Arlette Ess started her print journey at Alexander McQueen and is now one of the artists contributing to the iconic Hermès Paris scarves collections.
“I’m drawn to the mysterious and the wonderful in Nature.
I create to feel the world, amalgamate the inner and the outer, to let our deeper realms run wild”
Arlette’s drawings distil a visceral beauty from Nature’s fragile, intricate and infinitely creative grace.
Myths, creatures and their sublime power come alive in her universe of beasts and things miraculous.
NEWS
Ambassador’s residence in Mexico City
The Koi II fringed silk twill scarf was chosen as part of the displayed art on the walls of the new residence of the Swiss ambassador in Mexico City.
(clicking on the first image opens the scarf page in a new tab)
I think the building looks like straight out of a spy movie! It was built by Fruehauf, Henry & Viladoms and BLANCASMORAN, the interiors are by Jasmine Grego, photography by Rafael Gamo. The project was managed by Cédric Pernet, thank you!
‘Insect Odyssey’ Exhibition at Salisbury Museum, UK
‘Insect Odyssey: Insects, Books and the Artistic Imagination’ is a multi-media which asked artists to respond to entomological publications.
I was given a beautiful little insect pocket guide from the 1970s with plenty of flies in it. Starting with the images from the book, I created some new ‘Fly Lace’ work, as a continuation of a project which I started in my final year at Camberwell College of Arts in London.
The exhibition is on from 25th of June until 25th of September 2022, curated by Dr. Elisabeth Darby and Prudence Maltby, and supported by the Royal Entomological Society. The museum is a medieval building next to the famous Salisbury cathedral, a magical setting.
‘Fly Lace’ is a playful attempt to synthesise nature and civilisation. In a natural environment we are likely visited by flies, but most of us live in industrialised landscapes surrounded by pesticides, disinfectants and man-made materials.
The apparent futility of this attempted synthesis points to the urgent need to heal our relationship with Nature, to become a conscious part of the whole again and work with Nature, not against it.
Zebra design on Hermès enamel bangles
I created a joyful zebra drawing for Hermès, which is currently available as enamelled bangles. It’s called ‘Drôles de Zèbres’ and depicts an animated party of very colourful stylised zebras. I worked on it during the pandemic and wanted to recreate the joy of socialising and letting go in a rainbow of colours!
I will share the drawing when it comes out in an un-cropped version. Images by Hermès
Metaverse exhibition ‘As above, so below’ in Decentraland
Some news I’m especially excited about – I am in an art show in the metaverse!! Yes, the thing everyone is talking about but no one has much of a clue what it actually is or will be (me included).
The show is called ‘As above, so below’ is curated by Riza Nazim Ulusoy and features work by Maciej Boszkow, Huseyin Mert Everdi, Riza Nazim Ulusoy and sound by Torn Relics.
My piece is a giant wafting sculpture featuring three sleeping dogs, with an ‘inverted shadow’ underneath.
There is sound created by Torn Relics for each object, which fades in when you approach. You can also climb the moving sculptures.
The show is in a prime virtual spot in the ‘Voltaire art district’ in Decentraland, located in between Sotheby’s (a digital copy of their London building), and KnownOrigin and SuperRare, two of the biggest NFT galleries. The location to enter is 58,88
