Packaged chocolates are displayed on a big central table for those who are in a hurry. For others who take the time to select their favourite, there is a proper “comptoir“ with a view onto the workshop. What I love about Gerbaud’s chocolates is that they are simple – almost basic – and at the same time unique in their combination of very fine 75% chocolate with exciting and unusual products. Gerbaud exclusively uses chocolate from a Turin maker, Domori, which creates exceptional quality products using fine cocoa varieties from renowned single origins.

Gerbaud’s grandparents were already in the pastry-making business, creating chocolates for special occasions. After studying medieval history, he decided to train at the CERIA school in Belgium. He later went to visit friends in China and stayed a few years in Shanghai, becoming fluent in Mandarin and beginning to create chocolates with a less sweet taste to meet the taste of local consumers. It was here that he started to combine chocolate with acidic and fruity ingredients, such as kumquat, bergamot or yuzu, as well as salty products such as salted nuts or even pepper. From his time spent in China, he also kept his current logo, which means “chocolate” in Chinese.

Following his return to Belgium, Gerbaud continued his experiments and produced his new range of chocolates in his grandmother’s basement. These were distributed in several countries including the UK in Waitrose. In 2009, he opened his shop in the historical centre of Brussels. The shop includes a tasting salon and he regularly organises tasting sessions comparing different chocolates of same cocoa percentage. He also takes part in many corporate events and incentives and he is regularly invited to exclusive resorts to give workshops.

His chocolates can be divided into three main ranges. The first category consists of various ingredients such as grapefruit, fig, pear, prune, ginger and orange, covered with pure chocolate. One of his new ingredients is physalis. The fruits are carefully selected, aged and stored to reach a certain consistence when covered with chocolate. 

The second category consists of individual round “caraques” finely covered with a single ingredient such as coca beans, roasted Piedmont hazelnuts, almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts or pistachios. Some of these are also offered as chocolate bars. My favorite is the Yuzu bar, with the Japanese yuzu delivering a light, refreshing taste that fits perfectly with the bitterness of the Domori chocolate.

The last range consists of a variety of “ganaches”. The highlight is speculoos (a Belgian specialty similar to the ginger biscuit). Laurent collaborates with Biscuiterie Dandoy, a family owned company famous in Belgium for its range of speculoos.

This is the work of an artist: Laurent works intuitively and always explores new combinations. I can’t wait for my next visit.

LAURENT GERBAUD 

Rue Ravenstein 2  1000 Brussels, Belgium
02 511 57 02

http://www.chocolatsgerbaud.be/

For other chocolate addresses in Brussels, Paris, Lyon and London, look at http://frommycity.com/?p=529.

Considering that around 10 plastic bottles go into making each one, it’s surprising how good the ‘Authentic Green’ range looks. Natural in colour and feel, these are unassuming, functional additions to everybody’s bag collection. The Authentic Green’s low polycarbonate footprint ensures a high return on nature, and the brand’s confidence in its own product is evidenced by a 30-year warranty.

While the Authentic Green range is the most obviously eco-conscious of Eastpak’s products, there are also altruistic sides to many of Eastpak’s other products. In particular, the second edition of the Eastpak Artist Studio (officially launched in Berlin, January 2012) has brought over 130 artists, graphic designers, product designers, DJ’s, jewelry designers and celebrity chefs together from 70 countries to place their artistic mark on 200 blank bags.

Those involved include singer Marina Diamandis (of Marina and the Diamonds), Johnny Marr from The Smiths, illustrator William Broome; UK artist Richie Culver; nail artist Sophy Robson; and the US-based painter Jordan Betten (to name just a few). All proceeds go to the charity organisation Designers against AIDS. You can purchase your bag at www.eastpak.com.

By taking the visitor through all stages of production from initial concept to final portrait, the exhibition provides a fascinating peek into the artist’s kitchen – or studio, rather.

Georgia, 1982 (pulp-paper collage on canvas), Courtesy of Chuck Close

Lucas, 2011 (Jacquard tapestry)

Well-known for creating portraits of family (Georgia, 1982), fellow artists (Keith/Mezzotint, 1972) and himself (Self-portrait, 2000), Close’s focus on portraits is a result of the facial blindness from which he suffers, making it very difficult to recognise faces. Imposing a two-dimensional grid on a photographic image allows him to build a portrait cell by cell.

