Luciana Bianchi is a chef and food writer. After working for many years in the restaurants and hotels of Germany, she transitioned into catering, where her clientele included superstars and ambassadors. An admirer of avant-garde culinary geniuses such as Ferran Adrià, Massimo Bottura and Andoni Luis Aduriz, Luciana pursued a complementary education in molecular science. With roots in Brazil and Italy, these days Luciana lives in Hampshire, England, where she and her lab research team develop projects to aid chefs in the kitchen; the group’s first assignment, for Heston Blumenthal and his Fat Duck restaurant, was a huge success. Bianchi’s writing has been published in Brazil, Portugal, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Korea, Italy and the UK. She’s currently working on several book projects, as well as a collaboration with the award-winning food photographer Sergio Coimbra.

Could you please tell us about your background and career? What did attract you about cooking?
I am a trained chef, and my cooking background includes Le Cordon Bleu School, and work experience with specialists in different countries. I was a student of Business but decided to leave university to travel around the world. I turned my passion for cooking into a career. My first work as a writer began in the 1990s in Germany, and I collaborated with magazines while I was a chef in a restaurant inside an art gallery. I kept cooking and writing, helping chefs to write their cookbooks. As a result, after a few years, writing became a serious parallel job. It was an organic process, from cooking to writing, but when I moved to the UK, I decided to go back to University to gain some knowledge and improve my writing skills, focusing on Science, Literature and Film Studies.
I love to listen to people’s stories and to write about them. The context and the personal journey of food professionals are for me as important as their final products. Food needs identity, and beautiful, delicious dishes and drinks are the result of many people’s dedication and often sacrifices. Chefs and sommeliers occupy only the final stage of that process. In my opinion, before we criticise, we have to understand and to listen. In that way, criticism becomes a way of stimulating professionals to develop, and not a weapon used by writers to draw attention to themselves. I believe that my 17 years in the kitchen help me to see things differently.

What’s the latest project you have been working on?
A cookbook about Amazonian/Brazilian Cuisine to be released worldwide.

What do you enjoy of your food writer career?
I am an art and film lover and the topic “food & art” is my major focus at the moment. Avant-garde cuisine has combined my two passions. The work of chefs such as Ferran Adrià, Massimo Bottura and Andoni Luiz Aduriz (and a some other avant-garde chefs), have for me the value of a Picasso for an art curator. It goes beyond cuisine and is changing the way we perceive food!

What’s the most common trouble in your job? How do you cope with that?
Big egos. By talking about things that truly matter, and not encouraging a “pop star” attitude. I am not interested in superficialities.

Do you enjoy collaborations? What was the best collaboration you had?
My best collaboration so far is with the food photographer Sergio Coimbra. His love for food is visible in his work.

What’s the easier but tastier recipe you know?
A tomato-basil bruschetta. You just need the best tomatoes, finely chopped fresh basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, fresh black pepper, maldon salt, a touch of garlic and perfect bread.

What’s your favorite restaurant in your city? Why?
I have three places I consider “my city”.
London/UK:  Viajante, by Nuno Mendes and The Clove Club, by Isaac McHale.
Curitiba/Brazil: Lagundri, by Marcelo Amaral.
Milan/Italy: Al Pont de Ferr, by Matias Perdomo.

You usually travel a lot, which culinary discovery did strike you the most?
My first visit to Peru. I am still overwhelmed by the culinary richness of the country and fabulous indigenous products. I return every year and cannot get enough! I am in Cusco at the moment!

Who is the woman you’d like to see featured/interviewed here?
Gabrielle Hamilton, chef of Prune, NYC and the Brazilian artist Adriana Varejão.

Is there anything in particular you would like us to mention?
Women are the foundation of our society, managing to be mothers, partners and great professionals at the same time. I met an incredible woman in the middle of the Amazon jungle who produces on her own fabulous chocolate, despite the danger and difficulties. I also met a woman in Cusco, who works the whole day in the market carrying her daughter on her back. And I happen to know very well a chef who worked at a busy restaurant, pregnant, 15 hours a day, 6 days a week, until 4 weeks before delivering her baby. Women are a force of nature!

www.twitter.com/lucianabianchi
www.luciana-bianchi.com (under construction)
www.facebook.com/LucianaBianchichef

