art of Diamond Jewelry. The exhibition is expected to run in all the windows of Isetan till July 21st. Yes, for the first time ever, customers will watch the magic of jewelry come to life courtesy the 3D technology. For this special window display exhibition, a special 3D film has been created by Holition and Pointy Stick. The 3D film is shown on a customized screen that doesn’t require 3D glasses allowing one and all to experience the magic of diamonds. This stereoscopic display is the first of its kind in the world of jewelry.
A one-of-a-kind exhibit, if you are in Tokyo you had better not give it a miss.

[Luxist]
Go to Source