atelier 55 – The Curator of Contemporary African Designatelier 55 – The Curator of Contemporary African Design
I have been spending my free time immersed in the pages of Zimbabwe: Art, Symbol and Meaning, by Gillian Atherstone and Duncan Wylie,m a beautifully illustrated art book, that is not just good to look at the book, but is a culturally important publication documenting a 30-year journey of gathering information into Zimbabwe’s artistic and cultural legacies.
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Sub-Saharan Africa Architectural Guide is a 7-volume box set that takes readers on a visual journey through Africa’s built environment. Edited by Philipp Meuser and Adil Dalbai Sub-Saharan Africa Architectural Guide brings together over 350 authors from Africa and the world who share the building culture of their countries. The series aims to spread the word about Africa’s architectural wealth to the wider world.
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Inside Marrakesh: Enchanting Homes and Gardens is a lavish book that offers a window into some of the city’s most stylish expat homes. Curated by Meryanne Loum-Martin Inside Marrakesh takes you on a journey through the interiors, gardens, and boutique hotels that have put their own unique stamp on Moroccan design.
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As its name suggests Little Africa Paris is a handy pocket guide that connects you to Paris’s thriving African culture and communities in Paris. The guide was created by Jacqueline Ngo Mpii who wanted to reveal and highlight the contributions Africans have made to the city, and country in the past and continue to do so in the present.
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What does it mean to be an ‘African designer’? Is it the fabrics you use, or earthy colour palettes, perhaps it’s traditional references or ethnic motifs? This is a question designers from the continent grapple with when presenting their work to international audiences and if their aesthetic does not fit into the perceptions of African design often find it being critiqued as not being African enough. Who gets to decide what it is to be African? The creator or the critic? This is the question posed and explored by Kenyan-based The Nest Collective in their book Not African Enough, which […]
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If you are follower of African fashion, style and beauty, then you are probably familiar with the images of Paris-based photographer Mario Epanya. The Mario Epanya who divided online opinion with his super-stylish series of fictional Vogue Africa covers, a concept that was turned down by Condé Nast giving rise to the debate of whether or not Africa needed Vogue. Fast forward seven years and the Cameroonian-born photographer is once again setting the digital world alight this time with his debut book BEAUTIFUL: Portraits of Black Beauty. And what a treat it is.
Read MoreFashion Illustration is a creative discipline that in recent years has captured the imagination of fashion lovers everywhere, and is by no means a recent phenomenon. The discipline has a rich history of documenting fashion, style, and cultural trends long before the advent of cameras and photography led to its decline. Rising and falling in popularity over the decades but never quite reaching the dizzy heights of the past, in recent years Fashion Illustration has witnessed a renaissance on the back of the growing share culture that has been fostered by social media. This has allowed for an abundance of […]
Read MoreAfrica Rising is a new book edited by publishers Gestalten and South African based design platform, Design Indaba, which spotlights African design, fashion, photography, architecture, and lifestyle. Africa Rising was launched in September 2016 in London as part of a programme of events for the inaugural London Design Bienniale at Somerset House.
Read MoreAfrican Catwalk is a new book by award-winning photographer Per-Anders Pettersson, that takes the viewer on a journey behind the scenes of Africa’s flourishing fashion industry. African Catwalk brings together images shot in 16 countries over a 7 year period and captures a side to the fashion industry rarely seen by the audience. From the birds-eye view of models parading down a sleek catwalk under the glare of bright lights to the unguarded moments of models waiting their turn African Catwalk documents the details that are making Africa’s diverse fashion industry one of the most exciting around.
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Whilst passing through Waterstones Piccadilly, my eye was drawn to a colourful book display positioned in front of the elevators. Stopping to get a better a look I was introduced to The Groundnut Cookbook, exploring modern African food. The Groundnut Cookbook was written by Duval Timothy, Jacob Fodio Todd, and Folayemi Brown three friends who run a bi-monthly London supper club called The Groundnut, hence the name of the book.
Read MoreCongratulations to Yolanda Salimu, who won the competition. A signed copy of Contemporary Design Africa is on its way to her.
