Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Andreas Mahl




Years ago I meet a young german photographer in Paris.We did several projects together,one of them being this portrait of me who was part of his recolored photo period.Now many years later the Maison Europeenne de la Photographie in Paris is having a very special exhibition of his greetings cards.
I was there for the opening night.




This exhibition features a number of never-before-seen images created by Andreas Mahl to mark each new year. In the form of greetings cards sent to his family and friends, they have developed over the years into a collection of artworks that are by turns amazingly inventive, witty and moving. Based on Polaroid self-portraits placed in different situations, the greetings cards are themselves Polaroid reproductions of the finished montage to which Andreas Mahl gives his ultimate finishing touches. The artist shuffles, cuts and deals the cards he has created, always keeping the upper hand in a playful, unpredictable game. 













All photos © Andreas Mahl

20 December 2011 - 8 January 2012 


Andreas Malh and me on opening night





A bientôt,

Pierre Candra
for NicNat Chat!




Friday, December 23, 2011

9/11 Memorial


A very moving visit !


The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.









The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design selected from a global design competition that included more than 5,200 entries from 63 nations.









The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.





If visiting New York you need to reserve a time slot.




A bientôt,

Pierre Candra
for NicNat Chat!



Monday, December 12, 2011

Carnival of the Animals,the Bergdorff Goodman Xmas windows.


Every years, I wait very impatiently for the new Fifth Avenue Christmas window from Bergdorff Goodman. It’s always a feast for the eyes and if this year did disappointed me a little ( too monochromatic ) I still enjoyed them.
David Hoey and the visual team have been planning and collecting antiques for the last two years.
Each window features a specific material that depicts animals you’ll find from icebergs to the tropics—but rarely on Fifth Avenue.




The ‘brass menagerie’ is full of tropical metal birds made in the 1970’s by artist Sergio Bustamante. Naeem Khan designed a dress specifically for the stylish songstress cooing in the window. 




The ‘North Pole Garden Party’ has upholstered animals, a very sweet polar bear, and a monkey about to pop open the champagne.





Dive into the deep end with the Aquarium window, with fish made by artist Brett Windham that are encrusted with mosaic tile, and rhinestones, gems, and sequins for good measure.









The paper window is my favorite — over 300 different papers used in black, gray, and white, to make zebras, Dalmatians, and other monochrome animals.The mannequin dressed in a black and white lace Marchesa gown  presides over the paper bestiary.





I guess Pinocchio will feel very at home in the final window, “Artists and  Models” The  sculptor’s studio with all antique wooden artists’ models ready to come alive.

If visiting New York don’t miss the 57 & 58 Streets windows.



I liked one of them so much that I used the photo of it for my Holiday card.
For all of you...


All photos by Pierre Candra

A bientôt,

Pierre Candra
for NicNat Chat!