Jupilings features emerging & established creatives, enterprising & resourceful individuals through series of interviews. Along the way, it offers useful tips on PR Marketing and it delivers news on latest trends relating to Life&Style, Culture & Art. You’ll also find posts about Technology & Social trends that improve our communities at large.
I dare say that being a good observer matters more than ever. Peering into ourselves and the world unboxes the behaviors, the negatives, the positives or the actions that sidetrack us. The daily rummage distracts even the most intelligent beings; however a sudden tilt of the eye towards a mural or a poster sheds lights on our existential dilemma.
Banksy
One of the most talented observers of our time is Banksy, the artist. His anarchic wit and his ability to dissect the challenges and communicating them in an intelligently uncluttered way is praiseworthy. The message is never lost in the image. A simple concept from evolutionary references, advocating for peace or justice to the validity of all kinds of love brings out the best version in each of us. His artworks push aside the narcissism of small differences and rely on the hype for compassion.
BanksyBanksy
The incognito trademark of Bansky is attractive. His desire to act as a creative surrogate of empathy and heightened awareness portrays him as stimulating. Deep in our conscious, we form an alliance with his emotional intelligence. Unlike the desperate cry for help of Gotham citizens, who relied on one superhero to be rescued using the bat-signal device, Banksy lights the torch for us to observe, be responsible and take action.
BanksyBanksy
The Banksy Art exhibition in Toronto curated by Steve Lazarides, his former agent, is a collection of references to our society and cultural idolization, obsessions or shenanigans. Still, his deeply-rooted mindfulness and generous care for the vulnerable are felt with clarity. An opportunity to see his artworks that will be returned to 40 different art collectors around the world, is worth the time and money.
French designers have long created the most stylistically elegant and innovative brands. This outstanding reputation has been originated by the 17th-century French monarch Louis XIV and his shrewd minister of finance, Jean-Baptiste Colbert. The Sun King had an eye for fashion and with the help of Colbert, as the latter famously indicated: “fashions were to France what the mines of Peru were to Spain; Louis XIV established France as the leading luxury and chic fashion capital of the world.
The French way of luxury attire, accessories and living have evolved from the elaborate fashion of the 17th-century to cool and effortlessly elegant style. Defined by “I woke up like this” attitude, the French design allow the individual to shine with a hint of playfulness. The Stone Paris fine jewellery has this quality ingrained in its DNA. Founded by Marie Poniatowski, a Parisian from a family of high nobility whose origins go back to the 15th century admiringly creates sensual and modern jewellery adorned with romanticism.
Marie Poniatowski – Stone Paris Jewellery
Her collection is for the brave who is not afraid of the stigma of being emotionally tender but the one that graciously asserts ” I am the beloved who choose to abide or break the rules. The wearer is attentive to detail, gentle in nature and connoisseur of the timeless elegance. As for the androgynous pieces of Stone Paris fine jewellery, a touch of royal rebellion that screams rocker-chic will transform your style delicately.
MP: I’m an entrepreneur; I design fine jewellery for Stone Paris, the brand I founded 14 years ago. I live in Paris with my husband and daughter. I’m very straightforward, so I always tell it like it is! Moreover, while I create luxurious accessories, I’m very casual, and my favorite thing is to be with my family and friends in my country house outside of the city.
Jupilings: What set you on this path of designing jewellery-
MP: I used to work in the movie industry, but when I had my daughter, I wanted to make a career change to have a more “conventional” schedule. Entirely by chance, after a trip to New York City, I realized there were no fine jewellery designers in France apart from Place Vendôme… So in 2004, I decided to create an accessible, yet precious jewellery line that a woman could afford to buy herself and wear every day.
Jupilings: What are the principles in lifestyle that you want to manifest in your brand
MP: Be yourself and be comfortable in your skin. That’s why I try to design pieces for everyday wear, the thinnest and lightest possible, so you don’t even feel them.
MP: I think elegance is very subjective, fortunately not everyone has the same taste! However, to me, it is about sobriety and subtlety. I will not be the most elegant wearing heels and a gown because I won’t be comfortable. I would feel more elegant with a white shirt and a pair of jeans. Maybe it’s because I’m French… Less is more!
