the ss11 collection
The Dan Balwin collaboration for SS11 complements the hippy trippy vibes of the Mainline collection perfectly. Colour, imagination and energy find peace together on Dan's canvases giving flower bearing kittens, deer and cowboys life. We've whipped these delightful characters into roomy canvas tote bags that are perfect for everyday use and even the beach and then beautiful silk scarves that look fabulous layered up over sweet summer dresses and leather jackets.
SHOP SS11 DAN BALDWIN COLLECTION
About the Sara Berman and Dan Baldwin collaboration...
I believe that for those who love clothes there is an innate understanding of the emotional value which we attach to certain pieces. This is about the delicate balance between memory and fantasy and is the thing that keeps me interested in fashion. I first came across Dan Baldwin's work a couple of years ago. I saw an image of one of his paintings and it inspired me in the creation of our 'Thumbelina Rocks' collection for SS09. Dan's interpretations of childhood fantasies in an adult world drew me in and I became interested in following his work.
At some stage both Dan and I became aware of each other and began an email exchange of ideas about our work, inspirations and influences and found a lot of common ground - a mutual fascination with childhood innocence, fantasy, illustration and a certain appreciation of the slightly off-key and macabre. Very quickly we started discussing the idea of a of a collaboration. For me Dan's work taps in to that secret place where memory and emotion mingle with hope and fantasy and the idea of putting this raw communication into clothes which would already contain a dialogue of their own was a fascinating idea. Perfectly illustrating the juxtaposition between the people we are inside and the clothes we chose to represent us... The stiff upper lip heritage Harris Tweed jacket concealing a hidden eccentricity in its lining... The sheer nerve of a conservative cocktail dress covered in themes of life, death, mortality and hope... A scarf which when folded around the neck looks merely decorative but unfolds to a challenging narrative like the girl who at first glance seems just a pretty face... We all use clothes to tell a story. Let yours be an interesting one.
PIECES FROM THE DAN BALDWIN AW10 COLLECTON
Dan Baldwin's work:
Dan Baldwin bridges the gap between abstract and figurative painting to create a landscape that simultaneously reflects reality, the power of the imagination and the private, inner workings of his mind. His style has a unique aesthetic which is difficult to categorise. Working by instinct, it can change dramatically depending on the subject matter he is exploring and the emotions he is channeling.
The organic spontaneity of Baldwin's canvases is tempered by his careful composition of two and three dimensional elements. Twenty years of experience is evident in his masterful ability to shape, contain and simplify complexity. His integration of mixed media found objects (knives, crucifixes, bullets, bank notes and razor blades) over screen prints, acrylic and spray paint adds depth, clarity and balance. Despite the difference in medium, his creative process when working with ceramics is similar in its unabashed candor.
Amidst the edgy brushstrokes and sinister themes, symbolism proliferates in Baldwin's work. From children's storybook illustrations and images of war to skate graphics and Vanitas, each viewer develops a highly personal response to what they see. The relationship that has been observed between Baldwin and the still life painters of seventeenth century Holland stems from his use of such symbols of life, death and mortality as the flower, the skull, the bird and rotting fruit. Baldwin recontextualizes these symbols, however, making them relevant for modern audiences. See the full range of Dan Baldwin prints at his official website.
Art and fashion have always worked hand in hand - from the op art paintings of bridget riley on mini skirts in the 60s,to the NYC factory events with Warhol-to Vivienne westwoods collaborations with the sex pistols...
When I discovered Sara Berman was a fan of my work, and we got talking, it seemed the logical conclusion - people had said to me my designs would work great on fabric, and I am personally really excited to see a painting taken out of context. Having trained in communication media, my work lends itself to many collaborative projects, but this is so beautiful, so vibrant so well produced that it's just stunning.
Dan Baldwin
About Dan Baldwin:
Dan Baldwin was born in Manchester in 1972. He studied communication media at Eastbourne College of Art and Design with commendation and received his BA with honors in communication media and illustration from Kent Institute of Art and Design, Maidstone. He lived in Brighton for twelve years and currently resides in the West Sussex countryside.
Baldwin's superlative technique and conceptual brilliance position him at the forefront of the new Young British Artist movement. His work is internationally celebrated, championed and collected by an exclusive clientele. Baldwin has exhibited his paintings, prints and ceramics around the world. He has enjoyed a stream of critically lauded sell-out solo shows and presented his work in art fairs in Basel, Miami, L.A, Tokyo, San Francisco, London and New York. Baldwin has become a solid fixture at auction houses in recent years. He set a record at Bonhams in February, 2008 when his piece Apocalypse Wow - The End of Everything sold for over £25,000. Select publications featuring Baldwin and his work include Vogue, ELLE, I.D., Flair, The New Order, Art of England, Aesthetica, Style, Dazed and Confused, Modern Painters and Living Etc.
