After decamping from the British Fashion Awards, a host of celebrities and fashion folk arrived fresh-faced in Miami for the Dior Menswear Pre-Fall show. Significant not only because of its star-studded guestlist (Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian, David Beckham & Ricky Martin), but also because it was the unofficial kick-off of the much-lauded Miami Art Basel.
However, it’s not all duct-taped bananas and blow-up vaginas - fashion came to town and made sure that Dior weren’t the only ones flexing their artistic muscles. A whole host of big brand names had set-up installations, pop-ups, special collectables and even more special collaborative projects. Below we’ve rounded up the moments to note at this year’s Art Basel Miami 2019.
Dior Menswear Pre-Fall 2020
We've seen Prada team with Adidas on an unexpected luxury sportswear collaboration so it was only right that Dior, unveiled their latest collaboration with Nike - The Dior x Air Jordan 1.
Enlisting the help of a few eye-catching names to help with the occasion, picture Miami Vice fluorescent prints designed in collaboration with Shawn Stussy (whom he pulled out of an over 20 year retirement), opulent white suits, busy monochrome all-over-prints and snakeskin trousers.
Balenciaga
Russian-raised and New York based artist Harry Nuriev has collaborated with the French Maison Balenciaga on a tongue-in-cheek sustainable sofa.
Stuffed with multi-coloured damaged and unsellable Balenciaga stock, it is encased in a scrapped transparent vinyl. A direct comment on sustainable practices and designer’s responsibility to counteract their environmental impact. It’s the chicest troll-worthy moment that an excited Bella Hadid can be seen enjoying below.
Banana Drama
When a Banana duct taped to a wall sold for a staggering $120,000, the internet lost it. Titled 'The Comedian' and consisting of a banana and well, duct tape. This was one of the pieces most circulated items on social media.
Adding further fuel to the social media fire, performance artist David Datuna was escorted out of the Art Basel premises for eating the work of art.
Some might call the entire fiasco, well, bananas?! Others would champion the work and the artist, Maurizio Cattelan, as a beacon of light in contemporary art. Anybody remember his fully functioning 18-carat-gold toilet that was stolen from Blenheim Palace?
Louis Vuitton
The latest pieces for Louis Vuittons Objet Nomades , a series of furniture collections in collaboration with a series of artists. Picture a row of polished oak wood shelves with soft curves and even softer red or blue leather holding them together. Or the yellow sofa with a petal-like construction.
Alongside this was an appointment only exhibition showcasing their sneaker trunk and exotic leather handbags.
Bottega Veneta
Housed in a bling-bling gold classic diner, Daniel Lee of Bottega Veneta set-up a 24-hour luxury fast food chain. In celebration of their recently opened Miami store, the diner on the 11th street also features a limited number of Bottega Veneta branded items on the menu including gold matchboxes, paper straws and napkins.
Desigual x Miranda Makaroff
For Desigual's latest collection, unveiled at this year's Miami Art Basel, they teamed up with Spanish artist Miranda Makaroff, who both have their bases in the Spanish city of Barcelona. She details the experience best in her instagram caption reading: "I always wanted to show my vagina in Miami Art Basel week🌸 And now my dream became true! 👅 If you go inside you will feel reborn again🔮 and also you will find my upcoming capsule collection for @desigual the first brand who supported my art in big format and believed in me. Maaaaaan i’m so grateful😭❤️ If u are in Miami you can visit my sweet pussy untill saturday 🍒#miamiartbasel". Oh! And there was an orgy.
Kanye West's Sunday Service
Closing Art Basel came Kanye West and his popular Sunday Service series. You may have seen Kanye's metallic makeover circulating news feeds.
Taking place at Miami’s Marine Stadium on Sunday, 'Mary' was the rappers second Hip-Hopera.
It wouldn’t be right if longtime collaborator Vanessa Beecroft wasn't on board. Beecroft is the creative lead behind ‘Runaway’ video alongside his Yeezy runway shows and his Yeezus tour.
The legendary Italian performance artist directed his new embrace of Christianity and gospel music.
Versace
Interior designer Sasha Bikoff, a friend of the Versace house, has an exhibition inspired by 'South Beach Stories', the title of the book published by the Versace family in 1993.
One of a kind furniture, evoking iconic looks of the early Versace decades. There’s a bed made from surfboards and a swing with bondage details and medusa hardware. It's a clear reference to the iconic 'Miss S&M' collection from Fall/Winter 92.
Two limited edition Virtus bags are available exclusively at Versace’s Miami boutique.
Gucci
Gucci and snapchat hosted a private event debuting the latest 3D film, "Duck Duck", by cult film director Harmony Korine.
Gucci x Harmony Korine x Spectacles partnered on 50 limited edition Spectacles. Guests included Alessandro Michele, Leonardo Dicrapio, Jared Leto, Chloe Sevigny, Sienna Miller, Gucci Mane and a surprise performance by Iggy Pop.
Miu Miu
In Collaboration with legendary art and design agency M/M Paris, Miu Miu created a limited edition ‘M/Marbles Stool’. Inspired by their Fall/Winter 2018 runway.
It’s all fun and games with its customisable glass matchsticks that can slot inside the holes, creating a unique patterned designs. Love it as much as we do? There’s only 40 so you’d better be quick!
Loewe
Jonathan Anderson brought the fifth instalment of his ‘Chance encounters’ series to Art Basel. This time, British artist Hilary Lloyd presented a new series of films which incorporate jump cuts (repetitive movement and borderline abstract imagery).
The Loewe Miami store was also transformed via colour, textiles, and large scale ceramic sculptures by Ewen Henderson in amongst the installation
Fendi
No strangers to furniture design thanks to their Fendi Casa range, Fendi have designed “Roman Molds’ in collaboration with Zurich-based design firm Kueng Capato. The ten design pieces were initially commissioned for their Rome based headquarters.
They’ve up-cycled Selleria leather, stiffened the fabric and created a candy coloured array of designs. Not one to be outdone, they’ve also launched the FENDIFRENESIA Baguette bag which is made of a unisex scent infused leather!
Thom Browne
Thom Browne’s first major public sculpture was unveiled in the Design district. 'Palm Tree 1'. A 21-foot-tall palm tree in a pic 'n' mix of pastel hued fabrics.
With his runway collection often teetering on the verge of an art form itself, his latest artistic ventue isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem. It goes without saying that the preceding cocktails featured a host of celebrities such as Diplo, Cynthia Evrio and Karolina Kurkova.
Virgil Abloh x Evian
Appointed 'Creative advisor for sustainable innovation design' in April this year, Virgil has collaborated with Evian on a glass bottle. With Evian's own goals of becoming 100% circular by 2025, Virgil has designed and debuted a 750ml glass water bottle with his iconic quotation marks reading “Rainbow inside”.
The “One Drop Can Make A Rainbow” collection will be available at Design Miami and selected hotels such as Novikov, Mandrake and Komodo.