The Colorful Pacific Coast

Loewe x Ken Price Capsule Collection

自由對創作來說是肥沃土壤,藝術家往往因脫離軌道、忠於自己的信念而創作出與別不同的作品。美國藝術家Ken(Kenneth)Price曾說:「外界視我們脫離傳統工藝等級制度,追求完全創作自由的一群。」他這種追求自由自在的態度,深深地吸引了Jonathan Anderson,他對勇於挑戰傳統規限的藝術家尤其是情有獨鍾,或許這一點與他所追求的一致,於是把Ken Price著名的手繪作品靈活地與Loewe融合起來。在這個特別地渴望陽光海灘,卻無法出遊的日子,這個色彩鮮明、活潑時尚的別注系列確實能為我們帶來片刻舒心歡悅的心情。

Ken Price生於三十年代的美國,在洛杉磯修讀藝術,畢業後專注以黏土為創作素材,標誌性的作品有陶瓷雕塑和手繪藝術。他在六十年代初在洛杉磯著名畫廊Ferus Gallery展出作品而打響名堂。他以色彩明亮的陶藝作品而聞名,尤其是他的小型陶器雕塑,不但顏色鮮艷,更帶有古老墨西哥陶器及傳統民族陶藝的影子,而且作品能看到藝術家深受包浩斯藝術形式的影響,作品往往融合了藝術與手工藝。他製作的陶器雕塑造型圓渾抽象,猶如外太空生物;同時亦有講求實用性的器物,例如是著名的「Town Unit」系列的陶器及碟子,畫滿了幽默卡通風格、顏色繽紛搶眼的城市及風景圖,帶有普普藝術的色彩。

Loewe今年的度假系列採用了Ken Price於八十年代初為加州 Newport Beach的La Palme餐廳手繪的二十隻陶瓷碟,全部都是獨一無二的。Anderson把他筆下的La Palme、復活島、洛杉磯及Happy´s Curios,轉化成重複印花、嵌花及拼皮圖案,散見於服裝及皮具配飾之中。在洛杉磯成長的Ken Price,深受當地的陽光燦爛、悠閒的生活格調所影響,他筆下的洛杉磯系列活現了艷陽高照、色彩鮮明和棕櫚婆娑的城市景色,也定下了度假系列的歡悅優游的調子:鬆身衣服、顏色豐富的圖案、帶點異國風情的風格,是屬於追求自由自在、享受輕鬆休閒生活的一群。在飾品系列方面,Anderson把Loewe經典的手袋如Puzzle、Hammock和一些小皮具加入了棕櫚、海濱和城市等圖案,手工精細的皮具加上Ken Price的畫作帶點年輕跳脫的玩味,而編織小牛皮籃則體現傳統工藝與現代風格的結合,是系列最吸睛的作品。Ken Price系列讓人感受到太平洋海岸的明媚風光,以及幻想身處其中的美好,對於生活在這個「封城」年代的我們來說更顯得意味深長。日子還是要過,倒不如好好享受生活,期待下一次的出遊。

Freedom breeds creativity. Artists often create the most extraordinary works when they jump out of the box. The late American artist Ken Price once said: “We’ve been cited as the people who broke away from the crafts hierarchy and substituted so-called ‘total freedom’!” Price’s unique perspective on freedom has inspired minds alike, including Loewe’s creative director, Jonathan Anderson, a man who is equally feisty and courageous in challenging traditions and rules. The particular interest of Anderson for Price’s work led to the unique pieces that compose Loewe’s latest collection. While we are stuck at home thinking about the good old days spent on the sunny beach, this colorful and lively capsule collection from Loewe will definitely bring us some comfort and joy.

Born in the United States in the 1930s, Ken Price spent his college years studying Arts in Los Angeles. Upon graduation, he started his artist career as a ceramic sculptor and painter with a focus on using clay as a medium. In  1960, he had his first solo exhibition at the legendary Ferus Gallery, Los Angeles, and it was when he first gained international prominence. Price is most well known for his brightly colored ceramic sculptures. His work, particularly those small scale objects, is a fusion of crafts and fine arts that showcase the beautiful characteristics of ancient Mexican earthenware, traditional folk pottery, and Bauhaus art forms. While a lot of his work has a blob-like, biomorphic and abstract shape that looks like outer space creatures, Price also crafted functional artwork, such as the famous Town Unit series which contains plates and other items that are painted with eye-catching urban landscape and lively sceneries in vibrant colors.

The Loewe x Ken Price collection was inspired by a series of twenty unique hand-painted ceramic plates that Price made in the early 1980s for La Palme restaurant in Newport Beach. The motifs that can be seen as allover prints, intarsia, and leather marquetry on clothing pieces as well as leather accessories come from Price’s hand paintings of La Palme, Easter Island, Los Angeles and Happy’s Curios. As a Los Angeles native, Price’s work is deeply influenced by the Californian landscapes and lifestyle. His Los Angeles series brought to life the sunny landscapes, bright pop colours and palms, setting a joyous and laid back stylistic mood for the Loewe collection: loose volumes and cropped culotte trousers that capture Los Angeles’s quintessential ease. For bags and accessories, Anderson has also incorporated Price’s drawings of palm trees, seaside and city landscapes to Loewe’s iconic bags such as Puzzle, Hammock, as well as other small leather goods. Among which, the finely woven leather basket is the most eye-catching item from the collection for it speaks about traditional craftsmanship and modern style on so many levels. For those struggling under the city lockdown, Loewe x Ken Price collection is certainly a reminder of the good days under the sunlight and blue sky. Life goes on, whether you want it or not. While we wait for the city to open up again so we can travel freely, we might as well live our life to the best and fullest.

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