Tony Chambers writes…
Aug 22nd, 2007
Last year Wallpaper* celebrated its 10th anniversary, and in time-honoured fashion we wanted our favourite figures, from the many disciplines covered by the magazine’s content, to share in our celebrations. It goes without saying that Zaha featured prominently, embodying as she does the same driving principles that we pride ourselves on. Zaha’s contribution to our 10th year celebrations was two-fold. She was one of the 10 artists we approached to design a limited edition cover, and she was also chosen by Karl Lagerfeld as his architectural hero in our gargantuan ‘Power Couples’ feature for Wallpaper* 092 last October.
Her cover design for Wallpaper* 088 in May 2006 was part of our anniversary project whereby we commissioned a select group of our favourite creatives to each design a cover incorporating the concept 10. Zaha’s stamp was unmistakeable. She produced an extraordinary cover with ergonomic swirls, like white, moving lights against a black background in a long exposure, reminiscent of her early conceptual architectural drawings on show in the exhibition. The image has her signature knack of seeming chaotic but coherent at the same time. Notably, of all the guest cover designers we’ve commissioned (and the initiative proved so successful we’ve continued it into our eleventh year) Zaha is the only one with the balls to draw over the Wallpaper* logo, the characteristic irreverence of which, we delight in.Later in the year, when Karl Lagerfeld chose Zaha to be his heroic architect in Wallpaper* 092, we were thrilled. Not only was this a visual match made in heaven, but we were going to be the masterminds behind the conjoining of two of the world’s most creative mavericks.
The portrait is both human and bizarrely transcendental. Karl and Zaha stand in the rain outside the Mercer Hotel in New York shielded from the midsummer elements by a pair of black umbrellas. The brooding image has a depth of humanity – everyone gets caught in the rain – yet peering out from under the umbrellas are two gigantic characters, with domineering, down-turned glowers as if to say, ‘It’ll take more than rain to stop us.’ As a portrait of two figures, constantly working, constantly creating and always on the move, there’s a tremendous and striking stillness to them both.
And it seems the meeting had merits beyond simply providing us with a seminal joint portrait. The pair got along famously. Questioned as to why he’d chosen Zaha, Karl explained, ‘She is the first architect to find a way to part with the all-dominating post-Bauhaus aesthetic. The value of her designs is similar to that of great poetry. The potential of her imagination is enormous and people are only just beginning to realise how important her designs are.’ Questioned as to whether she was surprised he’d chosen her, Zaha fired back, ‘Karl and I have a long-standing respect for each other’s work. So no, I’m not entirely surprised.’
We’re deeply proud to have been the matchmakers behind the mighty houses of Hadid and Chanel who have collaborated since on a typically boundary-breaking project: the Chanel Contemporary Art Container. Touring from 2008 to 2010 from Hong Kong to Paris, via Tokyo, New York, LA, London and Moscow, the mobile gallery will exhibit work from fifteen internationally renowned artists, inspired by the iconic Chanel 2.55 bag. And in recognition of our small but important part in bringing the two together, Wallpaper* has been granted an exclusive preview of the project’s development and launch. The results will grace Wallpaper’s pages soon, so watch this space…
September 13th, 2007 at 9:37 am
What a cool cover! Is it still available? And where can I get it?
September 13th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Zaha Hadid’s limited edition cover of Wallpaper* is my favourite of all time (I have been a Wallpaper* obessive since issue 1 - by the way for those interested in viewing all the cover Wallpaper* has ever published go to the picture gallery archive at wallpaper.com). I love the way she has used her renowned drawing style (famous since her Cardiff opera house competition entry) to interprete the number 10. Out of all the limited edition covers of 1996, this is the one for me that will stand the test of time.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:53 am
I got my subscription just in time to get that cover
November 20th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
On queer street