Art Of The Collab

What happens when two or more masterfully talented artists or designers collaborate? Transcendence

- JONATHAN HO

UNITING OFTEN DISPARATE yet equal partners who share a common vision and mission to contribute their strengths and create something grander, the art of collaboration is more than just usually what we perceive to be a “crazy marriage”; it’s like fitting all the pieces of a puzzle together to make something larger than the sum of its parts.

Remember 1985’s Olympic Rings? Renowned pop artist Andy Warhol and graffiti prodigy Jean-Michel Basquiat collaborated on a number of exciting pieces that actually led them to the position they now have in the art world; and among them was Rings where Warhol made several variations of the Olympic five-ring symbol, to which Basquiat responded with his oppositional graffiti style. What resulted was a golden era of recognition and accolades during their tenure together.

From fashion and beauty, to travel, hospitality and tech, cross brand collaborations are on trend everywhere. What has become certain is that it’s no longer a passing fad but here to stay and that these collabs are starting to run deeper than merely two juxtaposed logos. X marks the spot where two designers can bring previously disparate audiences together, and introduce one or the other to a new perspective or vision of a signature product or collection. The results are often transcendent.

PANDORA’S BOX OPENED