MP: In my opinion, Luxury has nothing to do with materialistic things. It’s being able to do something I love for a living, enjoying going to the office every day, working with an amazing team, it’s priceless…
Jupilings: What is the favourite aspect of your business
MP: My favorite part is the design, especially after sending out the drawings when we receive the first sample and I get to see my creation take shape. Sometimes it surpasses my expectations; sometimes it’s disappointing, so I have to rethink the whole thing, anyway it’s always exhilarating.
Jupilings: What is the hardest part of your business
MP: The hardest is probably the administrative part, just because I don’t really like numbers and paperwork, so I have to be twice as serious about it.
Jupilings: What kind of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have
MP: My only ritual is to gather the whole team for a big brainstorm before starting a new collection. I like having their feedback on the previous one, and their feeling of what customers want, or what they think the brand is lacking. I work very closely with my team, and I like taking the time to discuss it with them, it’s good to make some distance to look at the big picture.
Stone Paris Jewellery
Jupilings: Best piece of advice you’ve been given
MP: It’s not really advice, but how my parents taught me to be humble, respectful and hard-working, that’s what I try to pass on to my daughter.
Jupilings: What’s one branding lesson you’ve learned in your career and ventures
MP: Social media… It’s vital for a brand now, but it’s challenging for me because as a designer brand, people are interested in me and my life while I am not particularly eager to put myself forward. I try to get better at it, and I’m lucky to have great people helping me with that.
Jupilings: How do you deal with setbacks
MP: I used to be very stressed out and spend sleepless nights when there was a problem. Now I have grown, I deal with setbacks more peacefully. It’s better to avoid panic, stay calm and positive to find the best solution for the business.
Jupilings: Who inspires you and why
MP: I’m very inspired by women like Simone Veil who fight for women’s rights. I am so thankful for women like her who are willing to be pioneers and set an example for generations to come.
Jupilings: What does it mean to be a woman today
MP: Women have to multi-task today; we have to be wives, mothers, business women all at the same time. I think it can be challenging to juggle with everything, more than it is for men. Today I feel we are more aware of that and how important it is to support each other as women.
Jupilings: Which movie you would have liked to be the leading actor
MP:Karen Blixen in Out of Africa. It’s one of my favorite movies, and I have so much admiration for her. Living such an adventurous life in such freedom is amazing to me.
Jupilings: What is your life motto
MP: Living in the moment, not being too nostalgic about the past, and not worrying too much about the future.
“The most potent muse of all is our own inner child”
What is ideal? What drives us? What provokes us? What lifts us? We get moving by our physical requirements, by feeling safe, being valued, belongingness, but each of us aspires to reach our full potential and eventually achieve our transcendence.
“What a man can be, he must be”
Doing what we are capable and achieve our greatness is driven by force within our psyche. It can be an idea, a higher purpose, a passion or a muse. Whether an invisible spirit, a demon, a place or the most authentic organism on the planet, the muse deliberately takes over the wheel of a drive. It triggers a spark and lifts you to a place where you can release your genius.
Tilley, a local government worker in London and a close friend of Leigh Bowery, a performing artist, fashion designer and the proprietor of extravagant London Club “Taboo,”was part of the hedonistic lifestyle of the 80’s. She met Freud, through Leigh, who was also an inspiration and Freud’s sitter. The iconic plumpness of her curves and folds became one of the most valuable life-size masterworks of human forms. Freud’s exceptional techniques intertwined with Tilley’s authentic and unpretentious repose make the viewer uncomfortable yet with admiration for both the artist and the sitter.
Fast forward, Tilley has retired from her job, and she is exploring her talents as a writer, an illustrator and fashion collaborator with House of Fendi. Her cartoonish drawings of ordinary stuff are printed on Fendi’s Men’s SS2018 “corporate escapism” collection. She also creates portraits and draws dull everyday objects, as she charmingly characterizes them.
