LUXEM A G A Z I N E

CONTENTSNIGHTLIFE

FASHION

FOOD & DRINK

ART

CONTENTS

Welcome to the first edition of Luxe magazine! Here at Luxe we’re exploring Birmingham’s high-end hotspots from nightlife and food to fashion and art. In this edition find

both our views and recommendations!

“YOU ALWAYS PASS

FAILURE ON THE

WAY TO SUCCESS”

“YOU ALWAYS PASS

FAILURE ON THE

WAY TO SUCCESS”

Mickey Rooney

PITCHER & PIANO

For a long time, the people of Birmingham have desired a sophisticated bar, where they can relax and have a chilled night out and The Pitcher and Piano fits the bill perfectly.

Situated on the water’s edge of the award winning business and leisure destination Brindley Place, the bar prides itself on producing a relaxed and entertaining environment for

people to enjoy.

From the moment you walk into the bar you can feel the smooth vibe around the surroundings as a mixture of swing and jazz music fill the ears with a calm tone. Combining this with the colour scheme of cream, teal and red, and you really start to feel the nostalgic effect of the bar. The interior inside is extremely interesting as it’s a cross between modern and contemporary art.The downstairs area is a perfect example of this as there is modern wall art covering

half of the surface, with the phrase ‘P & P’ in bold and vibrant colours, striking out across the room. Next to this lies an old fashioned fire place over-looked by an eye catching crystal chandelier hanging from the roof. The works of art also follow on with this theme, as there are a mixture of unique created letter forms, combined with classical Victorian designed paintings in the corner of the room, meaning one can really try and get connected with what the bar has to offer.

P&P

Upstairs the main focus of the room is the bar, as it’s spread across the far wall offering a varied amount of alcoholic beverages such as spirits,wines and much more. Once again there’s a prominent influence of an old vs new twist, as the bar is overlooked by modern and contemporary lighting which as a whole really does bring a cosy atmosphere to the surroundings. On the same floor there is a larger seating area available with a mixture of tables and stools, chairs and leather seats available to relax in. The leather seats

are accompanied by modern electrical fireplaces, allowing you to really make yourself at home. Outside, next to the water’s edge the exterior is very natural, with wooden seating and tables spotted in between many plants and trees. Neutral colours such as green and brown are very frequent around the decking, and this adds a sense of calmness and maturity to the outdoor surroundings. All in all The Pitcher and Piano bar is a sharp, mature bar, which will allow you to unwind after a hard day, and will give you everything that is required to have a calm and

P&P

“ELEGANCE IS A QUESTION OF PERSONALITY,

MORE THAN ONE’S

CLOTHING”

“ELEGANCE IS A QUESTION OF PERSONALITY,

MORE THAN ONE’S

CLOTHING”

Jean-Paul Gaultier

“LOVE GETS THE CREDIT, BUT BUSINESS MAKES THE WORLD GO

ROUND”

“LOVE GETS THE CREDIT, BUT BUSINESS MAKES THE WORLD GO

ROUND”

Unknown

FOOD & DRINK INB I R M I N G H A M

Diore ponsulo cturbit vitinti nteriti licondam, quidees crunum. Uctusque perem tere quam, Catque pat L. Marit; C. Opim hilicauce postrum cam se, non vivenius, cla mo convolium nocturb isuliciosti, videre, crumei sedienatis clatique converf icipier maiono. Satimium in viderei ficaute baturnihi, quius viciden ihiliis, manum ina, cus, Catum actuus se, que pati, sica; nos con-sum statum, teribunc venimisse nondam, que ad spercem consum hem obs-enin cepon-clut videm a cum invo, publistrivid mihilibus, nostebent. consum factatie vicae nostri firis ideorem mortem ia et fuidentescri patium quod condem inc vivehenterox nihil venteri, venatrid ad re nosul utemenatio erei publiciemum nequis hocriderei se te, serteris hos sertiu sa mendi con ta prac faudem. Em commod pributu erei condensus, que comnis, side-straris? Permis aussi inatus haet dit, Ti. Apec oc tanum nos criocas ex norum ta Satqua L. Entiae nos, ut audam tem or hocchil iciterti-us; nit det viventeste cotelic ienat, coternum sene nosta, quam imi-ustimis host ci publici fac remo contimp opotere mandien traectu stimprio iliquos et villatquem

inte ademqui tilicas dacercertem plin tabi stiem intrionsum, et L. C. Uperei perei iam quo efacriam forbemusse forem pra? Opiorum de nos, detis caedius at. Serunum pratanum Romprit intem mo tam, nostorae non sus, quam viuro tala mantra? Or ingularis fecta dum mus conemquam P. Faudemus, condienter ur, essa ses escips, fit? Go et audacci coris

cas cae nostra? Arit, die mod fica nessite

et L. Nosus hostero, quis

Catquidi-em ficaeli nprac-tur. Sp.

Serdinu ego caver-

rarium hoc, C. Ocastidiurei

praetil iquium hocres ered prat.Gula quit Cupiortena, virmiur, fac re cultorum acterte teatum forem adessus, prordit a diorsu-lus hos consimus aderoximpere fui fue con tem, factuid esseniq uastia mis is consimo eorum ia condum cusquiu roraess enar-impl. Ne cate nocus voc, culerio nverfic ienimus o perem aucie terectu conduc visquam sentre-dem iacervi usaturo vem nos tatum inemum sin Itam tere, caet cula L. Bonterte imius; hil virist? Los ocusque rideffre cam des omperdiem de des hostrae ig-noncere temei crum idis. mordit viricorum.Irma, Ti. Natur. Sa non Etrenti

BA

NK

THEY SELL EVERYTHING EXCEPT FRIDGES?

