Other Criteria sees the bridging of the big, wide gap that spans between shops and galleries, offering a collection of Damien Hirst’s and other contemporary and emerging artists’ work in shop format. Strictly speaking, they’re an art publishing company, but with this venture sees the opening of two retail outlets in London. Predominantly led by Hirst’s foray into the world of interiors, which is a combination of the curious and the unrealistic, this is a nicely curated selection of homewares for the boldly designed-inclined. Definitely worth a visit if only to indulge the parallel universe fantasy, you know the one: where you’re a millionaire living in a humungous house on Hyde Park without restriction on either space or financials. In terms of prices, do not be fooled, this is far more gallery than shop. With prices around £30-£50k for a rug, this isn’t shopping for the faint-hearted, but then we knew that with the location of the shops. Speaking of the rugs, it was the rugs that I fell in love with, being exact copies of Hirst’s Spin paintings, these hand-knotted wool rugs are fabulous bursts of colour and look fantastic, and all yours as long as you remortgage.
1.) ‘Spot’ clocks, small £305, large £490, 2.) wallpaper range, prices from £205 per roll, 3.) ‘I Am Become Death, Shatterer of Worlds’ bone china plate, £33.50, 4.) ‘Beautiful Primal Urges’ rugs, 100% wool, small £30k, large £50k, 5.) ‘The Rape of Persephone’ wallpaper, £250 per roll, 6.) ‘Beautiful Self-indulgent Spin’ chair, set of 6 chairs, £30k, 7.) ‘Beautiful, amore, gasp, eyesgoing into the top of the headand fluttering painting’ bone china plate, £22.50, 8.) Malambra/ Aquamarine large vase, by Paola Petrobelli, £2,800, 9.) acrylic ashtrays, around £450.
Other Criteria, 36, New Bond Street, London W1S 2RP (020 7629 5800), or, 14, Hinde Street, London W1U 3BG (020 7935 5550)