Keith/Mezzotint, 1972 (mezzotint), Courtesy of Chuck Close

Self-portrait, 2000 (111-color silk screen), Courtesy of Pace Editions, Inc. and Chuck Close

It is not surprising therefore that Close’s work is all about process. In an interview with Phong Bui (Brooklyn Rail, 2008), the artist states: “I always say that inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just show up and get to work.” In his view, rather than sitting around waiting for inspiration, creativity is achieved by imposing limitations on yourself and the process you go through while trying to overcome these limitations.

The exhibition is thoroughly enjoyable and not just because there are a large number of quality artworks on display. The curators have succeeded in demystifying the process of making art and aptly demonstrate that good art is not churned out on a whim. Instead, much thought, time and effort goes into its creation.

Chuck Close, Copyright Vincent Mentzel

The exhibition, Chuck Close Prints: Process and Collaboration, can be seen until 20 May 2012 at the Kunsthal, Museumpark, Westzeedijk 341, 3015 AA, Rotterdam in The Netherlands.

http://www.kunsthal.nl/en-22-696-Chuck-Close-Prints.html

The art fair, which runs from 10 to 13 May at Ambika P3 in Marylebone Road, delivers an open platform to connect art buyers of all tastes and experience directly with 100 fresh, talented artists before they are signed. It also helps the artists to further their careers by meeting numerous gallerists, collectors, dealers, journalists and curators.

Black Lace – Charlotte Anderson

The exhibiting artists have been whittled down from hundreds of applicants and reflect a huge range of skills, styles and interests. Artworks on show range from Tony Broadbent’s vibrant and emotive mixed media paintings and Jebila Wolfe-Okongwu’s striking banana-motiffed sculptures through to the stunning portrait and documentary photography of London-based Kiwi photographer Charlotte Anderson.

Lifting Salt – Charlotte Anderson

With more than a thousand pieces to buy from £50, you are sure to find something that appeals at this art exhibition. This is an experience that makes art enjoyable.

Visit The Other Art Fair’s website for more information: http://www.theotherartfair.com/

Guests will enjoy fabulous auctions of couture fashion, stunning art and unique experiences, all aiming to raise money for the BHF’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. The party has already received auction lots from artists including Damien Hirst, Sir Peter Blake and Dan Baldwin. Fashion lovers can bid on the Mulberry outfit Alexa Chung wore to London Fashion Week this year, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has donated her knock-out red Antonio Berardi dress and you can also bid on jewellery from Cartier and Stephen Webster.

Daisy Lowe wears a heart necklace donated by Stephen Webster for the Tunnel of Love auction,
Photographed by Jason Hetherington.

Other auction items include tennis lessons with Tim Henman, a walk-on part in Mamma Mia, a week in the Maldives staying at Soneva Fushi, and bespoke Barbour jackets with flashing hearts.

Guests at the party will be entertained by Frisky & Mannish and the Broken Hearts DJs. There will be the chance to play unique games and win prizes: spin the Radley roulette wheel to win a Radley bag or mend the broken heart puzzle to win a luxury stay with Hotel Missoni. You can even browse La Boutique for fashion from Tod’s, Temperley, Alexander McQueen and DKNY.

All of the proceeds from the Tunnel of Love party on 29 May 2012 will support the Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. The BHF anticipate 1 million people in the UK will be living with the progressive condition within five years, and around three quarters of people with severe heart failure will die within five years – a prognosis which is worse than most forms of cancer. The BHF is determined to raise funds for innovative science that they hope will lead to a breakthrough in heart health.

Buy a ticket (£100) from www.bhf.org.uk/ToLove and give hope to millions worldwide.

The works are exhibited in various coffee shops around London, which can be located on the Café Art website where you can also read a short synopsis of each artwork and vote for the best artwork of the month (or year). Any shop that wants to participate can contact info@cafeart.org.uk. If you really like the artwork you’ll soon be able to purchase it online too as Café Art hopes to have a wide selection of artworks sold as originals /one-offs, overprinted onto postcards, cups and prints.

The variety of artworks on show is impressive. Artists from eight homeless organisations have signed up to the project so far, including Broadway London, The Connection at St Martin’s, St Mungo’s, SHP, 240 Project, Providence Row and Holy Cross Centre Trust. 

