Lladro Atelier's Newest Decorative Porcelain Collection by Jaime Hayon: Metropolis.

Lladro Atelier unveiled their latest collection of decorative porcelain at the 2011 maison et objet show. The architecturally inspired pieces, created under the guidance of designer Jaime Hayon, include vases, lamps, planters, mirrors and boxes that together form a city.




The modern and futuristic pieces are rendered in matte porcelain and modern colors (light and dark yellow, light and dark green, light and dark grey, anthracite and white) whose detailed textures are reminiscent of embroidery. Although the exteriors are bisque, the interiors are glazed so that they are watertight.






images courtesy of Lladro Atelier
The individual pieces range from $215 to $600 and can be purchased here

The following images from Maison et Objet are courtesy of Designboom:




Lladro Atelier

Floating Frame Mantel Clocks in 14 Finishes by Kiki van Eijk for Moss Gallery.

above: Kiki with her clocks and right, the gold-plated copper wire frame clock for Moss Gallery is the most expensive in the collection and costs $4,200

Moss Gallery invited designer Kiki van Eijk to create a series of metal wire mantel clocks in 14 different finishes based on her floating frame works of brass and ceramic. The result is the "One More Time : Floating Frame Mantel Clock"

Rendered in ceramic and bent wire "drawings", the skeletal representations of solid forms are executed in various metals and finishes such as oxidized copper, shiny copper, anodized metals in colors, matte silver and even real gold-plated copper.





dimensions: 13.3" x 5.5", height: 16"

Prices range from $2,500 to $4,200.00 (for the gold-plated copper edition). To see the whole range of 14 finishes and to purchase, go here



above: The grandfather clock and candle holder from van Eijk's floating frame collection inspired the mantel clocks for Moss Gallery

Not a stranger to clock designs, Kiki has also made these wonderful mantel clocks:




Kiki van Eijk (born 1978, the Netherlands) graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2000. She is frequently asked to design interiors for both residential and commercial projects, to act as Art Director for exhibitions, to create exhibit designs for galleries, museums and schools, and she has designed products for the ceramics producer Cor Unum and the industrial design manufactory Moooi, the Netherlands. In addition, she has developed several collections which are produced through her own studio. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide, most recently during the 2010 Salone del Mobile, Milan, in an exhibition presented by the Zeiderzee Museum. Van Eijk lives and works in Eindhoven.

Casualties Of War: Provocative and Compelling Versions of Plastic Toy Soldiers.

These tiny sculptures, created by Dorothy, were designed for a Colorado Springs Gazette article entitled “Casualties of War.” The two-part article in which these toy soldiers were featured focused on a single battalion based at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, who since returning from duty in Iraq had been involved in brawls, beatings, rapes, drunk driving, drug deals, domestic violence, shootings, stabbings, kidnapping and suicides. Returning soldiers were committing murder at a rate 20 times greater than other young American males.

A separate investigation into the high suicide rate among veterans published in the New York Times in October 2010 revealed that three times as many California veterans and active service members were dying soon after returning home than those being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

The soldiers have been generating a lot of interest in the USA and Canada and the art collective has been contacted by a number of war veterans making them both proud and humble. The toy soldiers were also recently featured in an article in the Irish Times.

Here's a look at the provocative versions of small molded plastic soldiers:








Not for sale.

Evolution Of Steel: Josh Hadar's One-Of-A-Kind Custom Eco- Friendly Bikes.

From May 6th-May 27th, Josh Hadar (above), founder and owner of Hadar Metal Design, an eco-friendly design group that creates one-of-a-kind custom bikes and environmental installations, will launch his first showcase at 285 Lafayette St. in New York City.

The L'Ovalle:





Hadar has worked to develop new sculptural art installations that bring evolving environmental technologies to the forefront of the art world and will display a series of bikes and trees, all hand crafted from steel in his neighborhood workshop.

Richard The Lionhearted:




The exhibit will display everything from Josh's crude early work to his more recent custom bikes such as "ER's Teardrop," which features nickel on rolled steel, hand-spun aluminum plate wheels, and a hand-blown, steel-wrapped glass fuel tank with an 80 cc gas powered motor with pedal assist.

ER's Teardrop:




Also featured is "Christy Lynn," built to honor the strength and spirit of his dear friend Christie Lynn Medrano who died of complications from the treatment of breast cancer in November of 2008.

The Christy Lynn:




Josh's shop is fully equipped with solar power and he is exploring new applications of alternative drive systems and power sources for his unique bikes, trees and tricycles. The results of this work has earned an enthusiastic and diverse global audience of fine artists, craftspeople, environmental scientists, engineers, technicians and social activists who bring their knowledge and energy to the development of new projects. Now for the first time, Josh's work will be showcased in one setting, allowing admirers to experience the next wave of eco-conscious design.

Eco-Luxe bikes:






"I am thrilled to be able to showcase my work to new audiences," said Josh Hadar. "Artists have a responsibility to not only create visually pleasing installations but also a social need to be leaders in the environmental movement and I hope that my work will not only excite the art community but also inspire change."

The Solar E-Trike:





"The Evolution of Steel," will debut with a private preview on Thursday, May 5th in the original space that Hadar began his journey into the art world years ago. After a storied career in the nightlife and theater industries, Hadar decided to pursue his true passion and trained himself how craft steel through natural means (around fire hydrants, lamp posts, trash cans and trees) rather than using heat or electric equipment. His early work with reclaimed building materials and broken bicycles from the streets of New York developed into an exploration of the relationship between biological and technological forms. Hadar was drawn to the art of metal sculpting by its structural fluidity and lack of strict aesthetic rules, which encouraged the self-taught artist to learn the particulars of metal design in order to create original installations.

Father Heart, Mother Heart and Little Cub:


In addition to the bikes, Josh will showcase his newest creations, solar powered steel trees that represent the future of eco-conscious design, already displayed across the globe including an installation at the Intercontinental Hotel in Times Square.



DESIGNER JOSH HADAR PRESENTS "THE EVOLUTION OF STEEL"
Featuring New York's First Solar Powered Electric Vehicles and Additional Eco-Conscious Art Installations

Where:
285 Lafayette St. (Bet. Houston and Prince St.)
New York, NY 10012

When:
PRESS PREVIEW: Thursday, May 5th from 7:00 PM-10:00 PM
EXHIBIT: From May 6th-27th
Tuesday to Friday: 1pm-9pm
Saturday: 12pm-9pm
Sunday: 12pm-6pm

For more information and to view more of Josh's work please Hadar Metal Design.