Tony Assness turns 360°; Louis Vuitton checks in; and Apple's genius factor

Tony Assness turns 360°; Louis Vuitton checks in; and Apple's genius factor

Tony Assness turns 360°; Louis Vuitton checks in; and Apple's genius factor

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Tony Assness once described himself as a frustrated and failed stage designer. After graduating from high school in Newcastle, he moved to Sydney and started working with famed stage designer/director Kim Carpenter. But, by the end of the 1980s, he’d found his niche as an events organiser and has since produced some of the country’s most spectacular parties, among them the NRL Grand Final pre-match entertainment and the opening of Fox Studios. He has also orchestrated events for the likes of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and for companies such as Westfield and Myer.

Earlier this month, however, Assness found himself back with his first love, working as set and costume designer for the Sydney Dance Company’s new production, 360°, by Spanish choreographer Rafael Bonachela. “I’ve been wanting to get back into theatre for a while,” says Assness. “It’s been hard in terms of the size of the budgets you have to work with in theatre, and the state of the company, but it’s great to have someone like Rafael, who’s just been incredible for everyone.”

For the past few years, the SDC has been cash-strapped and, more recently, suffered the loss of its newly appointed artistic director, Tanja Liedtke, who died in a road accident a year ago. Until a new artistic director could be found the company’s executive director, Noel Staunton, hired Meryl Tankard, Aszure Barton and Bonachela as guest choreographers.

Bonachela is well-known for his work with musicians and designers and has choreographed concert tours for Kylie Minogue, Tina Turner and Primal Scream, as well as works from the English Chamber Orchestra and the Danza Contemporanea de Cuba. According to Assness, 360° (which it’s hoped will tour to Europe next year) includes a 25m x 11m video screen to display images conceived by Assness, as well as polished aluminium panels that reflect images of the dancers.

“This is such a different way of working and I really wasn’t anticipating how intense the process would be,” Assness says.

360° is at CarriageWorks, Sydney, until August 16.

David Meagher

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Check your baggage
It appears that fake designer luggage is as old as, well, designer luggage. Back in 1888, Georges Vuitton (son of Louis) registered a patent for a canvas chequerboard pattern used in its luggage design to combat a growing army of imitators. This was almost a decade before the company came up with its iconic LV monogram print, but the copycats were already cashing in on the more subtle beige and brown pattern known as Damier.

This season Louis Vuitton has reinterpreted the 120-year-old check in black and grey for a new range, which goes by the name of Damier Graphite. The collection of accessories has a decidedly masculine edge and includes overnight bags such as the classic Louis Vuitton Keepall, a wheeled cabin bag and the sporty new Roadster (pictured). A soft briefcase with handles, shoulder strap and a dedicated laptop compartment also caught WISH ’s discerning eye.

And to complete the head-to-toe look, the Damier Graphite range includes sneakers, sunglasses, a motorcycle helmet and the accessory du jour, an iPhone cover. Available at Louis Vuitton stores from mid-August. Inquiries: 1300 883 880.
David Meagher

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Crystal palace

Fancy learning how to record your own music, produce stunning photos or edit videos? Apple’s new signature store in Sydney’s CBD offers Pro Labs, up to eight hours of training on its professional creative applications for music production, digital photography and video editing, including Final Cut Pro. This free instore training, which can be booked online, is the most extensive offered at any of Apple’s 215 stores worldwide.

Then there’s the 20m-long Genius Bar, staffed by the smartest Mac technicians in town. If you want to know how to import your music into iTunes, or if your Mac or iPod needs fixing, pull up a stool (it’s best to make a reservation online first).

Speaking at the June opening of the store, Apple’s second biggest (after Regent Street in London), Ron Johnson, senior vice president of retail, said the company’s approach to selling was as much about serving owners as buyers: “We like to think we begin where a lot of other retailers end.”

More Apple stores are on the way (in Sydney’s Chatswood and Melbourne’s Chadstone), with another planned for Brisbane.

Anne Lim

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