Brace your elbows

House of Voltaire returns with a serious line up of designer-artist collaborations for 2014
By Tempe Nakiska | Art | 14 November 2014

Above: Helen Marten for House of Voltaire

Independent arts organisation Studio Voltaire returns with its biennial pop-up House of Voltaire. In its third incarnation, the project kicks off this week with a banging line up limited edition goodies and special collaborations – from unique artworks to prints, commissioned homewares, clothing and accessories by a heavy hitting roll call of contemporary artists and designers.

Top of our list is a collaboration between Christopher Shannon and Leslie Winer, the British designer working with the American model/musician/poet on a specially designed tee. It’s not the first time the two have butted heads – for FW13, Shannon’s clan pounded the catwalk to Winer’s sneer, “Congratulations on being a big fucking deal” – the opening track to Diamond Version’s 2014 debut LP. (That the track itself is posed as a critique of our fashion industry is yet another savoury example of Shannon’s own wicked sense of humour – no guesses as to how much fun the duo must have had working on this project).

Craig Green has collaborated with artist-cum-DJ George Henry Longly and Peter Jensen with Ella Kruglyanskaya, while (on the women’s side) there’s Simone Rocha x Kim Gordon, and Roksanda Illincic x Eva Rothschild.

There are pure wool blankets by Helen Marten, Matt Connors, Enrico David and Pae White (a better Christmas present will be pretty hard to come by so stock up), printed throws by Richard Wright (sure to be as twisted as the American author’s weird, dark fictions), erotic Christmas decorations by Linder (enough said), tea towels by Madchester graphic genius Peter Saville and baseball caps by Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller. Phewff.

Walking through the door doesn’t necessarily mean parting with a month’s rent – with prices ranging from £1 to £30,000 you can breathe easy. And if you do splurge, appease your conscience with the knowledge that the whole point is to raise funds for Studio Voltaire’s artistic community and public programmes, which are in 2014 celebrating 20 years of supporting artists.

House of Voltaire 2014 is open until 20th December at 39 to 40 Albemarle St Mayfair, London W1S 4TE

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