What’s more you don’t have to suffer bad coffee in the process of admiring the works: the cafes involved so far usually fall into the ‘artisanal independent’ category. Participating cafes include the Soho favourite Flat White and Taylor St. Baristas in Shoreditch, both of which produce delicious, ethically-sourced coffee (Flat White use Square Mile and Taylor St. Baristas use Union). Now you can hang around, get caffeinated and stare at the artwork without feeling the slightest bit of guilt, unless you’re supposed to be at work of course…

For more information on some of the top London Coffee houses, The London Coffee Guide is now available to buy: www.londoncoffeeguide.com

Follow Café Art on twitter: @cafeart

While many festivals, including Womad and Green Man, have supported eco-friendly transport methods by offering free or low-cost lock up facilities for bikes and other valuables, those travelling to Bestival (6^th-9^th September in Isle of Wight) or to Latitude (12-15^th July in Suffolk) can now join groups of riders ratcheting up their eco-brownie points while their baggage travels in a single vehicle that will greet them upon arrival.

Both schemes also offer the opportunity to raise money for charity, with Bike to Bestival gathering funds for Cancer Research and each Tour de Latitude participant being required to raise £350 to cover the cost of registration, support, logistics, a weekend festival ticket, a £60 donation to Kenyan Orphan Project and a £20 donation to Julie’s Bicycle. (Online registration is now open at www.give2go.co.uk.)

Both rides are open to all standards of rider and the focus is on making new friends, using your legs and having a clear eco-conscience. You can start your ride to Latitude from three different points, either 113 miles from your destination, in Hackney, London, 55 miles away in Sudbury, or just 35 miles away in Ipswich. The whole route is signposted with bike mechanics, cycle guides and emergency response on hand throughout, not to mention free food and, when the festival is over, a bus ticket and bike transfer that’ll take you right back to where you started.

Many of the industry’s most influential personalities will be in attendance. Tom Ford, Christopher Bailey, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Matthew Williamson and Diane von Furstenberg will be mingling with photographers David Bailey, Tim Walker and Richard Young, as well as retail entrepreneurs such as Net-a-Porter’s Natalie Massanet.

There’s a panel discussion about whether fashion has an age limit that lines up Mary Portas, Laura Bailey, Pixie Geldof and Anne Robinson, as well as a Q&A discussion with a gaggle of supermodels. Tom Ford will be in conversation with Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, while Stella McCartney pairs up with actress pal Kate Hudson. Joely Richardson and trendsetter Rachel Zoe discuss red carpet tactics, and even celebrity cook Nigella Lawson puts in a brief appearance to chat with broadcaster Kirsty Young.

The festival, held in association with Vertu, takes place from April 20-21, with individual tickets available for both morning and afternoon sessions. Each half-day ticket allows you to see the main talks and panel discussions, as well as a wide range of additional activities – makeovers, photoshoots, trend talks and fashion films. There will also be a  limited-edition T-shirt, designed for the festival by Mulberry.

Click here for the programme and further details.

Improvised Munition, 2012 (bronze), Courtesy of the artist and Grimm

Arsenal, 2012 (steel, aluminum), Courtesy of the artist and Grimm

Installation View: Improvised Munition and Arsenal, Courtesy of the artist and Grimm

“Improvised Munition” consists of a row of spindly objects stacked against a wall. They are reminiscent of the pitchforks that 18th Century farmers protected themselves with when there was a lack of swords or guns. “Arsenal” is our modern-day DIY equivalent: the potentially lethal wrenches, hammers and pliers are innocently suspended within their neat circular display. “Erratic” is a construction of clear stacked boxes containing ingredients such as hair gel, chlorine and Coca Cola. Seemingly straight out of a scientist’s lab, this work is a toolkit for the biological warfare of choice.

Erratic, 2012 (mixed media), Courtesy of the artist and Grimm

Installation View: Erratic, Courtesy of the artist and Grimm

By taking these mundane materials out of their context, van Woert forces us to question the very progress they represent, a recurring theme in the artist’s oeuvre. Although there is no denying that the show is successfully sinister in its subject matter, another – more positive – conclusion could be drawn. Progress in and of itself is not the problem: it is how we use this newly acquired knowledge. Luckily, the human propensity to do damage does not exist on its own: it is the flip side to a resourcefulness that has the potential to reverse such behavior – and this exhibition is part of the latter.

The exhibition, Improvised Munition, can be seen at Grimm Gallery, Frans Halsstraat 26, 1072 BR, Amsterdam until 31 March. Grimm Gallery’s next show by artist Charles Avery; ‘New works from the Islanders Project’ can be seen from 5 April.

http://www.grimmgallery.com/