In the short film above – directed by Maryam L’Ange - she makes her debut as art director for London-based electro-pop band Eaux’s new video, Hold On. Shot in the Town Hall Hotel in East London, the video – produced by Somesuch & Co - sees lead singer Sian Ahern use sinister and seductive charms to entice a lover. VOGUE’s creative director Jaime Perlman was drawn to the project through her friendship with L’Ange, aiding director in making decisions concerning fashion, set and location. Via Purple.

www.facebook.com/Eaux
soundcloud.com/eauxeaux

wikipedia.org/Hilma_af_Klint

Camilla Engman is an incredibly talented artist, illustrator, and graphic designer living in Göteborg, Sweden. Her works have been exhibited across Europe and USA and she has undertaken commissions from the likes of The New York Times, Google and Converse. Lately she’s been working/playing (as she likes to say) with swedish sculptor Per Agélii on a project about what they call 2,5 D, some sort of scenography, but involving actors too. Besides from that Camilla is illustrating children books and hopefully she’ll be writing and drawing her own one. Dont’t forget to check her exhibition together with Helena Roos in Göteborg, it’s on until June 2nd!

When did you first realize that art and illustration were something you were passionate about?
I’ve always loved pictures, stories and colors. To draw myself was a natural process from that. To draw was one of the only things I was good at, so of course I continued. I’m not sure if it had to be art and illustration, I think it could have been anything creative. It is the creativity that gets me going, the work process.

What’s a feature of your works that you’re especially proud of that may not be obvious to the public at first glance?
I can’t say I’m especially proud of anything… Maybe that is because I’m more interested in working than the actual finished work. Even though that is what I’m aiming for, to finish the work and to feel proud somehow. I’m afraid I can’t answer better.

What was your best exhibition experience? Why?
When people was asked to write a story to one of three paintings and on the show opening three chosen ones read them themselves. Especially one young boy touched my heart, he looked so shy but tremendously proud!

Your work spans through different media and tecniques, what was your “first love”?
Paper is my first and lasting love. I love paper, the smell, the feeling, the easiness and the variety. Just add pen!

What do you think are your greatest professional achievements?
Not the creations but,most importantly, to start blogging and throwing myself out there.

Could you please tell us more about “The Morran Book Project”?
Morran, my dog, has always played a big role on my blog. She’s been my alter ego, sort of. I’m not sure how or why, but many many people loved Morran through my blog. I guess my love for her shine through, and of course her big personality. When she got sick people started to send my things, like a knitted sweater for Morran, a portrait, a blanket and so on. Someone gave me the idea to make a book out of it all. I asked people to send me pictures they’ve made of Morran. That’s how it all started. Over 360 pictures were sent to me. My plan was to choose 80 pictures, to make a small book, but there was so many wonderful Morran and so much love I couldn’t. So I made a book with all pictures.

What are the main things you’ve learned working for Studio Violet? Could you please tell us more about that experience?
I would say that sometimes 1+1=3. While it was working it felt like we were invincible, and that is of course a great feeling.

What is the most stimulating place you ever been to/lived in? Why?
Right now, right here! I got a studio place in Konstepideming/Epidemic of Art here in Gothenburg. I’ve had my studio for a year now and I love it, I’m so happy to be there. Konstepidemin is a non profit organization providing studio facilities for over a hundred professional artists. The former Epidemic Hospital houses sculptors, actors, writers, textile artists, designers, dancers, musicians, jewellery and ceramic artists, painters, performance artists, print makers, poets, film makers and others. Artists have worked here since 1987, close to the city center in a park like area. It is super inspiring! I’m having so much fun right now, right here.

Who is the woman you’d like to see featured/interviewed here?
Emelie Östergren, because I find her pictures very inspiring.

www.camillaengman.com
camillaengman.blogspot.com

www.ghostly.com
www.adultperiod.com

Thames & Hudson published a new book by design editor and writer Linda O’Keeffe celebrating stripes in all of their many incarnations, across architecture, art, fashion, interior design, and in the natural environment. One of the most enduring decorative markings, stripes can be found everywhere, from early cave drawings to the ubiquitous Breton shirt. Stripes: Design Between the Lines, is a journey through the structural, the horizontal, the jovial, the paradoxical, the tribal, and all other variants of the simple stripe.

www.thamesandhudson.com
lokdesignmind.com

Kathi Kauder is a stylist and fashion consultant based in Berlin. She is fashion editor at I Love You magazine but she’s always juggling various project at the same time: styling editorials, lookbooks and offering design consultancy. One of her most emotional projects has been published a few weeks ago: a two months trip, together with photographer Amira Fritz, to follow the road from Shanghai to Paris, documenting the change of faces from Asia to Europe. Next month she’ll be styling the ballett dancers of Bayerisches Staatsballett don’t forget to keep an eye out for her new projects as she’ll be working more on the editorial side of her work.

