Sensuous ‘spinning tops’ in captivating jewel-like colours are being presented by Vessel Gallery in this exhibition of new unique art glass works by British artist Katy Holford.

LUMINOUS SPIRIT: GLASS SCULPTURES BY KATY HOLFORD, 22nd June-31st July 2010

VESSEL GALLERY

114 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PW (020 7727 8001)

Greatly influenced by Buddhist culture, Holford has succeeded in encapsulating the nature of chakra energy points of the body within the glass medium. Molten glass takes its shape by heating and rotating, in much the same way as chakras are viewed as whorls of circulating energy. The result is a “successful fusion of the real and metaphysical, the solid and the fluid, the stasis of meditation and the vigor of movement.”

The works are produced in collaboration with renowned British glass maker, Bob Crooks. Having worked together for 16 years, Crooks’ superb glass making skills are more than equal to Holford’s technically challenging forms using under and overlaid layers of glass to create a resonating depth of tone.

At Vessel Gallery, Italian designer Luca Nichetto is showing his collection of vases, bowls, candles holders and small interior objects from the Essence collection. This body of work celebrates the processes and tools employed in artisanal glass and ceramic craftsmanship.

ESSENCE COLLECTION BY LUCA NICHETTO, 29th April – 30th May 2010

VESSEL GALLERY

114 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PW (020 7727 8001)

Essence was born of Luca Nichettoʼs desire to share the knowledge of processes of artisanal production that he inherited when he was just a young boy growing up in Venice. Every one of the objects in the collection makes reference to one of the tools the uninitiated never see, for the designer wanted to bring these to the fore and transform their function in the process.

The result of his efforts is a group of products in which the materials employed – glass, ceramic, wood and metal – are aligned with the designerʼs Venetian roots, thereby reflecting what has always characterized his approach to design: a constant dialogue with the people involved in the physical process of production.

Bosa is responsible for Essenceʼs ceramic parts and distribution and Venini to assist in the realization of glass elements.

The collection travels from Venice to Paris and London with the goal of showcasing the artisanal quality of a typically Italian product by making reference to its origins and the techniques used in its production.

Have you ever eaten out while lying down on a comfy bed? Chances are, if you’ve visited Amsterdam you would have been to or heard of the famous Dutch restaurant/bar/club – supperclub – which does exactly that. Now they have opened in London’s Notting Hill.

SUPPERCLUB LONDON

12 Acklam Road, London W10 5QZ (020 8964 6600)

The space is located under the Westway near the top end of Portobello Road on the site of the once legendary 90s nightclub, Subterranea. The space is designed by Concrete, the Dutch design practice also responsible for the various other supperclub locations in the world and the forthcoming W Hotel in London’s Leicester Square (opening Summer 2010).

On arrival, you pass through impressive double doors leading into Bar Rouge – a sumptuous take on a classic hotel bar. This is where patrons meet for a pre-dinner drink and suss out the crowd. When the kitchen is ready for dinner (around 8pm), frosted glass doors slide open and diners are ushered into the vast Salle Neige, a sheer white space and the epicenter of the dining concept.

Diners are shown to their, er, oversized beds which line the sides of the room, as well as along the mezzanine level. It is from here that the rest of the evening unfolds. To a super-cool DJ soundtrack and video projections, drinks are served to your bed along with a four-course tasting menu (£50), which is interspersed with live performances from a myriad of weird and wonderful artists. From the comfort of your bed, you embark on a people-watching extravaganza. 

At the end of the meal, the space is cleared and evolves into a nightclub.

EDITOR’S COMMENTS:

If truth be told, I haven’t yet been to this new London outpost of supperclub. However, with nearly 10 visits to the Amsterdam original under my belt, I feel comfortable enough with their format to comment. 

I defy anyone not to enjoy a night at supperclub. However, I say that from the relative anonymity of their Amsterdam venue. On each visit there, I have wondered if the concept would work in London – an altogether more uptight, self-conscious, dare-I-say pretentious city. Us Brits are not always very good at letting our hair down in public and tend to resort to heavy drinking and embarrassing behaviour to get there. But at supperclub, you really must lose your inhibitions without exercising such tactics.

First up, no matter how cool you think you are or look, remember that you’re dining with no shoes on (note: check no holes in socks before heading out). You’re also lying horizontal, which ends up looking either super-sexy or downright slobbish. Negotiating your plate of food from this position also proves challenging.

My message is simply – don’t go here with the wrong expectations. Relax, smile, chat to your neighbours, laugh at yourself and flirt ferociously. As owner Bert van der Leden would put it, “If you just want to look you should go to the theatre. Here, you make the evening yourself. Come, see, and give yourself over to the world called supperclub.”

A few additional tips: Don’t go here on business unless you are very comfortable with your guests. Don’t expect much change from £100 each. Don’t take a normal table in the middle of the space as you will feel self-conscious all night. 

Leading design gallery Themes & Variations is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a landmark exhibition of pioneering post-war and contemporary design. The show explores the theme of continuity and change in design over the past quarter century.

‘MAVERICK’ open from 19th November – 12th December 2009

THEMES & VARIATIONS

231 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SE (020 7727 5531)

The exhibition features works by a selection of the artists that the gallery has introduced over the years. Historic pieces by the likes of Ettore Sottsass and Bridget Riley are shown alongside established work by Tom Dixon and Andre Dubreuil as well as new furniture by emerging talents that have been created exclusively for the occasion. 

The exhibition revisits the black and white aesthetic with which the gallery opened in November 1984. One of the highlights of the inaugural show was a display of the iconic, monochrome Themes & Variations designs by Piero Fornasetti which inspired the name of the gallery. 

When the gallery first opened its doors, the London design scene was in its infancy and Notting Hill was uncharted territory. Originally a garage with a scrap metal merchant for a neighbour, the gallery has gone on to play a significant role in the regeneration of the area and the development of design in London, securing its reputation for anticipating new trends in a constantly evolving market.