Bonsai Couture or the Haute Couture Fabric Art of Guerra de la Paz

Bonsai Couture is the latest series of artwork from Guerra de la Paz, the Miami-based Cuban artistic team of Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz. Originally sourcing their materials from the waste bins of second-hand goods shipping companies in Miami's Little Haiti, the duo still make their sculptures primarily from the discarded, repurposed or recycled items of daily life.

Bonsai Couture combines the traditions of bonsai making with the practices of haute couture or high fashion. Each piece represents individuality redefined not only with delicacy but also with an element of fantasy and extravagance.

The ancient practice of aesthetic miniaturization of trees has existed for over a thousand years. This meditative process of cultivation involves shaping and sculpting a tree to resemble mythical dragons, animals, and birds. The process of design and creation in haute couture has similar characteristics - time-consuming, hand-executed techniques, custom fitting one-of-a kind pieces made of high-quality fabrics.

For Guerra de la Paz, integrating the techniques and philosophies of these two disciplines contributes to a universal dialogue inspired by the divine quest for perfection. 

Bonsai Couture is on exhibit at the Galerie Kashya Hildebrand, and is also the first Swiss exhibition of Guerra de la Paz.

Guerra de la Paz

Bonsai Couture
Chinois, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Painterly, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Aye, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Fifi, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Gaughin, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Pink Pom Pom, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Red Pom Pom, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Indochine, Bonsai Tree, 2011

Courtesy Guerra de la Paz / Galerie Kashya Hildebrand, Zurich

Bonsai Couture, June 8 - August 15, 2011

This post is also featured on the Huffington Post

Team Uncool Fashion Loves: Suzaan Heyns x Brett Rubin + Shop Opening Johannesburg

Image by Brett Rubin

Tonight I attended the opening of the prolific Johannesburg based designer Suzaan Heyns's new shope opening in Melville, Johannesburg. Beautifully designed clothing combined with tasteful design mixed with a few skull sculptures here and there and you cant go wrong.

I was also amazed at the epic campaign that she recently shot for her A/W 2011 'Die Vorm' range. Her ongoing collaboration with Johannesburg based fashion photographer Brett Rubin has also shown its stripes in their great new campaign images.

Furthermore, for this event I collaborated with South African fashion website iFashion and the images shot as well a small story will be featured on their site shortly.

Enjoy and well done!

CT 2011

Brett Rubin. The photographer from the Suzaan Heyns A/W 2011 Campaign shoot.

Suzaan Heyns.

Campaign Image by Brett Rubin
Event Images by Chris Saudners

Paris Tango designs by Hippolyte Romain

Hippolyte Romain is a born and bred Parisian artist who with a flick of a squirrel hair brush creates dreamy scenes of modern day Paris. I found Hippolyte by accident when a friend of mine suggested that I check out the sublime 'artists tea room' he has created in an ancient hothouse that was built for Princess Eugenie in the Jardin d'Acclimatation. I am so proud to have six of his incredible visions of Paris in Paris Tango. I love his elegant eye for detail, his black strokes of women in the Artists, his extravagantly dressed and undressed women backstage at the Haute Couture, his mixture of true Parisians in burka's and on roller skates in front of Cafe de Flore, the chaos and colour of the dancers in La Bal, the assortment of dogs and the well dressed children peacefully strolling in a Parisian garden. Thanks Hippolyte....