Dominique Goblet Drawings

Old (2002) and New (for those of us who are just discovering or re-discovering) these drawings of typical Belgian landscapes and architecture by Belgian (Graphic Novel) artist Dominique Goblet.

Souvenir d'une Journée Parfaite by Dominique Goblet
("Remembrance of a Perfect Day"), color. Belgium: Fréon, 2002.

The 'comics' work of Belgian artist Dominique Goblet is immediately striking in that it not only ignores, but in many ways seems utterly uninfluenced by the usual conventions of comics. Goblet is a multi-talented artist who works in comics, painting, and photography, as well as installation art that combines all of those forms. Her visual style, often mixed-media, can leap, page by page, from agitated and scratchy drawings that seem to mar the paper they were created on, to gentle and lyrical images with the placidity of watercolors. Like her graphic style, her comics themselves are multi-faceted and intensely personal. Souvenir is a complex story that combines both fiction and autobiography and, more urgently than telling a specific story, reveals to the reader an intimacy and personal voice rarely found in comics

This post via http://www.indyworld.com/

http://www.dominique-goblet.be/

Book on Jules Wabbes

For those of you still trying to get your hands on a book on the Belgian designer Jules Wabbes, his daughter, Marie Ferran-Wabbes, worked on this re-edition (above) available in French, Flemish and English. There is also an exhibit in the works that will take place in Brussels, in October of this year, at the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles (Bozar).

ENGLISH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/modulefiles/books/218/jules-wabbes-engels.jpg

FRENCH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/boeken/p/detail/jules-wabbes-frans

FLEMISH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/boeken/p/detail/jules-wabbes

Tintin - in 3D

Olivier Theyskens - On the other side of the picture

"While we wait to see where Belgian designer Olivier Theyskens next ends up, we can linger over the beautiful pictures of his work in Assouline’s Olivier Theyskens, The Other Side of the Picture, plus ponder more news from the Belgian fashion world.

Going against conventions, Olivier Theyskens dropped out of La Cambre when he was twenty years old, only to start a business in his own, unique way. His gothic creations took the fashion industry by storm, and Theyskens quickly became an icon.

In 2002, he decided to shut down his own line in favour of stints at Rochas and Nina Ricci, respectively. The latter didn’t prolong his contract last year, and fashion lovers are still holding their breath to see where he will end up next.

In the meantime, we can linger over the beautiful pictures of his work in Assouline’s Olivier Theyskens, The Other Side of the Picture, set to be released this spring by Assouline"

The above post via http://www.xpats.com/lifestyle/olivier-theyskens

Below is one of my favorite pieces from the New York exhibition "L'air du temps" which took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art ... designed of course by Olivier Theyskens.



This book is available at the Austere Chic Store @ Amazon.

Martin Margiela Book

"Graduating from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the 1980s, Martin Margiela (and his contemporaries in the Antwerp Six) transformed global fashion with his aggressive restatement of traditional fashion design and a polemical approach to luxury trends. Working first with the house of Gaultier, Margiela absorbed the radical design of Japanese deconstruction, making it wholly his own with the founding of his own label in 1988. Margiela propounds a singular, enigmatic look, moving beyond the recognizable tropes of deconstruction—a monochromatic palette, out-sized garments, non-traditional fabrics, exposed seams, or roughly appliqué-d details—to develop a fully considered worldview, one with elegance, mystery, and menace in equal measure. This book provides an inside look at the design process from a craftsman who creates pieces prized for their originality, delicacy, and daring. In the spirit of Margiela’s garments, the book is a work of art in itself, designed exclusively by Margiela and complete with silver inks, ribbon markers, a variety of lush paper types, twelve booklets, and an embroidered white-linen cover. This book provides a window onto the intimate, handmade world of a unique designer."

This post via http://www.rizzoliusa.com/

Secret Belgian Binding

As said to be rediscovered by Hedi Kyle, the secret Belgian binding is a unique non-adhesive binding method that includes sewing 3 pieces of bookboard together to form the case, and sections sewn onto the thread case.

This post via
http://cailun.info/index.php?/archives/364-Duotone-volume-Part-I.html
http://cailun.info/index.php?/archives/372-Duotone-Part-II.html

HOW TO do your own Secret Belgian Binding at
http://cailun.info/index.php?/archives/319-Secret-Belgian-Binding.html

Bernard De Clerck BOOK by Beta-Publishing

Belgian house "Beta-Publishing" is coming out with 3 new titles this September. As always, you can buy them blindly and know you will own yet another stunning and inspirational volume on design & architecture ...

One of these titles is dedicated to Belgian architect Bernard De Clerck. His designs testify to a great respect and appreciation for Belgium's rich architectural heritage: both in his new construction projects and his numerous renovations. This ambassador of “Flemish Living” argues for the return of traditional values in a contemporary context - in which the comfort of living is central. Traditional craftsmanship, a historical approach, an exciting mix of old and new, and a passion for weathered materials and details ... these are all characteristics represented in Bernard De Clerck architectural “story”.

More at http://www.betaplus.com/en/publications/208/

Cook & Book

Opened in 2006, Cook & Book is a new concept eatery & store from the creative minds of Deborah Drion and Cedric Legein. In Brussels, situated across the Woluwe-Saint-Lambert performing arts theater, and around its open air outdoors' performing center; this convenient location allows the merging of cultures, pleasure and gastronomy to interact easily and flawlessly.

Both a restaurant and a library, there is a total of 9 spaces one can choose from to sit down (inside or out) and enjoy eating fresh and simple foods and/or just relishing a glass of wine from their impressive wine bar. With a menu in French, Flemish and English as well as a section dedicated to books in English, Cook & Book is fast becoming an meeting place with an international clientele.

Cook & Book is very Belgian because it is first dedicated to European graphic novels (aka Bande Dessinees or 'BD') and mangas, then to childdren's books, art books, travel books, culinary books, decoration & living books, music ... and one can eat right smack in the center of all these individual sections, in dedicated sections of the space around these themes, and/or outside in one of the different terraces where you can even lounge when there is a ray of sun. There is also a really cool wine bar located in the music section.

Another wonderful thing about their location, concept and practicality of both the indoor and outdoor spaces is that there is always the room and possibility for some type of exhibition happening, performance, (book) fair, fashion shows, open air cinema and more ...

I invite you to check out their site and really taking the time to explore the different aspects they offer as pictures speak a thousand words ... and they were clever enough to design a site where pictures can't be copied and placed onto other people's blogs for example ... hum ...

I can't wait for someone to create this in LA - anyone - anyone?

PS: most of the pictures above were 'pick pocketed' from a fellow blogger (what??? - it was hard finding pictures of the place!!! ... I did this for you!). More details and pictures of the place, including the outside (which I purposely left out because it is not the greatest looking place ... aesthetically) at http://www.brusselspictures.com/tag/cook-book/

More info at http://www.cookandbook.be/

251 av. Paul Hymans
1200 Bruxelles
(32)-2-761-26-00

Beta-Plus Publishing

Belgian Publishing House Beta-Plus has been publishing high-quality books on architecture, interior design and gardens since 1995. Each title is a complete thematic overview with exclusive color photographs on every page.

In January 2009, they came out with a thematic series called Compendium.

There are basically three styles of books:
1- 'The Square Sized' series
2- 'A&D' series
3- 'Compendium' series

Check out their stunningly minimalist site http://www.betaplus.com/en/

Compendium & Thematic series


Square series

A&D series