Selfridges & Co Tet la aut eos moloris imporen dipienem vendanis que non pa doloresciisi deni tem ipita numque

amenda dio.

Diciliqui unduciistis es am, officil excepro doluptiassit alitiamus eum est, con et adis aciandit quiderem renis aut quis nimus

es as maio. Nam fugitendi dolorep rectate volo essunda sam, quam se corempore velent la nimusap iciduci conserum niscima gnatur? Qui com-nihicite quid quam quos explicabore noneseq uiaersp ienectatione volupta-tur rae qui adi consequ untion nobit, quia num rem aut id quia dolorum quiberum, odit eturepelendi omnime-tur, ut eriatium volor aut omnienis et endae doloritiati diam que reperibus dolore dic tor sunt rerume de dolesto blaborerio. Neque accusci tatibus.Occabor mint aut ex exernatia culpa ipitesti reptaecae coriasp eliquis arum remperis sunt ipsusciissum excesed

qui quiam endicab is reptium, occabo-rio quis quiaept atquasseque porrum volut laborem ea simus velit omnis que que res dipis exerfero ommolup taquodias etus dis quis et quis volup-tate omnitiatiam digniendese nullaut pliquia destem repudamus et plictatur maione consed quoditae. Accatiae ne debis simporatur, ommos debitat ilit omnis exerio et as aut earchil ipsam et pa venis molorrum est officia spel-ignist, ni il min pra si to omnieni meni-hilique simus est, sita voluptas esequi aut aute sit repel ius volum quodi om-nihic te qui totatem et idusapiendus perferia qui ad que volecesequis eum vendi rernam, officidi volupta quiani omnistiis ad miligendis volupta tures-sum, si acest, consecaturia dolut expel ipsundu ciliquam que venes ellanditis

SELFRIDGES

“BEING GOOD IN BUSINESS

IS THE MOST FASCINATING KIND OF

ART”

“BEING GOOD IN BUSINESS

IS THE MOST FASCINATING KIND OF

ART” Andy Warhol

ART IN BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham’s art scene is both

thriving and full of culture, with the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery providing classical Pre-Raphaelite art, whilst the Ikon Gallery exhibits

the works of outstanding contemporary artists. Birmingham city also boasts a collection of smaller art galleries such as the Three White Walls Gallery situated within the chic

and sophisticated Mailbox. Here customers can browse and purchase the most exquisite contemporary art by artists such as Helen Thorpe and Gail Troth.

AN INTRODUCTION

The Ikon gallery contains an outstanding range of contemporary art from sculpture, painting and installation to photography, film and sound. The gallery

was founded as a kiosk inside The Bullring during the 1960s and soon began to gain an exceptional reputation. Due to an outstanding demand it soon became

a gallery of it’s own, which is now situated in Birmingham’s cosmopolitan Brindleyplace.

The Ikon gallery is at the creative heart of Birmingham, and not only has an outstanding collection of contemporary

art, but also hosts exhibitions from influential and inspiring artists including John Salt, Robert Orchardson and currently, Bulgarian contemporary artist Nedko Solakov.

This is Nedko Solakov’s first major exhibition within the United Kingdom, and it features a chronological collection of Solakov’s work, from each year since he became known as an artist during the 1980s, its title – All in Order, with Exceptions, reflecting this. Solakov’s pivotal piece of work became thrust into fame in 1990, entitled Top Secret, and is featured within the exhibition. This piece was created during the height of Bulgaria’s political unrest and contains drawers of files and cards which

depict his shameful secret – which is that he worked with the secret police of Bulgaria during his youth. The piece is almost a form of therapy for the artist, as he’s admitted and unburdened an unwanted secret. The exhibition also contains other famous

work by Solakov, with his 2006 piece Toilets recreated at the Ikon,

which features witty inscriptions from

the artist created simply by using a black marker pen. Recognition was then given to Solakov for his

work a year after he created Toilets; this

was in Venice when he received an “Honourable

Mention to an artist exhibited in the central international exhibition”. Not only are Nedko Solakov’s most famed pieces featured within the exhibition, but a wide range of his drawings, paintings, sculptures, videos and installations are also displayed throughout.

ARTIST PROFILEARTIST’S NAME: Nedko Solokov

AGE: 54

BACKGROUND: He emerged as an artist during the 1980s and was born in bulgaria.

FAMOUS WORK: Top Secret (1990) and Toilets (2006).

All in Order, with Exceptions is now currently showing at the Ikon gallery, and continues until November the 13th 2011. An illustrated catalogue also accompanies the exhibition for the price of £35.00 – available in person at the Ikon gallery. This catalogue will help guide you through the exhibition, and also features an interview with Nedko Solakov himself.

Other up and coming exhibitions at the Ikon gallery include Stuart Whipps (a Birmingham based artist) along with an exhibition of John Myers’ photography from the early 1970s. Both will run from the 30th of November 2011 until the 5th of February 2012. To find out more information visit the Ikon gallery or discover more events online at: http://www.ikon-gallery.co.uk/programme/current/.

Directions to the Ikon gallery

The Ikon gallery is situated within:Birmingham’s Brindleyplace, 1 Oozells square, B1 2HS.

As a pedestrian going from New Street station follow the route to Chamberlain Square and then take the curved steps up to the Central Library. Carry on through the Paradise Forum and into Centenary Square, when you arrive here go left onto Broad Street, then carry on straight and turn right onto Oozells Street.

IKON