Alexia Sinclair's Seductive Art

"Sinclair’s art is dark and seductive, baroque and symbolic. Her multilayered photographs subtly present contemporary notions of fashion and beauty through innovative digital media, whilst restoring antique notions of classicism, elegance and luxury." From her website

I would also add theatrical, fantastical and imaginative to the description above of award winning artist and photographer Alexia Sinclair's stunning work. I can't remember when I first came across her work, but I do remember thinking wow, as a person also obsessed with the Baroque era. When I heard through a friend of her latest exhibition 'Rococo' on now in Sydney until the 8th March, I was so excited I decided to write this post. Coincidentally, The Australian Financial Review also wrote a piece on her work last weekend. Like they say great minds think alike!
If you read the AFR article, great. If you visit her exhibition, even better. If not browse here and be enchanted by Alexia's work.

The Secret Garden 2015. Part of her latest Exhibition Rococo.

I just love her historical references in all her work. Such as her latest exhibition Rococo, inspired by Louis XV's famous flamboyant mistress Madam de Pompadour, who as an exceptional artist herself decorated her homes and gardens with porcelain flowers. Madam de Pompadour was a fascinating woman with many extraordinary talents which is another reason why I am interested in this particular exhibition. I often refer to her fashion sense when I am making my creations.  

Porcelain Petals 2015 from Rococo Exhibition

The Grove of Venus 2015,from  Rococo Exhibition.

Alexia considers herself a digital artist. Yet I feel she is more than that. A mixed media artist maybe? combining, set design, fashion, photography, history and digital. 

All her photographs are taken in her studio, and each set is designed and created by her. The clothes on the models are even sewn by herself. Then she photographs them. I am guessing there would be little sleep in her life. 

I feel I resonate with her as I know how long creating something you are so passionate about takes. When I am in my studio creating my theatrical mannequins I can get lost for days. (anyway more on my latest ones at a later date!).  

Apart from Rococo series, Alexia has had great success with her other collections which again seem to be influenced by famous historical people, architecture and mainly Europe. Below are some of my favourite pieces of her previous works. 

Marie Antoinette 2005

Elizabeth I, 2007

Pope Alexander VI, 2010

The Cabinets of Curiosity, 2013

See you soon

Gessica X

Just a reminder to view my blog stylebygessica for fashion inspiration.

The Unexpected Charm of Valparaiso Chile

 "Valparaiso how absurd you are. You haven't combed your hair, you've never had time to get dressed, life has always surprised you."  Pablo Neruda

Just a two hour drive from Santiago, this gritty and semi chaotic Chilean seaside city had me hooked as soon as I entered it. What had me captivated with Valparaiso was the vibrant, eclectic life going on in the hilltop neighbourhood: in fact 42 steep hills known as Cerra's. Wherever you turned, you were bathed in colour and art that spoke to you via it's graphic images, giving you insight into the culture, life and troubles of this once thriving port town.

Brightly painted double and triple story homes, stairs and alley ways are a sight to be seen. Hours passed by walking the cobblestone streets looking at all the incredible street art, discovering quaint cafes, restaurants, gallery's, artisan shops, funky boutique hotels. Losing yourself literally and physically was not hard here. A special touch were the fun Funiculars (ascensores as they call them) we took to reach some steep hills that were too tiring to walk. Many of these clickety clack timber clad cable cars are more than a century old and also painted brightly. So not for the faint hearted. 

The historic hilltop comprising of 42 hills (cerra's).

The timber clad Funiculars (ascensores).

Incredible art on stairs

Old house over the edge

The city was once a 19th Century power player with maritime trade between Europe and North America. It was also home to South America's first stock market in 1898 and the birthplace of world's oldest Spanish language newspaper called El Mercurio. Wealthy merchants, artists and middle class sailors set up shop in Valparaiso making it the place to be and make money. Pablo Neruda, Chile's most famous poet made the "dishevelled hills" as he called it, his home. 
Then In 1906 an earthquake hit killing 3000 people destroying the many homes, and the Panama Canal opened in 1914 taking away it's power as a commerce hub. It then became an almost forgotten port town right up until a decade ago. In 2003 it was named a Unesco World Heritage site and a few years after that the then president commenced a bold recovery and renewal project in order to protect the historic hills. This meant reconstructing heavily damaged historic buildings, public sites, the funiculars and constructing new boutique hotels, bars, eateries, museums making this vibrant Bohemian city a place to visit.  

Valparaiso is packed with personality and if you are thinking of travelling somewhere exotic and interesting in 2015, I recommend this very city. You won't be disappointed.There are many groovy boutique hotels to stay in, great eateries serving up fresh local seafood, and plenty fun bars to drink pisco sours in. 

Hotel Brighton

Palacio Astoreca

Hotel Gervasoni

Stay in one of the quirky hotels or stop for a cocktail in between walks and enjoy the views. I certainly stopped at a few.  

No matter where I turned, what alley way I walked down, what stairs I climbed, there was always something to see and admire on the Cerra's in Valparaiso.  

I hope you enjoyed this post. Although it was a few years ago I visited Valparaiso, I know through friends that have just been, it still is as wonderful if not more than when I went. 

I say what are you waiting for and go! 

See you soon

Love Gessica