Daydreaming with Duncan Hannah

October 30, 2017

Duncan Hannah wants to tell you a story. A spellbinding story, accessible in the Eldridge St. gallery space that holds his newest show, Adrift in the 2st Century.

Hannah's pictorial universe is full of dashing characters wandering through eras long past, going about their business driving snappy little race cars, climbing mountainsides, riding bicycles. His utter unconcern for engaging in the art world’s obsession with the avant-garde, the conceptual, the minimal, the “modern,” is reflected in his figures’ bewitching disregard for the viewer.

They run and play with lackadaisical freedom, yet are remarkably still - frozen for a moment in a daydream, as if they’ve just remembered something. Resembling illustrations from books in your grandfather’s attic, Hannah’s subjects range from chicly antique forms of transportation (steamships, passenger trains, one-man airplanes), to plain, unassuming architecture, and, of course, men, women, and children.

Text and images by John Martin Tilley

He makes the interesting turn in this exhibition of including a couple expertly executed female nudes, one with a man grasping her rib, her face strangely blank. He is assessing her, she him, we them. Has he wandered in from another canvas? The plot thickens.

“I have a motto from E.M. Forster, which is ‘only connect.’ So you don’t have to plan your life, all you have to do is connect and see where it goes.” -Duncan Hannah

Hannah's exhibition will be on view at Invisible Exports through December 10th.

Art

Here and Then

Art

Please Touch: Brett Miller

His designs don’t just invite interaction. They demand it. Round shapes, in particular, seem to call out to be touched. Please Touch is a rebellion against convention and an invitation to break the rules. It asks you to step outside the lines and reach for what’s supposedly off-limits. Because really, why not? Why does a table have to be rectangular, square, or even circular? Why does a chair need four legs? Why does a cabinet have to be static?

Miller’s work is the result of a decade-long journey of self-discovery, experimentation, and pushing boundaries. When he moved to New York in 2015, he was searching for something—purpose, direction, and a sense of identity. He started out farming in the Hudson Valley before shifting to metal fabrication. Eventually, he found his true calling in furniture making. In 2017, he launched Jackrabbit Studio and made it a full-time endeavor the following year.

"I’ve never been one to follow the rules," Miller says. "But through my practice and working with natural materials, I’ve gained a deep appreciation and respect for universal laws. Some things just won’t work, but most things do. And within the parameters of functionality, there’s almost limitless wiggle room for the expression of form." This balance between structure and freedom is at the core of his work. His pieces invite interaction, encouraging people to rethink how objects function.

"Why?" is the first question we ask as kids when we learn to speak. But before we ask why, we touch—to know, to understand, to feel. This show is about embracing that instinct. So, let the kid in you take over. Run your hands along the edges, break the rules, and Please Touch.

Please Touch by Brett Miller from January 18th - February 22nd, 2025

Art

Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary

February 18, 2025

Belgian architect Glenn Sestig is known for his modern, minimalist style that perfectly blends art with function. Born in Ghent in 1968 and trained in Antwerp, he started his practice in 1999, creating work that spans homes, shops, and cultural spaces. His designs feature clean lines, thoughtful details, and high-quality materials.

In his book, Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary, you can explore over twenty years of his creative journey. The diary presents 45 projects with stunning photographs by Jean-Pierre Gabriel and detailed sketches that capture each design’s essence. The book also includes a foreword by Nick Vinson, an essay by Vladimir Belogolovsky, and interviews with notable clients, including fashion designer Raf Simons, offering a unique look into his creative process.

Take a look at the imagery below to see the elegance and detail of Glenn Sestig's work.