’Nailed’, a new book by Dzine

When Carlos Rolon was growing up in West Chicago in the 1970s, his mother had the entrepreneurial savvy to set up a bootleg beauty salon in the family's TV room. Needless to say, the nail business boomed on their plush leather arm chairs and the young Rolon, now a contemporary artist working under the name Dzine, was a very willing voyeur. With those fond, crystal clear memories dancing in his head, Dzine (pronounced 'design', naturally) has spent the last several years documenting nail trends wherever he travels, from Europe and the Caribbean to Singapore and the US.
The fruits of his fascination have now found their way into his new book, 'Nailed', a photographic history of nail art that starts with the ancient Egyptians and ends up with the rhinestone-clawed Puerto Ricans in Miami beach. 'I couldn't believe that there wasn't any book that dealt with finger nails as an art form,' Dzine said at Miami's Standard Hotel where, during Art Basel Miami Beach, he re-created his parent's living room, complete with shaggy carpet, dusty wallpaper and two ton TV. Manicures were given out for free to celebrate his new book, but the pop up was mostly just to honour his mom, the best muse an artist could have asked for.
A spread from the book
Photographs by Kai Regan
The photographic history of nail art starts with the ancient Egyptians and ends up with the rhinestone clawed Puerto Ricans in Miami beach
Photograph by Kai Regan
The book is published by Standard Press and Damiani Editore
Photograph by Kai Regan
’I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t any book that dealt with finger nails as an art form,’ Dzine said at Miami’s Standard Hotel where, during Art Basel Miami Beach, he opened ’Imperial Nails’, a re-creation of the salon in his parent’s living room...
Photograph by Chris Mosier
... complete with dusty wallpaper, shaggy carpets and a two ton TV
Photograph by Chris Mosier
Manicures were given out for free to celebrate his new book, but the pop up was mostly just to honour his mom, the best muse an artist could have asked for
Photograph by Chris Mosier
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
JJ Martin
-
Step inside this Upper East Side jewel box apartment
This radiant Lexington Avenue home is a harbinger of good things for the Upper East Side, and the latest focus of The Inside Story, our series spotlighting intriguing and innovative interior design
By Anna Solomon Published
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of nature
WOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Is a tiny tattoo the best holiday souvenir? Kimpton Hotels think so
In partnership with Tiny Zaps, Kimpton Hotels is bringing city-inspired tattoo pop-ups to five U.S. locations
By Sofia de la Cruz Published