Obviously III

1. Jeff Koons Large Vase of Flowers, 1991
2. Finale at Jil Sander Fall/Winter 2012 show
3. Raf Simons' heartbreaking good-bye, Jil Sander Fall/Winter 2012
4. Jeff Koons Sacred Heart, 1994

Flowers and hearts, from Jeff to Raf. Now that the Dior rumours are finally confirmed, we can move on. And discover further, visual tributes. A sign of new, strictly self-referential commercial heights?
/HORST

Any Body

Jeff Koons Jeff and Ilona (Made in Heaven), 1990

Taking the ready-made, adding the Pop concept of mass production and creating the pornification of kitsch. At the same time, exposing himself in the most extreme depiction of a self-portrait. What could easily be judged as simplistic, remains a complex intellectual and artistic achievement.
/HORST

Image source The Jeff Koons Show

Two Flowers

1. André Kertész Melancholic Tulip, 1939
2. Driu & Tiago Citizen K Homme, 2009
3. Albert Renger-Patzsch Gemeiner Löwenzahn, 1925-29
4. Alasdair McLellan 'Suburbia' POP Magazine, 2006

The fashion editorial and 'Neue Sachlichkeit' (New Objectivity), the monochrome portrait and the flower still life. An honest, melancholic view on beauty betwen tulip torso and dandelion hair.
/HORST

Post Paris III

A false encyclopaedic guide to the prêt-à-porter collections for Spring/Summer 2012.
Third chapter: Junya Watanabe

1. Junya Watanabe Spring/Summer 2012
2. Guido Mocafico
3. Frida Kahlo

Junya Watanabe showed the living dead. Reflected via opulent vanitas still life headpieces. Subsequently unifying himself with one formerly living artist obsessed with dysfunction, pain and death.
/HORST

Happiness Factory

Meadham Kirchhoff Spring/Summer 2012 & Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010

Everyone smiled. Even Anna Wintour. So there is a rumour: Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff will take on Dior. Balloons, candy, roses. Frills, lace, organza. Powder, glitter, rainbows. Thoughts?
/HORST

Nomadic Couple

Artworks Christopher Wierling



A fragile addition to our investigation on twins in contemporary art. Flowers attached on parallel strings. Leading to and embedded in mirrored blocks of concrete.

/HORST

Shush!

Artworks Takashi Murakami

Kitsch is when our feet touch wet green grass. And golden raspberries sparkle in the sky. Kitsch admits the happy yeah. Rich, lavish and pointless. Loud at first sight, quietly prompting surreal truths to your mind.
/HORST

Tropical Heat

1. Martin Honert Fata Morgana & Kenzo Spring/Summer 2012
2. Henri Rousseau Éclaireurs attaqués par un tigre & Givenchy Spring/Summer 2012
3. Andreas Gursky Beach & Raf Simons Spring/Summer 2012
4. Jeremy Parnell Big Chook & Prada Spring/Summer 2012

It's about beaches and jungles, flowers and sand castles. Childhood memories, vacation traumata and global warming are melting and diffusing into each other. Just like a bar of rainbow coloured ice cream. In 2012, men wear Hawaii shirts, bermuda shorts and (hopefully) banana skirts.
/HORST

Vulgar Thoughts

Photos Nobuyoshi Araki

When I attend a guided tour in a museum, I feel quite embarrassed, almost amused. And entertained by the whispered theories of its visitors. Ashamed faces when confronted with erotic art are probably the most enjoyable.
/HORST

Flowers & Dolls

Artworks Maureen Mullarkey
Backdroop Irving Penn

While enjoying a glass of red wine, I let myself feel touched. A red dress. And a corset. Tightened by a bulky arm that is decorated with a tribal tattoo. The time has come for you to lipsync for your life.
/HORST

Table Cloth Fight

Tsumori Chisato Fall/Winter 2011 vs. Henri Matisse Spanish Still Life, 1911

Is that a Matisse on her skirt?
/HORST