april fixations
by clé tile | published: Apr 05, 2024
Interior of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia basilica. Image courtesy of flickch
for those in the design industry, there’s only one thing on our minds: Milan. We’ll highlight a few of those items we’re looking forward to, but remembering that there is a world beyond Milan, here’s your clé list for April.
Experience
Loewe Crafted World in Shanghai. Runs till May 5. Just in case you were wondering whether Loewe existed before Jonathan Anderson, the answer is yes: this heritage Spanish leather company has long roots in craft and the work of the hand, which Anderson has done a superlative job of showcasing in the Loewe Foundation’s annual Craft Prize. It’s not just the work and workmanship that goes into things: it’s all that additional knowledge embodied in heart and hand. 10,000 hours is just the start.
Photo: Nicholas Knight. Image courtesy The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum. © Family of Toshiko Takaezu
Just opened: Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within at the Noguchi Museum. Takaezu, who hailed from Hawaii, is known for her large-scale ceramic forms and installation — but this exhibit also includes her other work, from textiles to paintings. You can just feel the soul.
Image courtesy of Joan Jonas
No, not THAT Jonas: Joan Jonas: Good Night Good Morning at NY’s MOMA profiles this artist’s boundary-breaking works in sculpture, video, and performance art. (There are also three other concurrent exhibits of her work including the Drawing Center’s “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral” in SOHO. A trip into inspiration, process, creation.) Make sure to take a visit to her studio. And may we just say: 87 years and going strong. Maggie Smith, I think you have competition for the next Loewe campaign.
Alcova at the Fuorisalone. Image credit: Mary Gaudin, courtesy of Alcova
when in milan… we think you should get away from all the eye candy of brera to celebrate flaxwood, new architectural tile derived from linseed oil: a project by christien meindertsma and dzek, co-creator of the extraordinary formafantasma excinere tile and sculpture available on OUTERclé. also intrigued with draga & aurel: pastel; tortina rocks; porta venezia: everythink is design and of course whatever the team at alcova cooks up. always an embarrassment of riches.
Tropical Modernism: architectural design in the mid-century from hot, steamy climes around the world. You might be surprised at what you see.
Mark your calendars: Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia basilica (more on Gaudí here) is set to be completed by 2026, marking 144 years since construction began. We’d say that you should book your flights, but you know about construction projects…
Image courtesy of Prime Video
Watch
We're eagerly awaiting Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, (yes, you have it right, a mini-series on our favorite pony-tailed wonder) to debut in June. In the meantime, we're brushing up on our French and prepping further by streaming The Mysterious Mr. Lagerfeld.
Hear
Ecoutez-vous: spring’s aural pleasures are as abundant as the cheery cherry blossoms.
5 April: Khruangbin: A la Sala
12 April: Maggie Rogers Don’t Forget Me
26 April: St. Vincent All Born Screaming
Smell
Fishersund. From the creative minds behind SigurRos: if you love that brainy, austere, but edgy Icelandic vibe, this is for you. We’re partial to this which, by the way, vibes perfectly with this.)
Read
As we are embarking on a mission in the great outdoors, it is only, um, natural, we are buoyed by this timely tome about home.
We think you should pre-order this. The art of noticing is the art of happiness.
Taste
We love food, and we adore wine. It follows suit that Food & Wine’s spring offerings have our eager taste buds awakening from their wintry dormancy.
You could do worse than to take your cues from this (also the very best gift for everyone from the novice to the know-it-all.)
-Contributors: Joe Armenia, Regina Connell, Julie Muniz, Nicole Bemboom, Mayme Stansfield, Laura Weber