In black & white: Robert and Shana Parke Harrison

Black, white... and sepia. Neo-surrealist, theatrical photography from the series entitled 'Architect’s Brother'. Fascinating power of the elements.

www.parkeharrison.com

Surrealistic menagerie: François-Xavier Lalanne

“Everyone can recognize animals... You don’t have to explain what they are or mean.” Ancient Egyptian and Greek gods, Celtic Mythology, medieval bestiary, Indian totems... animal symbolism has been engrained in all cultures and religions. We are mesmerised over and over again.

Lalanne's whimsical sculptures achieve record prices at art auctions. His work became very popular in 1976, when French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg published his album with the title and cover inspired directly by one of the sculptures - "The man with the head of a cabbage".

Inspired by Brancusi, Ernst, Man Ray and Duchamp, Lalanne created his own brand of surrealism, inhabited by herds of sheep, iron rhinoceroses, dinosaurs and baboons. His work was also influenced by ancient Egyptian and Assyrian art, seen everyday at the Louvre, where he worked as an attendant for a short period. 

Lalanne's works are almost impossible to classify, balancing somewhere on the border between fine art and design. They were created with childlike joy and surreal sense of humour, and I think this is why we find them so intriguing...

images via: The Selvedge Yard

Imaginary Kingdom of Tim Walker

Picking apples in my Grandmothers orchard, climbing the trees and turning into a fairy. Lead soldier wars and dreams of flying... Going home for dinner straight from your fresly-build castle or another exciting overseas cruise... As we grow up, our childchood becomes imaginary kingdom. Imaginary - for most of us, but for some - more real than reality.

Tim Walker, the Peter Pan of  British photography, creates images that can be seen only with our inner child's eyes. He evokes long-forgotten memories, invites us to the other side of the mirror. Surreal or magic realism? It's not only the whimsical beauty that makes his narrative photo-stories unforgetable: they are created with true love, based on collective unconscious archetypes and cultural symbols, easily-read, mysteriously touching. Alive.

Tim Walker works mostly on fashion projects, his photograps were published in numerous magazines (Vogue,Vanity Fair etc.) all over the world and exhibited at The National Portrait Gallery, The Design Museum and The Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

www.timwalkerphotography.com

Animal tales by ding3000

“Mother Nature is still the best designer in the world.” That’s why we started copying her most fascinating creations.” Wild thing! Afghan hound, shy giraffe, greedy chick and my favourite: not-at-all-stubborn mule... a beautiful whimsical menagerie!

Ding3000 was established by Sven Rudolph, Carsten Schelling and Ralf Webermann in 2005. Three years later Animal tales collection was presented at Milan Design Week and won the Design Report Award. "It is both a challenge and a delight to make wishes, dreams and ideas come true every day."

images via: Yatzer

A flock of sheep: Hans-Peter Krafft and François-Xavier Lalanne

For everyone, who just like me, shivers at the thought of the real ones stuffed: cute and cuddly, hand-made wooden sheep-stools by Hans-Peter Krafft (design: 1982, manufacturer: Meier)

... or something from surrealist art world: Les moutons created by amazing 60's artist François-Xavier Lalanne. I discovered his animal sculptures recently, quite captivating!


Interiors: Shawn Henderson and Pamplemousse design

But if you prefer cute piglets instead (!!!), have a look here: Still lives by Yvonne Fehling & Jennie Peiz

images via: desire to inspire and design elements

The surrealist eye

Straight from Salvador Dali's paintings... the surrealist eye spotted:



Le telefon from Sundayland




Tiuku clock by Ari Kanevra




Kapstokstoelen by Sjoerd Vroonland




Peg chair by Alex Hellum

Humlegården apartment by Tham & Videgård Hansson

Renovation of the Humlegården apartment in Stockholm was inspired by the work of Swedish artists and architects like Carl Larsson and Josef Frank. Tham & Videgård Hansson architects designed multicoloured floor plan, which was also meant to remind foliage in the nearby Humlegården park, changing its colours with passing of the seasons.

The overlapping, oversized, bold colours applied to the parquet and climbing the walls create intriguing effect and almost surreal atmosphere.

photos: Åke E:son Lindman, via: Yatzer