The magic appeal in her drawings is her ability to observe and render the banal into a jolly artwork. She does not push any boundaries, only reminds us that the ordinary is true, it is present and part of life. Her honest illustration of things that occupy our life moments stamp her “joie de vivre.” Sue Tilley finds her muse deep from her life philosophy and hones her potential in a spirited style.
As for the inspiration behind Tilley’s adventure in writing the biography of “Leigh Bowery: The Life and Times of an Icon” was to pay tribute to her closest friend. She reveals London’s 1980’s nightclub culture and radiantly portrays with such a wit, Bowery as the most provocative and avant-garde performers of that era.
Interview
Jupilings: Tell us about yourself, how you got into illustration and collaboration with House of Fendi:
ST: I trained as an art teacher but I never really worked in that field and more or less stopped drawing. However about five years ago I met a Portuguese artist called Rui Miguel Leitao Ferreira, and we became very good friends. He encouraged me to draw, and I got the bug again. I had a big exhibition and a good friend, Julian Ganio came, and he really loved my pictures and bought several. He is very close to Silvia Fendi and works with her on the Fendi menswear collection, and he suggested that I should draw some everyday objects for spring/summer 2018.
Jupilings: Which side of Susan Tilley, drives the wheel of her life?
ST: To be honest, I’m not very driven. I tend to wait for projects to come along and just go with the flow.
Credit: Sue Tilley
Jupilings: You have indicated that your artworks are inspired by mundane. How or why you find excitement in mundane-
ST: Oh, I love ordinary things. I can find pleasure in anything. I didn’t really know what to do for my art exhibition, so decided to base it on my life and draw things that I like such as Dove Bodywash, Heat Magazine, and foods that I love and other things that give me pleasure. I haven’t got expensive taste although I like good quality things.
Credit: Sue Tilley
Jupilings: When you are creating a work of art, you are forging an engagement with a situation or an emotion. Do you aspire to drive public awareness to activism, in any stage of your creation?
ST: Sometimes Rui and I work together, and we put on an exhibition about Brexit and how it was going to ruin Britains relationship with the rest of Europe. However, generally I just paint things that I like, and they are merely for pleasure. I seem to get many commissions to paint dogs, I have no interest in dogs at all, but I like how the owners really love them.
Credit: Sue Tilley – BorisCredit: Sue TilleyCredit: Sue Tilley
Credit: Sue Tilley
Jupilings: What does women empowerment mean to you?
ST: It just means that women should have the same rights as men and be treated equally in the home and the workplace.
Jupilings: How do you keep your confidence up as a woman?
St: Just by being me and answering men back if they make a sexist comment or if they try to tell me something that they think I wouldn’t understand as I am a woman.
Jupilings: One advice to a millennial woman
St: Believe in yourself and don’t pander to man and their stupid whims.
Jupilings: What do you do to conquer fear or self-doubt:
ST: I think “ I can do this and I will do this” To be honest as I’ve got older I’ve had less self-doubt. You aren’t going to please everyone, and not everyone is going to like you so get on with your life and remove negative people from your life.
Jupilings: How do you describe your relation with Lucian Freud:
St: I just worked for him, we were friends like work colleagues, we had a chat when I was there, but the friendship didn’t continue after I stopped working for him.
Sue Tilley – by Luciano Freud
Jupilings: Best advice you received from Lucian Freud:
ST: I’m not a great one for taking advice, and he wasn’t a great one for giving it. However, I did follow his way of eating..buy the best quality fresh produce that you can afford and cook it simply.
Jupilings: One thing about Lucian Freud that nobody knew about it:
ST: He was absolutely hilarious.
Jupilings: What about Leigh Bowery, what did you learn from him that had a positive effect on your life?
ST: Everything that has happened in my life can be traced back to Leigh. For the confidence, he gave me and the belief that he had in me. He was the best friend that anyone could ever have.
Credit: Sue Tilley – Leigh Browery
Jupilings: What are your tips about building a brand name as an artist?
ST: I’m not an expert on this, but I put a lot of my work on Instagram and Facebook and try to reach as big an audience as possible.
