ARTICLES

BARNEYS NEW YORK × WHITESTONE｜A Fusion of Fashion and Art as the Ultimate Form of Self-Expression

2024.09.15
FEATURE

Renowned as a luxury specialty store loved by fashion enthusiasts worldwide, BARNEYS NEW YORK has teamed up with Whitestone Gallery for a special limited-time exhibition at its Roppongi store starting on Friday, September 6, 2024.

This exclusive exhibition by Whitestone Gallery features the works of two distinguished artists, Kohei Kyomori and Tetsuo Mizù, showcased within BARNEYS NEW YORK’s Roppongi location. Blending fashion and contemporary art, this unique display offers fashion lovers and art collectors a thrilling experience, as both worlds come together to create a new realm of beauty.

BARNEYS NEW YORK

The Special Exhibition: BARNEYS NEW YORK × Whitestone Gallery

The Intersection of Fashion and Art: Artworks That Stimulate the Senses

BARNEYS NEW YORK

The Special Exhibition: BARNEYS NEW YORK × Whitestone Gallery

Fashion and contemporary art continue to push the boundaries of self-expression. Designs crafted with meticulous care and passion reflect a philosophy of visual artistry, transforming clothes into not just garments but dynamic sculptures, and works of art in their own right. In this way, fashion and art resonate, engaging in a profound dialogue of beauty.

This limited-time exhibition brings this dialogue to life. The sharp sensitivity of the two artists selected by BARNEYS NEW YORK and Whitestone Gallery, Kohei Kyomori and Tetsuo Mizù, harmonizes perfectly with the refined space, redefining the relationship between fashion and art. Visitors will experience the visual allure of fashion and the deeper intellectual and emotional stimulation that underpins it.

New Horizons in Art Created by Fashion

BARNEYS NEW YORK

The Special Exhibition: BARNEYS NEW YORK × Whitestone Gallery

The essence of contemporary art lies in its power to reimagine and transform everyday life. Art that breathes life into simple spaces not only adds color to life but also acts as a mirror reflecting individual lifestyles. For today’s art lovers and fashion aficionados, incorporating art into everyday life is more than just an aesthetic choice; it’s an extension of self-expression.

This special exhibition is held for a limited time from Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 29, 2024. We invite you to discover new ways to integrate art into your daily life and infuse your surroundings with an artistic rhythm.

ART EXHIBITION: WHITESTONE GALLERY

Dates: Friday, September 6, 2024 – Sunday, September 29, 2024
Venue: BARNEYS NEW YORK Roppongi Store (1st and 2nd floors)
Address: 7-7-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, BARNEYS NEW YORK Roppongi Store
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Artists: Kohei Kyomori, Tetsuo Mizù
Admission: Free

BARNEYS NEW YORK

The Special Exhibition: BARNEYS NEW YORK × Whitestone Gallery

What is BARNEYS NEW YORK?

Founded in 1923 in Manhattan, New York, BARNEYS NEW YORK is a specialty store known for its pursuit of luxury and individuality, gaining widespread recognition for its carefully curated selections. The store’s offerings are more than just products—each piece is chosen with a refined aesthetic sensibility, much like selecting works of art. From men’s and women’s fashion to accessories, shoes, gift items, and tableware, BARNEYS NEW YORK covers a wide range of categories, yet every item embodies the distinctive "BARNEYS essence."

In addition to its products, BARNEYS NEW YORK is celebrated for its store design, displays, and unparalleled hospitality, which create an inviting and sophisticated shopping environment. This unique atmosphere, defined by its elevated sense of style and an intimate yet relaxed charm, offers adult customers a truly exceptional shopping experience.

BARNEYS NEW YORK

The Special Exhibition: BARNEYS NEW YORK × Whitestone Gallery

Kohei Kyomori Tetsuo Mizù ミズテツオ京森康平 미즈 테츠오 쿄모리 코헤이

KOHEI KYOMORI

Detail Artworks

KOHEI KYOMORI

Detail Artworks

Following his studies in graphic design and fashion design in Tokyo, Kohei Kyomori furthered his education in Italy. There, he drew inspiration from the decorative arts of Europe and began producing paintings with ornamental motifs. His creative process involves merging various decorative cultures, such as folk art, ceramics, clothing and seals. Kyomori aims to create a unique visual language by reinterpreting ornamentation from both Eastern and Western art forms through a contemporary perspective. His artworks reflect an ongoing exploration of aesthetics, history, and the concept of decoration. Through this approach, he aims to uncover the historical and cultural roots of these art forms, revealing how they resonate across borders and ethnicities. His work carries a message of mutual acceptance, seeking to eradicate prejudice and discrimination. Furthermore, in the current digital era where the human aspect of craftsmanship is often overlooked, Kyomori's approach offers an opportunity to reexamine the value of human activity in the creative process. Notably, Kyomori collaborated with Hermès for their Fall Winter 2021 collection and won the Hermès International Scarf Design Competition Grand Prize.

TETSUO MIZÙ

Detail Artworks

TETSUO MIZÙ

Detail Artworks

Tetsuo Mizù was born in Tokyo. In 1967, he encountered the paintings of Modigliani and decided to consider him as his mentor. In the 1980s, Mizù astonished the European art world with his Flag series, composed of international maritime signal flags motifs. The charm of his works lies in their inherent ambivalence. Beneath the abstract expressions, clear messages are hidden, and vibrant, lively colours are divided by fine lines. His works coolly express the boundary that divides these two attributes or the interplay between them. Mizù skilfully fuses these patterns with the nostalgic memories of his time in Italy and the times he played flag games with his daughter, resulting in soft-hued rhythmic patterns that evoke abstraction.

A ceramic mural from his Flag series, measuring 6 metres in height and 32 metres in width, is on display at the White Rink, the ice skating rink used during the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics. Additionally, Mizù created stained glass for the Church of St. Anne in Lavino, Rome, as well as a floor artwork and a monument for the event hall and the VIP hall at the Toda Speedboat Race Course, respectively. In 2009, he gained further recognition for his large-scale work from the Flag series, comprising six pieces measuring 3.5 metres, which were exhibited at a venue commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama Port.

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