The Anya Hindmarch Monument Valley Connection

klevero

In Art Direction, Product/Packaging Posted

While watching the Anya Hindmarch spring summer show I had one of those moments where you make a design connection between two very different mediums that you love equally, and you can’t help but feel like this magical connection exists just for you to discover and it feels beautiful.  So I’m calling this the Anya Hindmarch Monument Valley Connection.  If I’m wrong I don’t care, and it really doesn’t matter; I just love seeing what I saw here regardless.

Still from video

Photo copyright Anya Hindmarch

So for her latest show Hindmarch built this incredible little house where the models walked out one door, around the structure, and then back in to a different door.  Sometimes they passed each other softly, no acknowledgment.  The entire structure was quietly fading from one boozy pastel color to another while white light stripes slowly moved across the architecture of the structure accentuating doors, windows, joints.  The walls had a 3D graphic 60’s print that created a spectrum of light to dark hues for each pastel as it emerged.  Totally out of this world mind blowing pure genius as only Anya Hindmarch can bring it and has brought it for me since I discovered her little shop on a back street in Ginza, Tokyo about eight years ago.  She has a way of making one feel special when you mention her talent and someone’s like “Anya Who?” because she really doesn’t get much attention here in New York although there is a shop on Madison Ave.

Still from video

Photo copyright Anya Hindmarch

While I was watching I was like “Hmm, has someone been playing Monument Valley or is it just me?”  If you don’t know Monument Valley is a video game created by Ustwo games you may have first heard of because (then Senator) Francis Underwood plays it at night as a stress reliever on House of Cards.

“If I’m wrong I don’t care, and it really doesn’t matter; I just love seeing what I saw here regardless.”

In addition to the obvious parallels to be drawn of the color palette, the doors and the movement there is the fact that the show is revolving around this little square world existing or “floating” in the space of the larger venue.  When the camera pans out we can see the boarders of the quite literal cube.  Now look at the cubes of certain worlds in Monument Valley.  Ehh!?

 

Stills from video/video game

Photo copyright Anya Hindmarch and ustwo games

The last connection I’m going to make here is how at the very end of the show the roof slowly lifts off of this magical little universe to reveal a giant spinning mirrored disco ball.  All to this  throbbing electronic trance music.  Fans of Monument Valley will recognize this opening of structures as we see roofs ascending, side walls sliding open, and all manner of sets blooming before us to reveal more challenges inside challenges.

Stills from video/video game

Photo copyright Anya Hindmarch and ustwo games

This was the only screenshot I found of roofs lifting off.  Not in the color pallet, but you get the point.

So that’s it.  If you happen to be a lover of both Anya Hindmarch and Monument Valley, let me know if you saw what I saw.  If not, download Monument Valley today.  It’s only $4.99 for a challenging and magnificent journey.  Anya Hindmarch bag…a bit more than that…

Also, I’m a superfan of chenille obviously.

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