Going pop, young & surreal
I thought I was in the kiddie section, or perhaps the pop culture area of Rustan’s. But I realized I was in the store’s fifth floor Home Section, known for its iconic heritage pieces.
But the anachronism was all there. A young vibe—definitely modern and bold aesthetic—prevailed amid the luster of centuries-old brands for the home.
Call them irreverent, consider them playful, some kitsch, even: Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte for Lalique, Spanish artist Javier Calleja for Lladro, New Yorker Jade Purple Brown for Lladro, American artist Jeff Koons for Bernardaud.
“We are launching an Art Series which we put together after realizing we have all these collections of modern collabs with established design brands,” explained Cecil Hermoso, Rustan’s division manager for Home. Looking at the curated exhibit with a mixed sense of pride and amused glee were Rustan’s executives Anton Huang, Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez, Jackie Avecilla and Mica Agdamag.
Javier Calleja x Lladro
Si, senor, call it avant arte, but what Javier Calleja does are whimsical and playful yet thought-provoking creations. His characters have big expressive eyes and exaggerated features.
His art depicts introspective faces that evoke nostalgic memories and humor. While their parents may treasure figurines from gentler, more noble eras, today’s generations will certainly have an eye for Calleja’s wide-eyed figures.
Jade Purple Brown x Lladro
Purple is my kind of artist-heroine, as her imageries put women at the center. Her art has a pop aesthetic, and it is her form of activism which challenges stereotypes. For the iconic centuries-old Spanish brand Lladro, Purple has colorful pieces which will make the younger generations smile.
Jade Purple Brown is famously beloved by Starbucks which asked her to redesign their iconic siren logo. Beautiful enough to keep you awake.
Rene Magritte x Lalique
Of all the artists in this series, I am most familiar with Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte—a favorite of our own Filipino artist-writer Igan D’Bayan whose works transport you to the eerie and macabre realm.
I have acquired two pieces of sculpture by Igan inspired by Magritte’s most famous work, “The Son of Man,” where a green apple floats in front of the face of a man wearing an enigmatic bowler hat.
Magritte’s “This Is Not a Pipe” makes you ask: What does that mean? “It does not mean anything, because mystery means nothing, either. It is unknowable.”
A most intriguing work by Magritte is his “The Lovers” where the faces are draped while kissing. It is perhaps knowable why he chose to cover his subjects’ faces. Magritte was 14 when his mother committed suicide by drowning. And he saw his mother’s body being lifted from the waters, her wet nightgown wrapped around her face.
Lalique, which began in 1888 with exquisite crystal glassware, carries Magritte-inspired art at Rustan’s: a glass version of his famous pipe, his mysterious floating apple, and his somewhat goofy creation, a giraffe seated on a crystal cup. Quite a tall story in glass.
Jeff Koons x Bernardaud
Bernardaud was founded in Limoges in 1863 but the brand connects with today’s generations through pop culture artist Jeff Koons. Call it a case of “the playful and provocative meeting porcelain perfection.”
Koons is an artist I find entertaining, having been regaled by his works at LACMA, one of my favorite museums in Los Angeles. As a young artist, Koons adored Salvador Dali and even visited him in New York.
But the whimsical touch of Dali was perhaps a bit evident in Koons’ balloon animals and other works which some critics have branded as kitsch. He even made a Popeye work of art.
Don’t laugh at this kitschy Koons. His “Balloon Dog” fetched $58.4 Million in 2013!
