New York Gladstone Gallery is pleased to present “soul,” an exhibition of new sculptures by Ugo Rondinone. Rondinone has long embraced a fluidity of forms and media. Taken as a whole, his work represents a complex network of responses to social and physical structures. By allowing himself the freedom to work within a wide variety of disciplines and media, Rondinone creates the conditions necessary to explore a broad emotional range. His work has become widely recognized for its ability to channel both psychological expressiveness and profound insight into the human condition.

For the series of sculptures included in “soul,” bluestone – the material out of which the works are made – has been rough-cut into blocks, which are stacked atop one another to form the human figure. The methods by which the stone has been worked are apparent to the viewer, and have not been obscured by subsequent handling. Visible traces, including drill-holes and split structures, evidence the work done at the quarry, where the blocks were removed from the ground. The work evinces the true nature of the stone: heavy and coarse material, marked by wind, weather, and corrosion. The simple presence and natural surface of the sculpture contrasts with the artificial surface of the poured concrete pedestals. The exhibition itself functions as a sort of hall-of-mirrors turned inwards. The stone figure is repeated and reflected in several scales, and installed in an immersive raw concrete environment.

The exhibition is complemented by “Human Nature,” a large-scale installation presented by the Public Art Fund. Nine 16 to 20-foot tall stone sculptures are on view now through June 7 in the plaza at Rockefeller Center.

Born in 1964 in Brunnen, Switzerland, Rondinone has recently been the subject of solo exhibitions at: the Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens, Greece; Kunst Historisches Museum Wien, Wien, Vienna; Museum Dhondt Dhaenens, Deurle, Belgium; and Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, France. This year, Rondinone will have solo exhibitions at Museum Leuven, Brussels, Belgium, and at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2007, Rondinone represented Switzerland at the 52nd Venice Biennial and curated “The Third Mind” at Palais de Tokyo in Paris. He currently lives and works in New York.

Photos by Vassili Di Napoli

“You are Vogue, or not Vogue.”

Who’s Steve Oklyn? A fashion industry insider or someone who speculates about fashion? He has been called the ‘world’s greatest fashion critic’ and since 2 years founded NOT VOGUE, an 100% anti-fashion-industrial complex with a precise page visual format & the structure, important as much as the text itself.

Check out the interview to the man behind this moniker by HungerTV.

Last Saturday New York City’s hottest rock club became the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka MET.

The Los Angeles trio known as Liars have never delivered the expected, they constantly evoke a disquieting sense of intrigue. This time they presented a multi-media, site-specific performance in the Egyptian temple as a part of the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibit.

An amazing experience.

Photos by Christian Torres via Pitchfork

LONDON, UK - If you haven’t yet seen the paintings that represent the momentous and turbulent year for the young Picasso, you have one week left to go to The Courtauld Gallery. This exhibition tells the remarkable story of Pablo Picasso’s breakthrough year as an artist – 1901. Picasso charted new artistic directions in the second half of the year, heralding the beginning of his now famous Blue period.  Becoming Picasso focuses on the figure paintings of 1901 and explores his development during this seminal year when he found his own artistic voice. This display is a unique opportunity to experience works, now considered to be Picasso’s first masterpieces, which established his early reputation.  They are also among the earliest paintings to bear the famously assertive and singular Picasso signature, which he adopted in 1901.

The exhibition runs till 27 May 2013, London.

Twins Miranda Kilbey (with the dark hair) and Elektra (the blonde) aka Say Lou Lou are the hot name for 2013.

After a quick name change (from Saint Lou Lou to Say Lou Lou), the duo is back and they just released their new video directed by Philippe Thempelman called Julian.

“Oh Julian, once we get across the border, I’ll mend your heart”. Enjoy the video!

Ever heard about The Sun’s daily Page 3?

It’s a British institution that profiles different glamour model every day. Check out i-D’s new video featuring babes Courtney, Sabine, Nicole, Lacey and Rosie model spring/summer 13’s beauty trends and speak up in defence of Page 3.

Last Saturday 11th May we attended Toolkit festival.

For the third year, Venice hosted a collection of interactive exhibitions, workshops and lectures dedicated to the most experimental sector of contemporary art with the participation of international artists chosen among the 200 applications received from 34 different countries. Toolkit Festival, international kermesse dedicated to New Media Art and curated by Martin Romeo, in collaboration with A plus A Slovenian Exhibition Centre of Venice, with the patronage of Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation, the generous support of Officina delle Zattere, Ca’ Foscari Digital Week and the Municipality of Venice, presented its program including artists from all over the world for a festival without boundaries. Since its first edition (Venice, 2011), the festival proposes a detailed mapping of the most contemporary researches in the interactive arts field. Over a short period of time, it gained attention and success in the national and international artistic community, involving numerous Venetian institutions, as well as professionals in the field of New Media Art.

Images courtesy of Andrea Avezzù

Shot in Paris while Kanye was recording his new album. Chief Keef joined as well. Video here:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Best friends and also together in a video now shot by Rankin: check out Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora in Facemelt. The video sees the model-of-the-moment dress up as, and appear alongside, her bestie for their take on Rita’s new single.

Saint Laurent’s first shop is opening in the ultra-luxurious Avenue Montaigne, Paris.

The new concept store which officially opens on Thursday, consists of mirrors and marble for a luxe (sharing DNA with those of Le Corbusier and van der Rohe) yet commercial look offering a wide range of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear Saint Laurent products and accessories. There will also be a VIP space with an L-shaped banquette that could comfortably seat a star’s entourage, and floor-to-ceiling matte screens at various points feature the designer’s personal photography. The store will represent Hedi Slimane‘s vision of a newly reestablished YSL.