Credit: Sue Tilley
Jupilings: What superpower you would like to have ? and why?
ST: To be able to eat ice cream all day without it affecting my weight or health. I gave up sugar two months ago, but once a week I allow myself to have one scoop of ice cream.
Jupilings: Which movie you would have liked to be the leading actor:
ST:Moulin Rouge…but as I can’t sing or dance I wouldn’t have been very good.
Dazzling, radiant, appreciated, loved or inspired are among the many attributes & feelings that we all experience whether through our intimate relations to another or our relationship with ourselves. Over the course of centuries, people tried to appease Gods with gifts, a gesture of gratitude and honour or exchanged them when they met another tribe to build trust. Increasingly, many other celebrations expanded the gift-giving culture. However, at its core, the symbolic act is to honour someone or oneself for personality traits and achievements.
Gracefully, communicating the message of recognition based on deep affections and best wishes is not always easy. Still, explaining oneself with a single word that says it all, is pleasantly indulging.
Today, Gaia Spallanzani, at the helm of the family business, has taken the jewellery house to new heights. Inspired by the glamour deeply rooted in a desire to influence the power of belief, she captures the “Oomph” in the collections. With her vision and the craftsmanship of Italian finest artisans, the Spallanzani’s jewelry makes an exceptional gift.
Interview
Jupilings: How do you describe yourself-
GS: I am a positive person, very superstitious but also very determined. My brain never stops, and I am always looking for new ideas and inspirations. I can also define myself as a very active woman because I balance my work life and my family life… (I have three kids)
Jupilings: What are the principles in lifestyle that you want to manifest in Spallanzani brand-
GS: At Spallanzani, we represent quality, originality of the design, the pride from being made in Italy and also the history of our brand. It’s in our DNA. We are jewellers for 5 generations; we designed our most signature pieces from scratch. We were the innovators of the style (letter bracelets) that became popular in the fine jewelry in the 80’s.
GS: Luxury is something that is not for everybody. It is for a niche of clients.
Jupilings: What is the favourite aspect of your business-
GS: Creativity is what I love in my business and originality. We need shoes to walk, we need clothes to go out in, but we don’t need jewelry. Jewelry is a plus that makes you look beautiful, powerful, elegant, bold; it is like a cherry on top of the sundae. It is the “touche d’eclat” that makes you different and unique. I love that part of my business.
Jupilings: What is the hardest part of your business
GS: The hardest part of my business is sometimes what our client see the products but overlook the effort that has been employed through the process of making jewelry, especially in Italy. Nowadays, people see a product and buy a bag or a pair of shoes because of the price and the look, and they don’t care anymore about the quality. The clients want to work on consignment, and this kills the market. Gold has a price and so does good quality diamonds.
Jupilings: What kind of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have-
GS: I don’t have any routines. I can wake up in the middle of the night and send info of an idea I had while sleeping to my team and when I go into work the next morning (if I don’t do it I will forget it), we brainstorm to create one of a kind pieces. I also decide on a theme, we research for all the info, symbols, icons linked to that idea. Alternatively, I also look at our old designs, and from one single piece, I imagine a full collection.
Jupilings: Best piece of advice you’ve been given-
GS: The best piece of advice I have been given is for sure: “you are a good seller only when you will be able to sell your pieces”. It is difficult to sell your pieces, your designs as there is always this limit when you don’t know if people will like it or not and worst if the will tell you or not, so I consider it very difficult, but this is something I am working on it.
Jupilings: What’s one branding lesson you’ve learned in your career and ventures-
GS: For our branding, we pride ourselves on our individuality that brings our clients one of a kind, luxurious pieces. As I’ve been handed down this company through my family, I want to represent Spallanzani as not just another jewelry company. To me, Spallanzani is like no other Jewellery House, and we show this pride through our products by using only the best stones, gold and designs.
GS: A moto that inspires me is ”When there is a problem there is a solution,” so I do all my superstitious routines and then I try to figure out a solution.
Stella chain earring full diamonds Spallanzani Jewels
Jupilings: Who inspires you and why-
GS: Who inspires me? I keep thinking of my mother and grandmother. Beautiful, elegant, classy, active and such a determined women, but also very funny.
