filigree tableware

Wiebke Meurer’s lace-inspired tableware designs are possibly the most exquisite thing you’d have seen on the table. Inspired by filigree work, the saucers, spoons, tea cups and more, look straight out of a historical romance. Since the tableware gets stripped of most of its utility, for the filigree wouldn’t allow the cups or spoons to hold any liquids, the designs are described as deconstructive art. Meurer who mainly works with porcelain, precious metals, and other natural resources, says she likes to use tradition as the starting point for her creation, but then deconstruct the objects for the creation of something finer, “to reach the heart of its integrity and reinvent it, both formally and functionally.” Meurer is a trained jewelry and object designer who has had her work exhibited at distinguished places ranging from Stedelijk Museum to Saatchi Gallery in London to Gustavsberg Konsthall, Sweden, to Art Genève, Switzerland and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

hiroshi fujiwara

There appears to be a probable collaboration in store for Louis Vuitton with revered Japanese design brand Fragment, at least that’s what appears from the Instagram clicks shared by Louis Vuitton’s artistic menswear directorKim Jones. The images revealed a collared short- sleeve t-shirt and a large tote bag with Louis Vuitton’s classic monogram print. The bag bears the fragment design detail in black and the button down rustic grey shirt features co-tagged emblems for both brands. The Instagram post immediately went viral and was also re-posted by Fragment founder and Japanese streetwear legend Hiroshi Fujiwara a few hours later.

warhol photography exhibit

‘Warhol in China’ photography exhibition will be showcased at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, from March 20 to April 2 this year, in collaboration with Phillips auction house. Open to the public, the exhibition will present a rare set of over 200 photographs taken by Andy Warhol during his visit to Hong Kong and China in 1982, including Warhol’s stay at the hotel. This collection of works will be auctioned by Phillips at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong on 28 May 2017. Along with the exhibit, the hotel has introduced a Warhol Art Package featuring the exhibition at the hotel plus access to two major art fairs taking place simultaneously – Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central Hong Kong.

passenger drones dubai

No, we’re not kidding. Dubai is actually all geared up for pilotless taxis—eight rotor passenger drones, actually— that take passengers up in the air at the touch of a button. Manufactured by Chinese firm Ehang, these drones can carry a single passenger and small suitcase and fly up to 30 minutes on a single battery charge. The drone type is the EHang 184, “an egg-shaped craft with four legs sticking out, each with two small propellers.” Dubai Roads and Transport authority has declared that they will spare no effort to launch these self-flying passenger pods by July this year. The drones would work through remote monitoring by a ground control

art of the Surreal

The sixteenth edition of The Art of the Surreal sale will take place at Christie’s in London on 28 February, following the Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale and will include 35 lots that chart the history of Dada and Surrealism. Together the two auctions launch 20thCentury at Christie’s, a series of sales that take place from 28 February to 10 March 2017. Highlights include René Magritte’s La corde sensible (1960, estimate: £14,000,000-18,000,000), one of the largest oils he created, alongside his painting Le domaine d’Arnheim (1938, estimate: £6,500,000-8,500,000). A group of seven works by Max Ernst include Portrait érotique voilé (1933 and circa 1950, estimate: £1,500,000-2,500-000), offered by the artist’s family, and Les deux oiseaux (1925, estimate: £100,000-150,000) from the Personal Collection of Barbara Lambrecht, sold to benefit the Rubens Prize Collection in the Museum of Contemporary Art Siegen. The works will be exhibited in London from 23 to 28 February 2017.

porsche boxster

The new 718 Cayman and Boxster finally make their debut in India , priced at Rs 81.63 lakh and Rs 85.53 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), respectively. The third generation 718 Boxster displays a more striking and sporty appearance, while the new 718 Cayman complements the Roadster. The beauties of the road claim to pack in more performance and punch. Both powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, which replaces the older 3.4-litre, six cylinder naturally aspirated engine, the Cayman claims to generate an additional 90Nm of torque over its predecessor, while the Boxster also witnesses a considerable rise in torque figures. The top speed for both cars has been restricted at 275kmph. To deliver best handling, the new models are offered with retuned chassis, a wider front and side air-intake with side skirts for aerodynamics.

modern indian art

Bhanu Athaiya was India’s very first Oscar winner who brought home the award in 1983 for costume design in Richard Attenborough’s much acclaimed ‘Gandhi’. And now a rare painting of her, by modernist artist Vasudeo S Gaitonde, will go under the hammer at Saffronart’s Modern Indian Art sale on February 16 in Mumbai. The painting, which immortalises Athaiya, Gaitonde’s student at the J J School of Art, was later acquired by fellow modernist Krishen Khanna and is estimated at Rs 2 3 crore. The sale includes major artworks by the likes of Tyeb Mehta, Ram Kumar, MF Husain, SH Raza, to name a few. Highlights include Tyeb Mehta’s Falling Figure made in 1965, Ram Kumar’s untitled painting made in 1961, SH Raza’s Bombay from Malabar Hill made in 1948, among others.

manish malhotra

Harvard Business School’s India Conference 2017 invited Manish Malhotra as one of their estemmed guest speakers this year. Malhotra, who turned 50 last year, spoke of his childhood, his great love for movies, and how he faced consistent opposition from his parents who disapproved of his “tailoring” career. He also described the change-resistant attitudes of the film industry in those years, where the costumes had little to do with the fleshing out of the character. He touchingly began his speech by thanking Harvard for “inviting me here because it somewhere assures a person who is not educated, who hasn’t come to Harvard, who hasn’t studied at all. I haven’t even studied design, and so this evening, being with all of you really means a lot to me.”

convertible top

The newest release from Mercedes is the limited edition Maybach G650, which is a bold and spectacular beast, and only 99 of these will be created. In true landau style, it has the rear seats fitted with a soft convertible top. The uber luxe seats feature a full massage program and swiveling calf rests.  Leather-dressed folding tables provide work space and two 10″ displays increase both work & pleasure. The engine powering the Maybach G650 is a twin-turbo AMG V12 capable of producing 630 hp and 738 ft-lbs of torque.  With over 17″ of ground clearance and an off-road transfer case that works with the locking differentials, the Landaulet is a beast meant for the real wild.

moment iPhone 7

iPhone photography is almost like a different art in itself, and the introduction of various smartphone camera lenses has only served to enhance it further. Seattle-based company Moments has taken the tempo up a few more notches with their latest gadets for the iPhone7: the Moment iPhone 7 Photo Cases. Rather than having to attach a mount to accommodate external lenses, these wrap your smartphone safely and have an incorporated mount along with a DSLR-like shutter button for greater speed and accuracy.  What’s more, they eliminate the need to touch the screen and so minimise the risk of messing up your shot. You can opt for the basic Photo Case or the more professional Battery Photo Case which includes a built-in battery power pack. Have more fun with your toys!