Read MoreTo celebrate the publication of Contemporary Design Africa, I have a signed copy to give away to ONE lucky Atelier Fifty-Five reader. To enter, all you need to do is:
Read More[Main image credit: Centro de Artes Africana, Wooden Vessels – courtesy Deborah Mason for Aid to Artisans] Today is Africa Day, cited as a day to celebrate the continent’s achievements and to reflect on the challenges faced. So, rather fittingly today is also the day Contemporary Design Africa, my book about modern African design is officially published in the UK, celebrating the achievements of contemporary designers emerging from the continent; and here are some of the exceptional designs featured within its pages.
Read MoreContemporary Design Africa [Coming Soon] [Images credit: Contemporary Design Africa – Tapiwa Matsinde] Woo hoo, just received advance printed copies of my book! Nervous anticipation kicked in so it took me a while to get round to opening the package, but when I eventually plucked up the courage I can’t describe how it felt to finally hold in my hands and see months of hard work come together and revealed in the finished product. Africa’s design is amazing! So whilst I get acquainted with my copies, here are some sneak peeks of what to expect and would love to know what […]
Read MoreBack in September 2014 I hinted at some news I was looking forward to sharing a few months into the future; well that time has now come and I am so thrilled to finally be able to introduce my forthcoming first book on modern African home decor and design entitled- Contemporary Design Africa. Contemporary Design Africa will be published by Thames & Hudson in May 2015 in the UK, and in early June in the US. [Image credit: Contemporary Design Africa, Cover – Thames & Hudson]
Read MoreContemporary Design Africa [Image credit: Contemporary Design Africa, Cover – Thames & Hudson] Back in September 2014 I hinted at some news I was looking forward to sharing a few months into the future; well that time has now come and I am so thrilled to finally be able to introduce my forthcoming first book- Contemporary Design Africa, which will be published by Thames & Hudson in May 2015 in the UK, and in early June in the US.
Read MoreAphroChic – Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul [Image credit: Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul by Jeanine Hays and Brian Mason – Revamp.com] Earlier this month, Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason of the chic interiors blog, AphroChic launched their much-anticipated book, Remix: Decorating with the Culture, Objects and Soul. Remix is a beautifully illustrated book on how to tastefully infuse culture into modern design aesthetics, and avoiding the cliches that end to come with creating culturally inspired spaces. Indeed, the couple have long been championing cultural diversity in design through their blog, and textiles company. Drawing inspiration from […]
Read MoreAngels in Africa [Reflections] [Image credit: Angels in Africa, book cover – Beth O’Donnell] I read constantly and each book in its own way leaves its mark on me, but there are certain books that have a profound effect on me, one particular the harrowing ‘A Piece of Cake‘ by Cupcake Brown had me constantly reminding myself that this really happened and was not fiction; and every time I find myself thinking ‘woe is me’ I remember that book and think I shouldn’t be complaining, if Cupcake can make it through some unspeakable horrors then I am sure I can […]
Read MoreKoto Bolofo [Lesotho] [Image credit: Koto Bolofo – La Maison] Koto Bolofo is one of the most prolific fashion photographers of his generation. Born in Lesotho and raised in the UK; Koto’s portfolio includes iconic photography for fashion and lifestyle’s elite from magazines like Vogue, GQ and Vanity Fair to editorials and advertising campaigns for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Dom Pérignon. Now residing in Vendée, France Koto has several books to his name capturing in print his often evocative photography. Releasing this year is a collection of images exploring and documenting the rich heritage of Hermès, significant in making Koto […]
Read MoreDorah Sithole [South Africa] [Image source: Tafelberg] Whether it’s a steaming plate of sadza ne nyama, a beautifully fragranced lamb tagine, spicy jollof rice or a Sunday roast; our favourite foods done just the way we like it provide a source of comfort, reminding us of Mum’s good home cooking and with Mother’s Day in the UK a week away, on Sunday 3rd April what a good day as any to get together, cook up a feast and honour our Mothers as we make them feel extra, extra special. As the flurry of gift buying gets underway if your Mum […]
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