Jupilings: What does it mean to be a woman today-
GS: A woman in today world does everything. She works, she manages the family, the kids, the house, she organizes the holidays and also the day to day. For me, women are SUPERWOMAN today. I am impressed every day by all a woman can truly handle.
Jupilings: Which movie you would have liked to be the leading actor-
GS: I would have loved to be the leading actor of so many movies….above all the movies from the 50’s and 60’s. Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Vacanze Romane...I love Audrey Hepburn she was so classy, natural elegance… so I think I would have loved to be her in one of her movies, but another movie I keep remembering is Sliding Doors with ‘Gwyneth Paltrow.’ This movie explains very well what I firmly think as another motto of mine: “That what has to happen at the end will happen.”
Jupilings: What is your life motto-
GS: I do have many mottos, one of my favorites would be: “where there is a problem there is a solution and make it happen.”
How to peacefully tackle and question the ideologies, values, and happenings of the 21st century? The disagreements, the conflicts, the foolishness yet the ever-present of innocence and divine are the prismatic reflections in the artwork of Afsoon, a renowned Iranian born, London-based artist. Her assemblage tells the story of individuals who bare open the vulnerabilities of humanity such as her collection of poets. At the same time, she shed lights to paradoxes of war and allegorical beliefs of our times in an imaginative and whimsical manner.
Poets in Heaven Series – by AfsoonWar Carpets – by Afsoon
Afsoon explores complexities of our world and takes us a step forward to examine perceptions and tenets. Similar to our pure ideals of love, the original sin, transformation of Adam & Eve, the defiant celebrities to earthlings, or the schisms of feminine experience. Still, hope is in existence. A firm believer of a fairytale, she constructs narratives, she remembers, she solves, and she implies survival of not only the fittest but the one that still believes in humanity.
Adam & Eve – By Afsoon
She makes use of linocut, photography, watercolour, collage, and etching for her multilayered creations. For the most part, she illustrates her deep connection with her homeland while exploring the splendor and the Achilles heel of the East and the West. Afsoon’s works have been extensively exhibited and can be found worldwide in prominent collections and museums, including the British Museum,Los Angeles County Museum and Berger/YSL Collection, among others.
Jupilings: Tell us about yourself and how you got into art-
A: As long as I can remember, I have been making things. From drawings with crayons at a very young age and my preteen magazine collages to film art in my early twenties to work, I do now.
Jupilings: How do you choose your protagonists-
A: I am my protagonist.
Jupilings: What is the fundamental principle in your creations-
Jupilings: As an artist, what role and social responsibility you shoulder-
A: An artist should be honest.
Jupilings: When you are creating a work of art, you are forging an engagement with a situation or an emotion. Do you aspire to drive public awareness to activism, in any stage of your creation-
A: Emotions are always involved in creating my art. I tell my story and leave it up to the viewers to engage with it in their own way.
Jupilings: What is one undisclosed or mysterious piece of information about yourself, you would bravely share with your audience-
A: I am scared of the dark.
Jupilings: What does women empowerment mean to you-
A: I am a woman and a feminist. Equality is the answer.
“The desire for a feeling of importance is one of the chief distinguishing differences between mankind and the animals”.
Living a significant life is a duty, not a choice. As humans, we have the power to live a life that matters. Our ability to cooperate with each other empowers us to act with a purpose. This collective quality goes hand in hand with the desire to be important and experience life beyond the self. Equally, it is the emotional trigger to move forward in times of uncertainties and challenges. As the most adaptive species, we can overcome hurdles and build a bridge when we are on edge. Our flexibility and conscious to act towards a common goal is what makes us human.
Leo Caillard
Still, there are times that we lose our inner-drive, the ordinary aspects of life blur our visions and our aspirations. These moments may happen when we are overwhelmed with indecisiveness or faced with stressful situations, so we lack interest or excitement. Our world becomes mundane, and our life visions a far-flung dot in the sky. So how do we get a grip on these unproductive emotions? I’ve learned that purpose, motivation, and momentum are the three powerful forces that will help us tackle difficult times and tasks.