Could you tell us about your background? How did you become interested in fashion and styling?
I guess I was fascinated by clothes since I was a little child. I remember cutting my mum’s dresses and fitting them to my size. I enjoyed a very free upbringing. Surrounded by nature and animals I created my own fantasy world. After finishing school I moved to Berlin to study fashion design at the UdK. Back then, Vivienne Westwood was still teaching there. After graduating I started to work as a designer in London but somehow I wasn’t fulfilled and happy. I quit my job and from there on styling came somehow naturally to me. In 2009 I Love You Magazine was founded and I started to contribute frequently. What I really like about my job is the challenge that every project differs from the one before. And I’m pleased to do what I love to do.

What do you think are your greatest professional achievements?
I’m never really satisfied, so it’s hard to tell. My favourite shoot I did so far was with my beloved friend Daniel Sannwald. For Interview Magazine we shot a girl wearing a chameleon mask. I enjoyed this project a lot and still love the outcome.

What does the word style mean to you?
Styling for me means to design an overall image. To create a look in order to form a character and to tell its story. I’m still fascinated by how we express ourselves with our clothing and the way our style reflects our personality. Therefore I always look for something that touches me on an emotional level and takes me to a place where I haven’t already been. That’s something I also want to achieve with my work.

How do you approach a commissioned work? What are your sources?
I like to work on themes, because this way you can have a different approach to a fashion story using all kind of sources. The last issue of I Love You Magazine for example had the overall theme “food”. I came across a museum of banana stickers in Germany which I found super funny. This research brought me to the idea of designing fruitlabels which we than used for a beauty story. To visualize my idea I work with mood pictures or collages. I like to have a very set idea before the shoot. But than on the day of the shoot I want to be able to forget the concept and to just follow my instincts.

Are you involved in any other long term project besides I Love You magazine?
Besides my editorial work I’m working as a consultant for different fashion brands. I really like to work on projects for more than a season. This way the team can grow together and I can help to build an image on a long term basis.

Being self-employed can often mean you’re working 24/7, how do you maintain a good work/life balance?
Sometimes the balance works out, sometimes it doesn’t. But turning 30 has somehow changed my awareness and my need for being a private person as well. That’s why I moved back from London to Berlin to be with my boyfriend.

Could you please tell us more about your collaboration with Amira Fritz for the JNBY lookbook?
I spotted Amira’s work a few years ago and I was really touched by its sensitivity. We met in London and became friends. Our friendship became essential for our collaboration. Together we travelled for two months following the road from Shanghai to Paris for a chinese brand JNBY. The project is a documentary of the changing faces from Asia to Europe. Therefore we did streetcast searching local beauties portraying them in their natural environment. The route we decided to take and the people we photographed were chosen mainly by heart. Therefore Amira and I really needed to trust each other. She has a strong feeling for colours and I really like to work with colour concepts in general. It was a great challenge for me to find a way to converge nature, clothes and faces wherever we were. Being to these distant places and meeting all these wonderful people was a great expirience and also changed my approach as a stylist in general.

Any tip for an upcoming stylist? What’s the hardest trouble you had to cope with when starting your career?
The hardest fight I fought against myself. The fashion industry is highly competitive and I am not. I strongly believe in collaborations but also in having your own voice that no one else has. Therefore my tip would be to be true to yourself and to find your own way of expression.

Who is the woman you’d like to see featured/interviewed here?
I really like the work of stylist Ana Steiner. Her signature is very unique and it would be great to learn more about her.

www.kathikauder.com

Yoko Ono is set to host this year’s Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre, revealing a star-studded line-up carefully curated. The event series will take place between 14th and 23rd June, following on from last year’s Antony Hegarty-picked outing. Among those booked are Patti Smith, Iggy and the Stooges, Deerhoof, Boy George, Marianne Faithfull, Sean Lennon and Savages. Siouxsie Sioux will also play her first show in five years, while ex-Sonic Youth pair Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore are scheduled to perform solo sets. More info and tickets can be found hitting the link below.

meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk

soundcloud.com/disaofficial
www.tigerspring.net