‘The New Modern Hair’ exhibition, Los Angeles
Silvia Prada is cutting sharp shapes at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood with 'The New Modern Hair', her first solo exhibition in the United States. Presented by cultivators-of-cool cultureEDIT, the show explores the nuances of the male psyche through the illustrator's fetishistic examination of their coifs.
Prada's interest in male locks was first piqued while she was leafing through vintage hair magazines in her father's barbershop in the sleepy Spanish town of Ponferrada. This fueled a fascination with identity and iconography in media, which has served as a catalyst for her art practice - her monochromatic illustrations shaping popular culture while simultaneously critiquing it.
Now based in New York, she has used her recently published tome, 'The New Modern Hair: A Styling Chart' as a springboard for the exhibition, combing through male hairdos of the 1950's, 60's and the early 70's as inspiration for a series of graphite drawings and murals. Prada took cues from 20th century art movements like Bauhaus, De Stijl and Russian Constructivism, working geometric shapes alongside portraits of meticulously groomed men.
Speaking about the cultural significance of this show, curator and cultureEDIT-founder Joakim Andréasson said: 'Male beauty has over the last 30 years been completely redefined, and has deepened its relevance and aesthetic purpose. The confidence that comes with choice has created countless of iconic moments in popular culture.' Andréasson previously served as managing director at HL-ART/Helmut Lang Studio, mitigating the cult designer's transition from fashion to the art world and was similarly instrumental in facilitating Louise Bourgeois' retrospective of his work in our first ever guest editors issue (see W* 115).
Prada's illustrations are supplemented by contributions from friends and former collaborators, such as filmmaker Bruce LaBruce, photographer Collier Schorr and Warhol cohort Marc Balet, among others. Nary a hair out of place in this one-of-a-kind show.
ADDRESS
Pacific Design Center
Blue Building, 2nd Floor, #B255
8687 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood CA 90069
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Three new coffee makers for a contemporary brew, from a casual cup to a full-on branded espresso
Three new coffee makers, from AeroPress, Jura and Porsche x La Marzocco, range from the defiantly manual to the bells and whistles of a traditional countertop espresso machine
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Don't miss Luxembourg's retro-futuristic lab pavilion in Venice
As the Venice Biennale enters its last few weeks, catch 'A Comparative Dialogue Act' at the Luxembourg Pavilion
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
A Berlin park atop an office building offers a new model of urban landscaping
A Berlin park and office space by Grüntuch Ernst Architeken offer a symbiotic relationship between urban design and green living materials
By Michael Webb Published
-
The seven best Los Angeles museums
Explore LA's world-class museums, set within architectural masterpieces, lush gardens, and breathtaking viewpoints
By Kevin EG Perry Published
-
Olafur Eliasson's new light sculptures illuminate Los Angeles
Olafur Eliasson's new exhibition, 'Open,' at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, includes 11 new pieces
By Hunter Drohojowska-Philp Published
-
The lesser-known Los Angeles galleries contributing to a vibrant art scene
Outside of LACMA, MOCA and The Broad, these independent LA galleries are major players in the art world
By Kevin EG Perry Published
-
Mona Kuhn’s love affair with Rudolph Schindler’s modernist LA home
‘The Schindler House: A Love Affair’ features artist Mona Kuhn’s surreal-inspired silver prints evoking an impossible love
By Hunter Drohojowska-Philp Published
-
Crisis point: Josh Kline's world is wiped out by climate change
Josh Kline's dystopian show is currently on at MOCA in Los Angeles
By Hannah Silver Published
-
‘Gas Tank City’, a new monograph by Andrew Holmes, is a photorealist eye on the American West
‘Gas Tank City’ chronicles the artist’s journey across truck-stop America, creating meticulous drawings of fleeting moments
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Intimacy, violence and the uncanny: Joanna Piotrowska in Philadelphia
Artist and photographer Joanna Piotrowska stages surreal scenes at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania
By Hannah Silver Published
-
First look: Sphere’s new exterior artwork draws on a need for human connection
Wallpaper* talks to Tom Hingston about his latest large-scale project – designing for the Exosphere
By Charlotte Gunn Published