Banksy Art
Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.
What does it mean and what kind of questions lead to define or re-create our purpose? Inquiring into our intentions, examining our beliefs in the steady and positive betterment of humankind, and considering our contribution to collective progress is definitely on top of the checklist that empowers us to experience a meaningful life.
Bansky Art
“It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet.”
Motivation: There is a number of theories that explain the motivation and how it is initiated and guided. Some people are driven by intrinsic and some with extrinsic motivation. However many people are more inclined to act by the former. They care about the satisfaction rather than reward. Essentially, one of the pillars of intrinsic motivation is to align your stimulus with a higher purpose. Since fulfillment developed by self-growth and expanding our horizon to matter and make a difference is in our DNA.
Leo Caillard
One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals. – Michael Korda
Momentum! Go forward, even if you lack the passion, but you have a vision also if it might not clear. Whether you are performing in a contest or a task, momentum expands your mental focus and physical efforts initiating an action. In turn, the act creates results. When you are on a roll, the synergy between the motion and our perceived capabilities enables us to perform with confidence and efficiency. For example, a chore as mundane as ironing a pile of clothes when is 2/3 done, we realize that we have the strength to complete the task. The same perception applies in our professional life. Therefore, our competence, the span of our movement and the continuous efforts will encourage us to perform remarkably.
Leo Caillard
The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope. ― Barack Obama
Understanding and revisiting our desires and goals, acknowledging our need to feel important, eyeing for the progress and keep the ball rolling is like personal hygiene; they must be looked after with care and regularly.
Leo Caillard
Featured image – Painting “Nude Youth sitting by the sea” was made by Hippolyte Flandrin, Ingres’ student. Louvre
Personal branding is important, and it is our responsibility to take charge of our image. We define how we present ourselves to others, express our ideas or cultivate our abilities and strengths. On this account, we should be aware and mindful of our development and illustration of our brand to fend off from misconceptions and to prevent others to shape our identity.
“Amon Din” – Thomas Easton
Many of us are taught to do our best and then let the world decide how to judge us. I think it’s better to do your best and decide how you want to be judged. And act that way.
Certainly, we must look at other grounds that are not only influential to our personal and professional development but urge us to establish a personal brand. Let’s examine them:
The unpredictability of economy – due to political and socio-cultural disparities or the unknown in human behaviour and nature
Globalization – accessibility to scores of skilled talents, opportunities, and competitions
Increase in number of solopreneurs, freelancers and the ability to work as part of a team in short-term projects
Social networking sites are more than casual sharing, they have become a ubiquitous influence in our interactions
So how to stand out?
Be mindful of your intentions. Names, style, voice, manner, skills, and expertise are part of self-packaging, but the building blocs of a personal brand are based on conscious recognition of the objectives. Nevertheless, producing values and having a positive impact on others are the fundamental motives that must be acknowledged in the process of introspection.
Dark Night
Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.
To recognize your intentions and build the pillars of your branding consider the following five steps:
Decide on your destination – What are you excited about? Where you want to be? What do you want to achieve?
Leverage your distinctive capabilities – What people remember you for? How can you solve problems? What are the benefits of your proposition or personal trait?
Develop your story – your experiences, your memories, your assets are part of your narrative. If you are unsure of how to put your story together, think about a role model and try to convey why you admire this person.
Introduce yourself – make known your brand statement. In a couple of sentences state your unique values and why they matter.
Be true to your statement – Establish your expertise by sharing your knowledge whether face to face or through well planned social media presence.
Remember embracing your notable traits and expertise is “to be the real thing”and not to fit a mould. Conformity leads to disappointment and fake behaviours however authentic representation of oneself is attention-worthy and helps one to rise above the noise.
Jupilings features emerging & established creatives, enterprising & resourceful individuals through series of interviews. Along the way, it offers useful tips on PR Marketing and it delivers news on latest trends relating to Life&Style, Culture & Art. You’ll also find posts about Technology & Social trends that improve our communities at large.
