“I want to become so famous that Damien Hirst’s mother knows me.”
– Jani Leinonen
The Baur au Lac garden is one of my favorite places in the city of Zurich. And at the moment there is an exhibition in the parc that you definitely should not be missing. Two weeks ago, Gigi Kracht, wife of hotel owner Andrea, opened her 14th Art in the Park (photos of the opening will be coming up shortly) that will be going until the 7th of August, 2016. This year, she is presenting the work of one of my favorite artists, Finnish shooting star, Jani Leinonen. The 38-year old plays with logos and symbols of the luxury goods industry in such an ironic way that it makes you think and laugh at once.
Let’s take for example the work “The most terrible things, war genocide and slavery, have resulted not from obedience, but from disobedience”. This outdoor installation reimagines boldly appropriated corporate logos of the globe’s most powerful brands to put emphasize on social injustice and corporate hegemony. I love Jani’s way of expressing himself. He is criticizing society with his colorful and fun art that makes you happy looking at it at the same time.
Jani presented me his book with a personal dedication (Would be a nice tattoo, wouldn’t it?).
Check out these previous posts that I wrote over the last years concerning Jani’s art: Fashion Meets Art (2010), Jani Leinonen and a Fashionable Tombstone (2011), Shoe Liberation Army Takes Over (2012).
My look: Striped blazer by Givenchy, silk-georgette trapeze blouse by Chloé
, superskinny mid-rise jeans by Victoria, Victoria Beckham, jacket quilted leather shoulder bag by Moschino, embellished leather mid-heel loafers by Gucci, beaded gold-tone rosary necklace by Dolce & Gabbana and Linda sunglasses by Tom Ford.
Stay tuned for more…
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht